Jackson gets first interception, first touchdown

CHENEY, Wash. -- It took Joshua Jackson virtually all of four seasons to notch his first collegiate interception.

And when Jackson finally got one, he didn't leave it at that. He also scored his first collegiate touchdown on the play during Saturday's 37-17 loss at top-ranked Eastern Washington.

"Seeing as I had had three opportunities before that ... it was great," said Jackson, Southeast Missouri State's senior linebacker, in reference to chances at picks he let get away earlier in the season.

Even though the first playoff game in Southeast's 104-year football history ended in a lopsided loss, Jackson's play looked for a while like it had a chance to come during a win.

EWU led 7-0 when it was backed up inside its 10-yard line late in the first quarter.

Redhawks flock to Southeast Missouri State senior defender Joshua Jackson, center, after his touchdown during the first half in Cheney, Wash.

Bo Levi Mitchell's short pass into the flat went right to Jackson, who had stepped in front of the intended target at the 10-yard line. Jackson had clear sailing to the end zone.

"He [Mitchell] looked right at him [the intended receiver]," Jackson said. "I watched the film. ... We've been practicing to break on the ball.

"It was a great feeling. I was glad I was able to put some points up for the team."

Southeast and EWU were tied 17-17 at halftime before the Eagles dominated the second half with a 20-0 scoring advantage.

Jackson still went out in style as he recorded a career-high 15 tackles. The second-team all-Ohio Valley Conference selection finished the season with a team-high 85 tackles.

"I was really just playing to keep playing," Jackson said of his mindset of trying to advance in the playoffs.

Despite the loss, Jackson had no regrets as he and Southeast's other 19 seniors helped lead the Redhawks' turnaround after last year's 2-9 record.

"I'm proud of everybody," he said.

First-half lament

Southeast coach Tony Samuel second-guessed himself for a timeout he called late in the first half with the score tied 14-14.

Southeast faced fourth-and-1 at the EWU 16 with less than a minute left. The Redhawks lined up for a field goal but then called a timeout with 48 seconds remaining.

Samuel said the timeout was called because he contemplated going for it after the Redhawks had converted successfully two fourth downs earlier in the contest.

As it turned out, Samuel elected for the field goal anyway and sophomore Drew Geldbach nailed a 34-yarder with 43 seconds left.

The Redhawks would have been able to bleed the clock to less than 20 seconds had they not called a timeout, although EWU had timeouts left and could have chosen to stop the clock.

EWU took advantage of the time remaining by driving for a tying field goal with 1 second left in the half.

"We played a real tough first half ... if I can take back the last 48 seconds," Samuel said.

Statistically speaking

Southeast finished with 268 yards compared to 395 for EWU. The Redhawks were held to 26 yards in the second half.

Senior tailback Henry Harris, who broke five single-season school records, had his 10th 100-yard rushing game of the year.

Harris finished with 108 yards on 20 carries but he had lost 1 yard on six second-half attempts. He ended the year with a school-record 1,735 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns, another school mark.

Junior quarterback Matt Scheible completed 6 of 15 passes for 69 yards. He was intercepted twice-- both in the final six minutes with Southeast behind 37-17 -- after having thrown just one pick this season entering Saturday's game.

Scheible also rushed for 54 yards on 14 carries. He finished the year with 887 yards rushing.

Senior tailback Mike Jones gained 37 yards on just four attempts.

Senior tight end Bradley Brown led Southeast receivers with two catches for 26 yards. Junior Chantae Ahamefule caught one pass for 38 yards.

While Jackson paced Southeast's defense with 15 tackles, fellow senior linebacker Justin Woodlief was close behind with 13 stops. Senior safety Aris Bowen added eight tackles, including a team-high 1.5 for loss.

EWU's offense was balanced. Junior All-American tailback Taiwan Jones, the Big Sky Conference co-offensive player of the year, had 168 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns.

Mitchell, a junior quarterback, completed 21 of 34 for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior All-American linebacker J.C. Sherritt, the Big Sky Conference defensive player of the year and the nation's No. 2 tackler, led the Eagles with 10 stops.

Penalties, penalties

Southeast entered the contest among the nation's least penalized teams, ranking first in penalty yards per game (31.73) and second in penalties per game (4.09).

The Redhawks were penalized nine times for 106 yards, surpassing their previous season highs of seven penalties for 57 yards. Southeast had seven first-half penalties for 81 yards.

"We had an awful lot of penalties," Samuel said. "Probably a little too emotional, a little too excited."