Southeast Missouri State Kicks past Indiana State 23-21
Three field goals from Justin Keller (42, 43 and 45 yards) made up 9 of Southeast Missouri State's 23 points, and the last one was the winner. Flip those three kicks into misses and Indiana State wins by a touchdown. Kickers get a bad rap. Not here.
Southeast Missouri State led most of the way. Khyair Spain ran in from 8 yards in the first quarter, Indiana State tied it 7-7 on a 4-yard pass from Elijah Owens to Keshon Singleton early in the second, and Keller's field goal as the half ended made it 10-7. John Anthony then caught an 18-yard touchdown from Braylen Ragland early in the third for 17-7. Ashton Hayes got Indiana State within three with a 1-yard run late in that quarter.
Then came the fourth quarter, and every point of it was a trade. Keller kicked a 43-yarder with 12:30 left (20-14). Owens answered with a 25-yard touchdown to Jayden Reed with 10:26 left, and Indiana State led 21-20. The lead lasted just over three minutes of clock. Keller hit from 45 yards with 7:04 to go, and there was no more scoring after that.
The box score looks like a coin flip. Indiana State had 346 total yards to 334, and 288 of its yards came through the air. Southeast Missouri State had 4 sacks to 1, and no turnovers against Indiana State's one interception. Neither team could run, with 60 rushing yards for the Redhawks and 58 for the Sycamores.
Southeast Missouri State opens 1-0, Indiana State 0-1. Fantasy owners got a quarterback with 24.6 points on the losing side, which is a sentence you hear more than you would think.