For one half, Eastern and Southeast Missouri were locked in a back-and-forth duel where neither team could find a way to get its offense started. The Panthers and Redhawks combined for seven punts in the first half and twelve for the game.

After halftime, Eastern was able to get its offense rolling, scoring 17 points to SEMO’s three. The Panthers came away from Cape Girardeau, Mo., with a 31-16 victory and the edge in the position breakdown.

Quarterback

Eastern’s Bodie Reeder was not nearly as accurate as he was last weekend against Indiana State, but he did throw for three touchdowns. Reeder finished the game 13-of-28 for 159 yards and was sacked three times, but his third touchdown pass gave Eastern the lead in the third quarter and would not relinquish it. SEMO’s Victor Anderson and Steve Callanan split time at quarterback for the Redhawks, but neither one was able to find much success through the air. Anderson did not complete a single pass, and Callanan was 7-of-18 for 60 yards and one interception.

Edge: Eastern

Running Back

This game was a ground battle from the start. The Redhawks relied solely on its run game from play one. SEMO’s Timmy Holloman rushed for 113 yards by halftime with the bulk of his yardage coming off a 52-yard touchdown run at the beginning of the second quarter. After a slow start in the first half, Eastern’s run game doubled its output in the second half. With starter Travorus Bess not playing due to injury, Ademola Adeniji and Ron Jordan got more playing time. Jordan led the Panthers with 116 yards rushing including a 41-yard run in the second quarter. After scoring seven rushing touchdowns against Indiana State, Adeniji’s one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was Eastern’s only rushing touchdown of the game.

Edge: Draw

Receivers

Through three quarters, SEMO rarely tried to move the ball through the air. The Redhawks’ receivers combined for only seven catches for 60 yards, and their top receiver had only two receptions. Eastern’s air attack was also far from perfect, but three Panthers caught touchdown passes. Eastern’s receivers were led by Micah Rucker’s three receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown. Jason Fisher and Jordan Campanella also caught touchdown passes. Rucker’s stat line is far different than his last game against SEMO. Last season, Rucker had 180 yards receiving and three touchdowns.

Edge: Eastern

Offensive Line

It didn’t seem like the big, physical offensive line that dominated Indiana St. was on the field for the Panthers against SEMO. It took Eastern an entire half to get its running game started, and the Redhawks were also able to get pressure on Reeder from the beginning of the game. Starting right tackle Anthony Rubican was injured and did not play most of the game, and his backup Kevin Mahoney was pulled after getting hit with a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. SEMO’s offensive line did a much better job at run blocking in the first half, as Holloman was able to gain more than 100 yards before halftime. Eastern’s defensive line was able to get pressure on SEMO’s quarterback later in the game, but as a whole, the Redhawks’ offensive line played better.

Edge: SEMO

Defensive Line

When SEMO got behind in the second half and had to turn to its passing game, Eastern’s defensive line was able to penetrate SEMO’s backfield and get pressure on Callanan. Panthers’ defensive end Pierre Walters laid a devastating hit on Callanan late in the game that produced an audible pop throughout the stadium. Callanan described Eastern’s defensive line as big and aggressive, and said he would feel the affects of getting knocked around so much. SEMO’s defensive line was able to sack Reeder three times, but did not steadily disrupt Eastern’s offense.

Edge: Eastern

Linebackers

Eastern’s top three tacklers were starting linebackers Jack Kosinksi, Donald Thomas and Matt Westrick, and they combined for 24 of Eastern’s 66 tackles. SEMO’s starting inside linebacker Adam Casper had almost that many tackles by himself. Casper had eight solo tackles and assisted on 12 more for a total of 20 tackles. Casper’s play alone kept SEMO in the game defensively.

Edge: SEMO

Secondary

Eastern, redshirt freshman, cornerback Rashad Haynes doubled his career interception totals by picking off two passes against SEMO. Both passes, one from Anderson and one from Callanan, were tipped and Haynes was in the right place to make the grab. Haynes’ returned his second interception 86 yards cutting across the field, trying to make it to the end zone before he was ultimately brought down at SEMO’s 12-yard line. The Redhawks’ secondary was able to keep Rucker in check most of the game, but they also gave up three touchdown passes.

Edge: Eastern

Special Teams

Both teams fumbled a punt return and lost possession, and both miscues led to points for the other team. Punters for both teams averaged more than 40 yards per punt and had two punts each inside the 20-yard line. The difference in special teams play came in the field goal kickers. SEMO’s Doug Spada was 3-of-3 on field goal attempts including a long of 38 yards. Eastern’s Tyler Wilke missed a 44-yard field goal but completed a 32-yard attempt.

Edge: SEMO

Coaches

SEMO head coach Tony Samuel stuck with what worked for his team: running the football. However, when his team fell behind, he had no legitimate passing threat to put in the game due to an injury to drop-back quarterback Houston Lillard. SEMO was also unable to fully capitalize on two Eastern fumbles deep in Eastern territory. Instead of finding the end zone for touchdowns, the Redhawks had to settle for two field goals. Leading by one at the half, Eastern made the necessary adjustments to come out and do what they do best. Pound the football on the ground and mix in an air attack. The adjustments meant the difference between a win and loss for the Panthers.

Edge: Eastern