(photo/Marc Mahnke, SEMO Athletics)

Ryan McCrum strikes the ball with this attempt.  (photo/Marc Mahnke, SEMO Athletics)

After missing three-straight field goals, Ryan McCrum kicked a game-winning 42-yarder with five seconds left to send Southeast Missouri (1-1) to a 27-24 win over Southern Illinois (0-2) Saturday night in a slugfest at Missouri National Guard Field/Houck Stadium.

The 83rd meeting between these regional-rivals went wire-to-wire and Southeast came from behind to pull off its first win over SIU since 2010.

McCrum’s rare three missed field goals came from 42, 38 and 39 yards out, but he delivered when it mattered most.

“It definitely wasn’t my best night,” said McCrum. “I believe God had a plan for me and he wanted me to make that last kick. I just had to move on and block out what had previously happened. I finally got one to go through the uprights.”

Austin Johnson’s 46-yard field goal widened SIU’s lead to 24-17 with 12:45 remaining in the third quarter and that would be the last of the Salukis scoring.  Tay Bender threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Paul McRoberts, bringing the game to a 24-24 deadlock with 2:27 left.

After holding SIU to a three-and-out, SEMO took over at the Saluki’s 49.  Moments after Southeast called timeout with 31 seconds remaining, Bender completed a 14-yard pass to DeMichael Jackson and a 7-yard pass to Paul McRoberts to set up McCrum’s game-winner.

“I’m exhausted,” said an elated Southeast head coach Tom Matukewicz. “Our guys did something no one in our locker room had done and that’s beat SIU.”

Story courtesy: SEMO Athletics