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.