Gameday blog: Southeast at UT Martin

The view from the press box at UT Martin, as Southeast Missouri State faces the Skyhawks.

A week after gaining 0 yards on 28 rushing attempts, an improved rushing attack has Southeast Missouri State football hanging around at halftime against the second-place team in the Ohio Valley Conference. At intermission, the Redhawks trail hosts UT Martin 10-7.

Southeast has 65 rushing yards on 13 carries through the first two quarters. Senior running back Will Young leads the team with 35 yards on eight carries (4.4 yards per rush). Last week against No. 2 Jacksonville State, SEMO had 0 yards on 28 attempts.

SEMO quarterback Jesee Hosket had the Redhawks' sole touchdown of the first half, a 1-yard QB sneak with 4:06 left in the half that gave Southeast a 7-3 lead. The junior college transfer is 4 for 16 with 69 yards through the air.

UTM stuck first with a 33-yard field goal from Brett Arkelian with 5:28 left in the first period. That field goal capped off a 14-play, 51-yard drive.

After the Redhawks took the lead on Hosket's plunge into the end zone, the Skyhawks responded on the next possession with a 5-yard, 75-yard TD drive. UTM redshirt junior quarterback Troy Cook threw a 14-yard TD pass to wide reciever Caylton Weathers. Cook is 13 of 22 in the first half for 117 yards. Weathers was his favorite target with five catches and a game-high 56 yards.

On the ground, Jaimiee Bowe leads UTM with 52 yards on six rushes.

SEMO had a chance to tie the game up before half but kicker Ryan McCrum missed a 52-yard field goal wide right.

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The Southeast Missouri State football team faces a stiff test as it takes on UT Martin on the road at 2 p.m. Saturday.

UT Martin is second in the Ohio Valley Conference and sports a 6-4 record (5-1 OVC). The Redhawks are 3-6 (3-3).

You can follow along on Twitter @semoballPhillip for live updates throughout the game, and you don't have to have a Twitter account to see the posts.

To get up to speed, check out a preview of the game here.

Southeast is coming off a 17-10 homecoming loss to No. 2 Jacksonville State last week. The Redhawks struggled to run the ball against the conference leaders and finished with 0 rushing yards on 28 carries.

In other news, the Redhawks announced this week sophomore backup quarterback Dante Vandeven, who graduated from Jackson High School, will transfer from the program.