Jayhawks just too much as Southeast Missouri State football falls on road in season opener

Southeast Missouri State defensive back Shabari Davis pulls in a punt while being chased by Kansas wide receiver Ryan Schadler during the first half Saturday in Lawrence, Kansas. Kansas won 38-16.

Reed Hoffmann ~ Associated Press

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- It only took one big play for the Southeast Missouri State football team to receive its first gut check of the season.

On a broken play in the Redhawks' secondary, Kansas quarterback Peyton Bender connected with wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. on a 77-yard TD just 2 minutes, 19 seconds into Saturday night's season opener at Memorial Stadium, and the Jayhawks rode off to a 38-16 victory.

Bender finished with four TDs to lead Kansas, and while the outcome wasn't what anyone on the visiting sideline had in mind, Redhawks coach Tom Matukewicz liked the fight he saw from his team, particularly late.

"At times, it could've gotten away, and we didn't let that happen," said Matukewicz, whose program received $415,000 for competing against the Football Bowl Subdivision opponent. " ... All of the things that happened negative, I felt like, are correctable things that we can do.

"They're obviously talented, and they made some plays out in space on some deep balls and stuff like that. But I still like this football team."

After a three-and-out, Bender capped a short scoring drive with a 10-yard pass to Chase Harrell that extended the Jayhawks' lead to 14-0 with 8:57 left in the first quarter.

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Jesse Hosket scrambles away from Kansas during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

After Southeast (0-1) stalled out on offense two more times, Evan Scales booted a 40-yard punt, but Omar Pierre-Louis forced Kansas returner Patrick Tyler to fumble the ball. And Omardrick Douglas jumped on the loose ball to set the Redhawks' offense up with a short field at the Jayhawks' 24-yard line.

Southeast found the end zone five plays later when WR Trevon Billington hauled in a 9-yard TD pass from QB Jesse Hosket, cutting the deficit to 14-7 with 8:52 remaining in the first half.

"It could've gotten away from us, but this team's not like that," Matukewicz said. "... They're just all about doing what it takes, and so they settled in nicely."

SEMO's momentum carried over into the next drive, as Shabari Davis intercepted Bender's pass on third-and-9 to once again set the offense up with a short field.

However, the Redhawks were unable to take advantage of the opportunity. A pair of penalties moved the ball back to midfield, and the Redhawks were forced to punt.

"We moved the ball. We just didn't execute down in the red zone on some things," Matukewicz said, "but it just gave me confidence that if our O-line can hold up there, I think we're going to be good the rest of this schedule we've got."

After both teams traded possessions, the Jayhawks put together a three-play scoring drive that spanned 52 yards and lasted only 54 seconds, capped when Bender found Sims in the end zone from 16 yards out, moving Kansas (1-0) ahead 21-7 with 13 seconds left before halftime.

Southeast Missouri State defensive back Shabari Davis (24) is tackled by Kansas Jayhawks wide receiver Chase Harrell (3) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

"We've got to win those situations," said Redhawks senior outside linebacker Chad Meredith, who finished with six tackles. "That's a two-minute situation. That's big time, especially going into the half."

Southeast trimmed its deficit to 21-10 when Nicholas Litang kicked a 45-yard field goal through the uprights with 11:25 left in the third quarter.

But the Jayhawks added two more scores before the end of the quarter.

A 10-yard TD run by Dom Williams capped a 54-yard scoring drive at the 10:17 mark before Bender found tight end Ben Johnson wide open over the middle for a 57-yard TD that moved Kansas ahead 35-10 with 8:26 left in the third.

"It just came down to giving up too many big plays," Meredith said. "... We didn't play consistently enough. We let up those big plays, but we saw those glimpses of what we can be. And if we can work to that, I think we'll be all right."

An aborted snap on third down led to the Redhawks' only turnover of the game late in the third quarter. Kansas cashed in when Gabriel Rui converted a 25-yard field goal, giving the hosts their largest lead of the game, 38-10.

Southeast answered on the ensuing series. Hosket engineered a five-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a 22-yard TD pass to wideout Kristian Wilkerson, sealing the final score with 12:17 remaining.

Hosket completed 25 of 44 passes (57 percent) for 170 yards and a pair of TDs. Wilkerson had nine catches for 68 yards, while Billington added four catches for 44 yards.

"He didn't turn it over. He made some good checks," Matukewicz said about Hosket. "... I don't think people realize how good KU's defense is. It's hard to put those balls right where you need them when there's a lot of pressure, so I thought it was a good day."

Southeast struggled to move the ball on the ground against a stout Kansas defensive front. Running back Marquis Terry had 23 carries and accounted for 87 of SEMO's 94 yards on the ground.

Sims led all receivers with 142 yards and two TDs, while Jeremiah Booker added five grabs for 66 yards.

Bender was 23-of-37 passing for 364 yards but won his first start at the Division I level despite a run game that produced only 73 yards on 23 carries.

"I thought we held up against the run," Matukewicz said. "It was really just the big plays. If you take the big plays out, it's a one-score game, probably."

Kansas linebacker Joe Dineen had a game-high 15 tackles, including 2 1/2 for loss.

Southeast returns to action at 6 p.m. Saturday against Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.

"Obviously any loss is going to sting, but we can't let it define us," Meredith said. "We've got to move on and get ready for Dayton."