Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Southeast football team loses heartbreaker in season finale

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Southeast Missouri State University football team's season ended with a loss after opportunities to score in the fourth quarter were wasted. In the final minutes, Southeast could have tied or taken the lead, but a missed extra point attempt and a dropped pass left them short of a victory.

The Redhawks trailed by 14 points going into the fourth quarter before senior quarterback Matt Scheible led his team to three touchdowns, but the rally fell short and Southeast lost 35-34 to Murray State on Saturday at Houck Stadium.

"You're mad about it, but we're exhausted, we gave everything we had out there on the field today," Scheible said. "Sometimes you just come up a little short and unfortunately it had to be the last game for our seniors and the last game of the season for this team."

With 3:10 left in the game Southeast trailed 35-28 when Spencer Davis rushed for 53 yards, putting SEMO at the Murray State 7-yard line. Quarterback Matt Scheible then completed a pass to wide receiver Chantae Ahamefule at the 2-yard line.

Scheible eventually scored with 1:03 on the clock, bringing Southeast to within one point of Murray State, but junior kicker Drew Geldbach's extra point attempt was blocked.

Southeast got another life when Jonnie Morgan forced and recovered a Muray State fumble with 48 seconds left on the clock.

"That was a great pull out," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "I had a great view of that strip. I couldn't see who did it, but they got their hand on the ball perfectly and pulled it out."

Southeast moved the ball to the Murray State 38-yard line with 30 seconds left and nearly scored on a pass to Ahamafule, but he was unable to hold onto it.

"One play doesn't change the game," Samuel said about the dropped pass. "That's what I tried to tell Manny. He's pretty shook up about that. They always automatically assume that they're the one that lost the game."

Southeast had other opportunities in the final 30 seconds and had led once during the second quarter, but were unable to pull out a victory. Southeast ended the season with a record of 3-8.

Southeast was led on defense by Blake Peiffer who had 15 tackles. He broke the school record for most tackles in a season with 151.

"At the beginning of the season, I didn't expect to get it this year," Peiffer said. "To get it this year, I can only thank the guys around me, everybody on that defense, the coaches. They all participated in it and were a part of it."

This was the final game at Southeast for 14 seniors, including three-year starting quarterback Scheible. Scheible passed for 143 yards and rushed for 105 against the Racers.

Scheible ended his career at Southeast with 4,841 yards passing and 2,595 yards rushing. He was the first Ohio Valley Conference quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 2,000 yards in a career.

"We have to replace a great quarterback and that's going to be a great challenge," Samuel said. "I hope he sticks around and helps us get them ready. I think he'd make a great coach. I'd love to have him around."

Comments