SEMO's Paul Lloyd is hit by two KU defenders.  (photo/KU Athletics)

SEMO’s Paul Lloyd is hit by two KU defenders. (photo/KU Athletics)

Southeast Missouri scored 28 second-half points, including 21 in the fourth quarter but came up short losing 34-28 loss at Kansas Saturday night.  Southeast trailed, 24-0, at halftime before outscoring KU 28-10 in the final two quarters. KU scored 24 points in the first quarter

“I couldn’t believe we were in a football game with three turnovers and 174 yards in penalties,”  said Southeast head coach Tom Matukewicz. “I felt like our team grew up.”

Paul McRoberts caught six passes for a career-high 173 yards and scored two of the Redhawks fourth-quarter touchdowns.

After a blocked field goal and personal foul penalty, SEMO ran four times and scored on a seven-yard run by DeMichael Jackson to make it a 24-7 game with 10:34 remaining in the third quarter.  KU answered with a 67-yard touchdown pass making it a 31-7 game.

Southeast opened the final quarter with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Snyder to Spencer Davis.  After KU missed a 49-yard field goal, Snyder threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to McRoberts on the very next play to slice KU’s lead to 34-21 with 10:39 left in the game.  Later in the quarter, SEMO faced a 4th-and-7 at the Jayhawks 26 and McRoberts made a spectacular catch in between two defenders in the end zone, as the Redhawks pulled to within six (34-28) with 1:33 on the clock.

Kansas recovered an onside kick to seal the win.

The Redhawks return to action at regional-rival and No. 25 Southern Illinois on Sept. 13.