Southeast Missouri State tops Southern Illinois 38-21 with DeLaurent’s 4 TDs
- Paxton DeLaurent threw four touchdown passes, completing 25 of 40 passes for 301 yards.
- Southeast Missouri State led 16-12 at halftime, but Southern Illinois briefly took the lead in the third quarter.
- The Redhawks secured their victory with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, improving their record to 3-1.
On Saturday night in Carbondale, Illinois, Southeast Missouri State faced off against Southern Illinois in a competitive football matchup. Paxton DeLaurent led the Redhawks with an impressive performance, throwing four touchdown passes and completing 25 of 40 attempts for a total of 301 yards. His key targets were Dorian Anderson and Tristan Smith, who combined for 15 receptions, with Anderson scoring two touchdowns and accumulating 111 yards. The game started with Southeast Missouri State leading 16-12 at halftime. However, Southern Illinois took the lead in the third quarter when Willtrell Hartson scored on a 3-yard run, making the score 21-16. The Redhawks quickly responded, regaining the lead with a 19-yard touchdown reception by Anderson from DeLaurent, ending the third quarter at 24-21. In the final quarter, Southeast Missouri State solidified their victory with two more touchdowns. DeLaurent connected with Mitchell Sellers for a 3-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Payton Brown, who also had a standout performance with 124 rushing yards. Southern Illinois, despite a strong effort from quarterback Hunter Simmons, who passed for 348 yards, could not overcome the Redhawks' offensive surge. This victory improved Southeast Missouri State's record to 3-1, while Southern Illinois fell to 2-2, highlighting the competitive nature of the matchup and the effectiveness of SEMO's offensive strategy.