Southeast sends seniors out with comeback win

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State's younger players were happy to be able to carry some momentum into the offseason.

More than that, they said they were pleased their senior leaders got to experience a victory in their final college game.

"This sets us up for next year," redshirt freshman wide receiver Chantae Ahamefule said following Saturday's 33-30 comeback win over Austin Peay. "And it's good to let the seniors go out this way.

"They've been our leaders and they deserve it."

Added true freshman quarterback Matt Scheible, who led the game-winning 60-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes: "We really wanted to win this game for the seniors."

Southeast coach Tony Samuel, who played at Nebraska in the 1970s, echoed the same thoughts.

"I believe it's important for the seniors," Samuel said. "I was a senior a long time ago. For most of these guys, this is the last game they'll ever play."

Said senior tailback Timmy Holloman, who scored the game-winning touchdown with 13.3 seconds left: "I couldn't have asked for a better ending. It feels good. Words can't express it."

Senior linebacker Nick Stauffer said he spoke for all 17 of Southeast's seniors when he emphasized how much a career-ending victory meant.

"It meant a lot to the seniors, even though we had a losing year," Stauffer said after the Redhawks finished 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference. "And this will help the young guys."

The Redhawks eligible to return next year hope that's the case as they will try to break the program's long string of futility on the Division I-AA level.

Southeast has suffered six straight losing seasons and has just two winning records in 18 Division I-AA campaigns.

"I see so much potential out of the younger class," said junior wide receiver Walter Peoples, who entered Saturday as the OVC leader in receptions and finished an impressive season with 65 catches. "Maybe next year we can finally do it."

Defense stands out

Although Austin Peay scored 30 points, Southeast's defense hardly could be blamed.

The Governors scored 13 points off three first-half blocked punts and added a touchdown after Southeast muffed a third-quarter punt.

Southeast's defense allowed a season-low 234 yards. The Redhawks were giving up an average of 406.3 yards per game.

"Our defense played very well today," Samuel said. "They bailed us out a lot, got a lot of three-and-outs."

Noteworthy

• Stauffer recorded five tackles, giving him 150 this year and breaking the previous single-season school record of 147 by Joe Williams in 2000.

"It means a lot to me, but I wasn't thinking about that," said Stauffer, second nationally in tackles per game. "I just wanted to win."

• For just the second time all year, Southeast outgained an opponent in total yardage with a 331 to 234 advantage.
• For the only time this year, the Redhawks scored first, getting a touchdown on the game's opening possession. On the game's third play, Scheible hit Peoples with a 44-yard TD pass.
• Southeast got kickoff returns of 54 yards from sophomore Henry Harris and 53 yards from true freshman Jacob McKinley, which led to 10 points for the Redhawks.