DeLaurent, SEMO lead from start to finish in commanding 38-27 win over Eastern Illinois

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- , Paxton DeLaurent threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns and Southeast Missouri State never trailed in a 38-27 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday. DC Pippin staked the Redhawks (5-1, 2-0 Big South-OVC) to a lead on a 26-yard field goal five minutes in. Before the first quarter closed, DeLaurent threw a 9-yard touchdown to Mitchell Sellers and a 29-yarder to Dorian Anderson . Cole Ruble 's 2-yard run made it a 24-0 advantage with 9:35 before halftime. Eastern Illinois (1-5, 0-2) got back in it when Pierce Holley threw a 12-yard score to Cooper Willman to close the half. The Panthers used a seven-play, 75-yard that ended when MJ Flowers crashed in from the 1 to reduce the deficit to 24-14. But SEMO answered on the ensuing drive when DeLaurent threw a 3-yard score to Tristan Smith at the end of a four-play, 73-yard drive.