Southeast yields 31 points in first half of loss to Missouri State

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri State took its first lead of the season Saturday night.

Unfortunately for the Redhawks, that was about the extent of the good news as they closed out their nonconference schedule with a mostly forgettable showing.

Missouri State University overpowered Southeast with a smashmouth performance that resulted in a dominating 45-21 victory in front of 11,555 fans at Plaster Field.

The Redhawks fell to 0-3 and, for the third consecutive season, will enter Ohio Valley Conference play without a victory as they suffered their 10th consecutive nonleague defeat.

MSU improved to 2-1 by beating Southeast for the fifth straight time. But unlike the previous three meetings, which were decided by seven points or less, this one was never really close.

"It's disappointing we didn't play better," Southeast senior cornerback Kellin White said.

Southeast did have an early spark when, on the game's fifth play after MSU received the opening kickoff, White intercepted a pass and raced 64 yards for a touchdown. The first of Colin Schermann's three extra points made it 7-0 just 2:19 into the contest.

"I told my teammates in practice I was going to jump that route and take it all the way," said White, who returned three interceptions for touchdowns last year.

But the Redhawks could do virtually nothing with the apparent momentum garnered from their initial lead of the season.

"I thought that would get us going," White said. "But we just couldn't build on it."

Aided by another Southeast miscue on special teams -- punter David Simonhoff dropped what appeared to be a decent snap and never got a punt off, which led to a tying 26-yard touchdown drive by the Bears -- MSU poured it on in a hurry.

MSU scored on the final five of its seven first-half possessions -- four touchdowns and a field goal -- to lead 31-7 at the intermission.

Two of those drives covered 80 yards, including a last dagger that resulted in a TD just five seconds before the end of the half.

"The first half was a nightmare," Southeast coach Tim Billings said.

And, from Southeast's perspective, the first-half statistics were perhaps even uglier than the score.

The Bears held a whopping 316 to 76 edge in total yardage over the opening two periods, along with 21 first downs to just three for the Redhawks, and a time of possession advantage of 21:50 to 8:10.

Southeast crossed midfield just once in the first half, that coming with less than 7 minutes left, but the drive stalled at the MSU 36-yard line.

MSU tailback Lee Baker went over 100 yards in the first half alone, with 133 yards on 22 carries.

"That's the worst half of football we've played since I can't remember when. We basically stunk," Billings said. "We couldn't get anything going offensively, and defensively that's as bad as we've played.

"Before the game my biggest concern was being able to stop the running attack. If you can't stop the run, you're in trouble."

Said MSU coach Randy Ball: "That's about as good a first half as you can play."

The Redhawks had considerably more success in the second half, receiving a spark from backup quarterback Kevin Ballatore, who directed two touchdown drives and also had a TD pass wiped out because he was ruled to have crossed the line of scrimmage.

But Southeast never really threatened to get back into the game. After John Radney scored on a 9-yard run with 8:13 left in the third quarter to make it 31-14, MSU came back with a touchdown less than 3 minutes later and the Bears pretty well kept it on cruise control the rest of the way.

Trailing 45-14, Ballatore hit Elton Peterson on an 8-yard TD pass with 1:55 left to complete the scoring.

MSU wound up with 496 total yards, to 346 for Southeast, which gained 270 yards in the second half. The Bears had 238 yards rushing to just 41 for the Redhawks.

"We played better and harder in the second half," Billings said. "I really thought we were ready to play [in the first half]. I don't know why we played so bad."

Ballatore, playing most of the second half, completed 14 of 19 passes, for 147 yards, and he also rushed three times for 15 yards. Billings considered him by far Southeast's bright spot.

"No doubt, he was the biggest bright spot," Billings said. "He came in and gave us a great spark. He gave us some life."

Billings was not ready to make a decision immediately after the game, but Ballatore will be considered to start Saturday's OVC opener against Jacksonville State. Mike Haley, who has started all three contests, was 14 of 22 for 158 yards against MSU, with one interception.

"We have to evaluate the film, but if were playing again right now, he [Ballatore] would probably be the guy," Billings said.

Radney led Southeast in receptions with six for 55 yards, while T.J. Milcic and Joseph Tuineau both caught four passes.

According to unofficial statistics, safety Mike Miller led Southeast in tackles with 14, followed by cornerback Monroe Hicks with 10 and White with nine. Linebacker Tunde Agboke had two tackles for loss.

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MISSOURI STATE 45, SOUTHEAST 21

Southeast 7 0 7 7 -- 21

Missouri St. 14 17 7 7 -- 45

First Quarter

S -- Kellin White 64-yard interception return (Colin Schermann kick)

M -- Payne Ball 5-yard pass from Scott Carroll (Jon Scifers kick)

M -- Calvin Nealy 33-yard pass from Lee Barker (Scifres kick)

Second Quarter

M -- Scifres 33-yard field goal

M -- Hall 13-yard pass from Carroll (Scifres kick)

M -- Michael Sparks 13-yard pass from A.J. Porter (Scifres kick)

Third Quarter

S -- John Radney 9-yard run (Schermann kick)

M -- Michael Cooper 1-yard run (Scifres kick)

Fourth Quarter

M -- Cooper 1-yard run (Scifres kick)

S -- Elton Peterson 8-yard pass from Kevin Ballatore (Schermann kick)

Southeast Missouri St.

First downs 18 29

Rushes-yards 16-41 56-238

Passing yards 305 258

Passes 28-41-1 19-24-1

Punts 6-41.3 3-41

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 11-73 3-15

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Southeast, Brandon Simpson 1-18, Kevin Ballatore 3-15, John Radney 4-13, Tim Holloman 2-9, Elton Peterson 3-1, Mike Haley 2-(-6); Missouri St., Lee Baker 24-134, P.J. Ikner 14-73, Michael Cooper 8-16, Calvin Nealy 2-14, Gerald Davis 3-11, Scott Carroll 1-7, Jeff Sargent 1-1, RaMel McIntosh 1-1, A.J. Porter 1-0.

PASSING -- Southeast, Haley 14-22-1-158, Ballatore 14-19-0-147; Missouri St., Carroll 12-16-1-138, A.J. Porter 6-7-0-87, Lee Baker 1-1-0-33.

RECEIVING -- Southeast, Radney 6-55, T.J. Milcic 4-66, Joseph Tuineau 4-48, Simpson 3-29, Peterson 3-22, Holloman 2-30, Jamel Oliver 2-27, Brian Matthews 2-18, Samora Goodson 2-10; Missouri St., Michael Sparks 5-31, Jeremy Nicholson 4-35, Nealy 3-46, Franz von Haas 2-44, Payne Hall 2-18, Kaya Farris 1-55, Ryan Green 1-23, Cooper 1-6.