Terrell's big night rushing helps Southeast Missouri State football team's offense find rhythm

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State's patented rushing attack had been grounded to start the season.

That changed Saturday during Southeast's Ohio Valley Conference opener at Tennessee Tech.

The Redhawks rushed for 302 yards after they had gained just 204 yards in their first two games. They finished with 495 yards on offense after having only 414 during their opening two contests.

"I think we finally found our rhythm," senior quarterback Matt Scheible said.

Saturday's showing in a 38-31 loss included the Redhawks' first 100-yard individual rushing performance of the season. Levi Terrell, a junior tailback, had been accustomed to 100-yard games the past two years as a star at Division II Nebraska-Omaha. He transferred to Southeast after that school dropped football.

Terrell gained 154 yards on 15 carries Saturday, including touchdown runs of 15, 12 and 40 yards. His 40-yard, tackle-breaking burst with 5 minutes, 28 seconds left in the game forged a 31-31 tie.

"Levi ran his butt off," Scheible said.

Terrell had been held to 30 yards on 14 carries during Southeast's first two games, largely because he had no room to run. But there were plenty of holes Saturday, and Terrell made the most of them.

"The line was great. The holes were huge," Terrell said. "It was good to get things rolling."

Said Southeast coach Tony Samuel: "Levi showed some things."

Statistically speaking

* Sophomore wide receiver D.J. Foster, who came on strong late as a redshirt freshman last year, had a big night.

Foster caught seven passes for 115 yards, including a brilliant 32-yard first-quarter reception along the sideline that led to a Southeast field goal.

"I'm starting to get the hang of it," Foster said.

Foster entered play as Southeast's top receiver with five catches for 50 yards. He caught three passes a year ago.

* Scheible completed 13 of 25 passes for 175 yards. He also rushed for 87 yards on 16 carries.

* Redshirt freshman fullback Ron Coleman scored his first collegiate touchdown, which came on a 1-yard plunge. He rushed for 43 yards on 10 attempts.

* Tech finished with 511 yards. Quarterback Tre Lamb completed 27 of 37 passes for 283 yards. All-OVC wide out Tim Benford had nine receptions. Tailback Donte Gay rushed for 146 yards on 22 carries and caught seven passes for 101 yards.

* Southeast was led in tackles by junior linebacker Blake Peiffer with a career-high 17. He either has been first or tied for first in tackles in all three games this season. Senior safety Bryan Blanfort recorded 11 tackles, and senior cornerback Kewku Arkorful added nine stops.

Davis injured

Redshirt freshman wide receiver/return man Spencer Davis has been one of the early season bright spots for Southeast.

Davis entered Saturday's game ranked 24th nationally in all-purpose yards. He ripped off a season-long 40-yard kickoff return in the first quarter against Tech.

But Davis' night was over late in the second quarter after he hobbled off the field with an apparent ankle injury. Davis missed all of last season with a knee injury.

Samuel indicated that he didn't believe Davis' injury was serious.