The Southeast Missouri State University football team showed that it was not a pushover team in its matchup against a powerful 49-point favorite Southeastern Conference team Ole Miss on Saturday night in Oxford, Miss.

The Redhawks dug themselves into a deep hole early in the first half and trailed 31-0 at halftime.

But the Redhawks' defense held the Rebels scoreless in the second half and the offense kept things interesting on offense through the air and on the ground.

The Redhawks looked impressive on their first two drives of the first half, picking up more than 60 yards in passing and rushing combined.

Their possessions were cut short by the Ole Miss defense as the Redhawks failed to get into the endzone on their first two possessions and the entire first half.

The first half belonged to the Rebels.

Ole Miss took the ball all the way down field until the Redhawks defense was able to hold Mississippi on a third and 10 at the Southeast 20.

Andrew Ritter kicked a 37-yard field goal to put Ole Miss on the board with 9:02 left in the first quarter.

Ole Miss took their next four possessions into the end zone. The quarterback tandem of Bo Wallace and Barry Brunetti took over the offense. Wallace attacked from the air throwing for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Brunetti weaved in and out of defenders, rushing for 111 yards and a touchdown in the game.

Junior quarterback Wallace threw his first touchdown to Evan Engram for 64 yards with 1:06 left in the first quarter.

The Wallace to Engram touchdown came on Ole Miss' first play of the drive after Southeast was forced to punt.

In the second quarter with 13:03 to go, Donte Mcrief caught the ball on a 3rd and 10 at Ole Miss' 33-yard line. From there, he dodged the Redhawks defense and handily strolled into the end zone to put the Rebels up 17-0.

Mcrief and Wallace connected in the second quarter for a 67-yard touchdown. This gave the Rebels a comfortable 24-0 lead. Sophomore running back I'Tavius Mathers added to Ole Miss's offensive display of the first half with a 10-yard rush up the middle for a touchdown with just under six minutes to go in the first half.

The Redhawks closed out the half on a sour note when Lathrop threw a wobbly pass that was intercepted by Cody Prewitt.

Southeast had a solid passing attack in the second half and the defense held the Rebels' offense to 153 yards.

"I thought the defense did a pretty good job, especially in the second half," cornerback Cantrell Andrews said. "I feel like everybody did their part in the second half and focused more on their technique and assignments."

With 12 minutes left in the third quarter, Southeast had its best drive of the night. Lennies Mcferron and Ron Coleman shared carries up the middle, getting the Redhawks inside Ole Miss's 25-yard line.

Coleman helped the Redhawks convert again as he ran for a five yard gain on third and 4. After three unsuccessful rush attempts, the Redhawks were faced with a third and 8. Sophomore quarterback Scott Lathrop, who started in place of junior Kyle Snyder who was on the sidelines recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered in last week's game against Southeastern Louisiana, dropped back, faked the handoff, and found D.J. Foster in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. The Redhawks were on the board 31-7 after their first possession of the second half.

"Kyle was banged up, so Scotty [Lathrop] stepped up and did a really good job in the second half for us," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "He played a lot for us last year, so I knew he had the right fundamentals to go out and compete against a team like Ole Miss."

On the Rebels' next drive, Southeast defensive lineman Marion Hampton and Cody Core combined for a bone-crushing hit on Brunetti. The hit knocked Brunetti to his knees and jarred the football free. Ron Davis was in the middle of the scrum. He picked up the ball and returned it for 43 yards. Southeast had the ball in scoring position at the Ole Miss 27-yard line and had forced the Rebels' first turnover of the season.

After an incomplete pass and a rush for no gain, Lathrop dropped back and found junior wide receiver Spencer Davis just across the goal line for a touchdown. The Redhawks took advantage of the turnover and trailed 31-13 after a missed extra point attempt with 2:46 left in the third.

"I just wanted to come out and execute and do what the coaches wanted me to do," Lathrop said. "I thought we did a good job of moving the ball. It was a great atmosphere. I think we calmed down in the second half and that helped us score a couple touchdowns."

Southeast forced Ole Miss to punt for the first time in the game, which set them up for another scoring opportunity at the Rebels 36-yard line. The drive stalled, and the Redhawks were forced to punt.

Another scoring opportunity came late in the game when junior Daniel Siehndel intercepted Ole Miss' third quarterback of the night, senior Robert Ratliff. The drive after the interception fizzled and Southeast could not find the end zone.

The Redhawks have preparations for their next game, Sept. 21 when they take on Southern Illinois University-Carbondale at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

"We've gotta work on the fundamentals first," Samuel said. "Our game speed and tempo need to pick up, our kicking game needs improvement, and with such a young team we're going to have growing pains, but we'll be ready for the Salukis."

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