Sept. 14, 2002

Box Score

Ypsilanti, Mich. September 14, 2002) - The Southeast Missouri Football team, for the second straight season, has lost a game at Eastern Michigan University in the final minutes of the game, as EMU drove the length of the field in the span of a minute, twenty-three seconds to score the game-winning touchdown. The final score was 35-32.

Southeast Missouri scored the game's first ten points as junior quarterback Jack Tomco hit senior receiver Willie Ponder for a 54-yard pass on the first drive for Southeast. With 6:07 left in the first quarter, kicker Derek Kutz added a 25-yard field goal to move the Tribe's lead to 10-0.

Eastern then scored on a short pass with 30 seconds left in the first quarter and added another short pass with 19 seconds left in the half to make the score 14-10 in favor of EMU.

Southeast senior running back Keiki Misipeka started up the second half by busting through for a one-yard touchdown run with 10:21 left in the third quarter. Eastern scored 14 unanswered points in an Ime Akpan 63-yard run and a 32-pass on a fake field goal to run the score to 28-17.

Southeast, however, bounced back as they utilized a no-huddle offense to perfection driving down the field and passing the ball beautifully finalizing the opening drive of the fourth quarter with a 22-yard pass from Tomco to Chris NesSmith. Tomco then converted the two-point try on a pass to T.J. Milcic.

The Indians, just as before on the last possession, drove the length of the field, this time with Misipeka doing the brunt of the work as he finished off the 73-yard possession with a five-yard touchdown run up the gut. Kutz added the point after giving the Tribe a four-point lead.

With 2:38 left on the game clock Southeast kicked off in a very familiar situation as they were leading with the same amount of time on the clock last season in Ypsilanti.

Eastern quarterback Troy Edwards completed pass after pass, taking very little time off the clock as they had only one timeout. With 55 seconds left in the game and a fourth and two staring Eastern in the face, Edwards completed a 16-yard pass to Kevin Walter for the game-winning touchdown. Kicker Eric Klaban would add the point after to give Eastern a three-point lead.

Southeast got the ball back with 55 seconds and drove down the field. They ended up at the EMU 30 yard line and with four seconds left, brought out Kutz for a 47-yard field goal attempt to try and tie the game. Kutz's kick was on line but didn't have enough on it and fell just short.

Southeast outplayed Eastern in every offensive category. They had one more first down and out-rushed the Eagles 166 to 153 yards. They out-passed Eastern 309 to 254. Southeast had 475 total yards to Eastern's 407. In the end, Southeast just couldn't close out the game.

Southeast was led by the combo of Misipeka and Tomco. Misipeka rushed 14 times for 126 yards and a 9.0 average. Tomco completed 24 of 33 attempts for 298 yards. Ponder had 121 yards receiving with a 54-yard touchdown. NesSmith had 114 yards receiving with a touchdown, as well.

Southeast now tries to recoup and get ready for another road contest next week as they travel to Springfield, Mo. to take on the Bears of Southwest Missouri.