Third-down success was key to Redhawks' win

~ Southeast reversed its season trend against Murray St.

By MARTY MISHOW

Southeast Missourian

There were plenty of keys to Southeast Missouri State's first win of the season, Saturday's wild 37-34 triple-overtime home triumph over Murray State.

One of biggest factors, one that might have been overlooked by the casual fan, was the Redhawks' success on third down both offensively and defensively.

Southeast entered the game converting just 28 percent of its third downs while allowing opponents to convert 51 percent -- statistics certainly not conducive to winning.

But the Redhawks (1-5 overall, 1-2 Ohio Valley Conference) turned those numbers around against the Racers.

The Redhawks converted 12 of 22 third downs for 54.5 percent. They held Murray State's high-powered offense to 6 of 17 (35.3 percent).

"Better third downs," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said during his weekly media conference Monday. "We did get off the field [defensively] on third down. Especially these kinds of offenses, you keep them off the field, it keeps your defense fresh."

What made the Redhawks' offensive success even more impressive was, Samuel pointed out, the fact several of their conversions came on third-and-long. Southeast previously had struggled in that area, as many teams do.

"We did convert some pretty long third downs for us," Samuel said.

Southeast still ranks seventh in the nine-team OVC in both third-down categories, converting 34.4 percent and allowing 48.3 percent, but Saturday's showing was a step in the right direction.

There were obviously many other factors in the victory, including the play of sophomore quarterback Scott Lathrop.

Lathrop, the 2012 OVC freshman of the year making his second start of the season, had a hand in all five Southeast touchdowns. He threw for a career-high 247 yards and four TDs while running for a game-high 94 yards and a score.

Samuel said Lathrop, named the OVC offensive player of the week for his performance, will get his second straight start this week.

"He did a good job running the offense," Samuel said.

Lathrop will have to be on top of his game again -- along with all of his teammates -- when the Redhawks face one of their toughest challenges of the season Saturday.

The Redhawks visit defending OVC champion Eastern Illinois (5-1, 2-0), which moved up to third in this week's FCS poll.

EIU leads the nation in total offense with an average of 584 yards per game and ranks high in most of the other major statistical offensive categories, including scoring at 46.8 points per contest.

The Panthers have not scored fewer than 39 points all season despite playing two FBS programs. They beat one of them -- San Diego State -- and nearly took down undefeated, 23rd-ranked Northern Illinois, which handed EIU its only loss 43-39.

"They're a very good football team," Samuel said. "They're a big-play offense. You've got to keep that kind of offense off the field."

More third-down success like Southeast experienced against Murray State would help the Redhawks' toward that cause.