Southeast Missouri State's third consecutive loss, all in Ohio Valley Conference play, held a familiar theme.

The Redhawks hung tough with a favored opponent and had plenty of chances to perhaps pull off an upset.

But missed opportunities and four turnovers haunted the Redhawks on Saturday as visiting Tennessee-Martin won 27-17.

An announced Houck Stadium crowd of 5,820 on homecoming saw the Redhawks fall to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in OVC play.

UTM (6-2, 4-1) moved atop the OVC standings with its third straight win.

Southeast quarterback Scott Lathrop tries to break through the Tennessee-Martin defense Saturday at Houck Stadium. (ADAM VOGLER)

"We had a lot of missed opportunities going in. ... That's a little bit out of character for us," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "We probably left 17, 20 points on the field."

A lot of numbers seemed to favor the Redhawks Saturday. They had a 414 to 320 edge in total yardage and a commanding advantage in time of possession, 36 minutes, 18 seconds to 23:42.

"Everything kind of fit into the game plan. We just didn't close the thing out," Samuel said.

Three of Southeast's four turnovers came in the fourth quarter as the Redhawks were trying to make a comeback. They entered play with just 10 turnovers in their first six games.

"We played good. A couple of mistakes hurt us in the long run. That's football," sophomore wide receiver Spencer Davis said.

Southeast Missouri State linebacker Dylan Flannery, right, brings down Tennessee-Martin receiver Jeremy Butler. (ADAM VOGLER)

Southeast gave up a touchdown just 2 minutes, 10 seconds into the game after a 56-yard punt return by senior Jason McNair set UTM up at the 7-yard line.

The Skyhawks needed only two plays to score on a 1-yard sneak by senior quarterback Derek Carr.

But the Redhawks controlled most of the remainder of the half. They simply failed to take advantage of their chances.

"It seems to be our Achilles heel," said senior tailback Levi Terrell, who had his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance with 136 yards on 22 carries. "We have to be able to punch it in when we get close."

The Redhawks failed to do that and it cost them.

Tennessee-Martin safety Julius McNair breaks up a pass to Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Spencer Davis in the end zone during the Redhawks’ 27-17 loss to the Skyhawks on Saturday. (ADAM VOGLER)

First Southeast tied the contest at 7-7 with a 57-yard drive that ended on a 18-yard touchdown reception by Davis from redshirt freshman quarterback Scott Lathrop with 3:40 left in the opening quarter.

Then came the missed opportunities -- and they were golden.

Southeast drove to a first-and-goal at the UTM 5-yard line early in the second quarter. Things stalled and senior Drew Geldbach was wide on a 20-yard field-goal attempt.

Senior safety Tylor Brock's interception in the end zone and 47-yard return led to Southeast driving inside the UTM 10-yard line before the Redhawks again bogged down. It was Brock's fourth interception of the year.

This time Geldbach hit a 32-yarder with 3:50 left before halftime for a 10-7 lead.

Southeast Missouri State fullback Ron Coleman breaks free from University of Tennessee-Martin safety J'Vontez Blackmon during the Redhawks' 27-17 loss to the Skyhawks Saturday, October 20, during Homecoming at Houck Stadium. (ADAM VOGLER)

"We move the ball. Just simple plays, one play here or there, cost us the game," Lathrop said.

UTM's explosive offense, averaging a little more than 400 yards per game, had been held to just 69 yards to that point as Southeast controlled the clock.

But the Skyhawks finally got things going and took control of the game.

A 75-yard drive culminated by a three-yard touchdown pass from Carr to senior wide receiver Quentin Sims with 22 seconds remaining in the half put UTM up 14-10.

Southeast true freshman DeMichael Jackson fumbled the ensuing kickoff and UTM recovered at the 25-yard line with 16 seconds left. Senior Cody Sandlin's 32-yard field goal made it 17-10 at the break.

University of Tennessee-Martin linebacker Jett Howard breaks up a pass to Southeast Missouri State wide receiver D.J. Foster during the Redhawks' 27-17 loss to the Skyhawks Saturday, October 20, during Homecoming at Houck Stadium. (ADAM VOGLER)

"I was glad it was just three points," Samuel said of holding the Skyhawks to a field goal after the turnover.

Sandlin's 35-yard field goal on the opening possession of the second half put UTM on top 20-10.

The Redhawks answered with an 86-yard drive capped by Lathrop's 1-yard plunge, cutting the deficit to 20-17 with 4:19 left in the third quarter.

UTM answered right back with a 79-yard drive, McNair's 3-yard run boosting the advantage back to 27-17 with 1:25 remaining in the period.

There was no further scoring even though the Redhawks had plenty of chances to put heat on UTM. Three turnovers proved costly.

Southeast Missouri State running back Levi Terrell cuts up the middle of the Tennessee-Martin defense during the Redhawks’ 27-17 loss to the Skyhawks. (ADAM VOGLER)

Southeast had a first down at UTM's 14-yard line when Lathrop lost a fumble.

"I had it high and tight. The guy just made a great play," Lathrop said.

Southeast's defense forced a three-and-out. Davis' 33-yard punt return led to the Redhawks driving to a first-and-goal at the UTM 6-yard line, but a Lathrop pass was intercepted in the end zone with 4:57 to play.

UTM ran all but 1:01 off the clock and put an exclamation point on the win by intercepting Lathrop with 24 seconds left.

"Losing sucks either way, but whenever you lose by 10 or less it hurts even more," said All-American senior linebacker Blake Peiffer from Jackson High School, who led Southeast's defense with 12 tackles.

Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Spencer Davis leaps to catch a pass from quarterback Scott Lathrop during the Redhawks' 27-17 loss to the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks Saturday, October 20, during Homecoming at Houck Stadium. (ADAM VOGLER)

Lathrop had another gritty performance despite being sacked three times and harrassed on numerous other plays. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 153 yards and rushed for 61 yards on 24 carries.

"Scotty played hard. He's running the ball, throwing it. He's such a competitive guy," Samuel said. "We did give great effort. We continue to give great effort."

UTM senior Tevin Barksdale rushed for 107 yards on just 11 carries. Carr completed 22 of 28 passes for 156 yards, well below his nationally-ranked average of more than 290 yards.

"I feel like we [the defense] played better this week compared to last week," said Peiffer of a 40-28 loss to Tennessee State. "We just couldn't get that big stop again."