SEMO bounces back to beat Western Illinois on senior night

SEMO beat Western Illinois this past Saturday on senior night in Houck Stadium by a score of 54-45. SEMO shined offensively with 54 points, Paxton DeLaurent passed for 375 yards with four touchdowns, Brandon Epton Jr. was back healthy for the Redhawks as he shined with 132 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.

On the third drive of the game the Redhawks were driving after the defense forced back to back punts Paxton DeLaurent found a now healthy Brandon Epton Jr. for a 21 yard touchdown catch giving SEMO a early 7-0 lead after DC Pippin tacked on the PAT

Western Illinois fired right back with a 16 yard touchdown catch by Brandon Lanier, DC Pippin answered right back nailing a 43 yard field goal giving them a 10-7 lead.

After Pippins field goal the Leathernecks responded back with a touchdown as Nathan Lamb threw a strike to Cameren Smith and went 81 yards to the house taking the lead 14-10 after the PAT.

Paxton DeLaurent did not take long responding to the Leathernecks as DeLaurent found Cam Pedro on a 39 yard heave giving the Redhawks a 17-14 lead after the PAT early in the second quarter.

Western Illinois came right back and responded with a Demari Davis 29 yard touchdown catch tying up the game at 21-17 a piece. On the kickoff after the touchdown SEMO would fumble the return and Western Illinois used that to extend their lead by kicking a field goal making a 24-17 lead.

SEMO responded right back as DeLaurent capped off a 5 minute drive with a 10 yard run tying up the game at 24 a piece right before the half.

An interception by SEMOs Mali Walton gave SEMO the ball back with 1:35 left in the half and SEMO made the most of it, scoring right before the half as Tristan Smith caught a 17 yard touchdown making SEMOs lead 31-24. Western Illinois would make a field goal right before the half making SEMOs lead 31-27 at the half.

SEMO did not skip a beat after the half as Dorian Anderson caught a 48 yard touchdown pass to start the second half extending the lead to 38-27 early into the second half.

Western Illinois punted it back to the Redhawks and DC Pippin would finish off SEMOs drive with a 20 yard field goal making the Redhawks lead 41-27.

Western Illinois fired right back with a 81 yard strike as Matthew Henry caught a 81 yard touchdown, a missed PAT made SEMOs lead 41-33.

DC Pippin would extend the lead to 44-33 with a 40 yard field goal.

Cameron Smith capped off a long drive for the Leathernecks, punching it in on a 3 yard run shortening SEMOs lead to 44-39.

After Bryce Norman forced a fumble for the Redhawks they would capitalize scoring a 5 yard rushing touchdown by Brandon Epton Jr. giving SEMO a 51-39 yard lead.

SEMO was not done quite yet as DC Pippin scored a 33 yard field goal extending the lead to 54-39.

SEMO would not score for the rest of the game, SEMO allowed one more touchdown but that would do it from Houck as SEMO would win 54-45 in one of the most entertaining games of the season.

SEMO plays at Tennessee State next week as the winner will clinch a OVC title and a playoff berth.