It was an emotional day for nine of APSU’s seniors when they played their final football game at Governor’s Stadium.
The Govs held strong for the first half but weren’t able to conquer the Redhawks of Southeast Missouri, losing 44-15.
APSU received the opening kickoff and did not look back in the first drive.
The Govs pushed down the field resulting in a 13-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior Tamarious Mitchell to sophomore James Coleman.
This was Mitchell’s first start of the 2015 football season.
This gave the Govs a 6-0 lead, while freshman kicker Logan Birchfield missed his fifth extra point of the season.
On the other side of the ball, redshirt freshman Dante Vandeven made it 7-6 with a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter with 1:15 left on the clock.
The second quarter, the Govs came out fighting. APSU took the lead on a 1-yard run by redshirt freshman Kendall Morris.
APSU attempted the two-point conversion, but the ball grazed the field before redshirt junior tight end Trey Salisbury could catch it.
APSU led 12-7 with 11:42 left in the second quarter.
SEMO answered right back with a 25-yard touchdown from Vandeven to Tyler McLemore, making the score 14-12.
SEMO’s Tay Bender ran in a 3-yard touchdown with 3:49 left to go in the second quarter to make the game 21-12.
To end the half, APSU connected on a 20-yard field goal. Shortly after, Ryan McCrum converted on a 44-yard field goal for SEMO.
SEMO led APSU at the half 17-9.
SEMO’s Vandeven scored first in the second half from a 2-yard touchdown to receiver Paul McRoberts. This was the only score during the third quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter, senior quarterback Trey Taylor was sacked by a SEMO defender and Chad Meredith picked up the ball and ran it in for a SEMO touchdown.
SEMO tacked on a touchdown late in the fourth from five yards out by Will Young, sealing the deal 44-15.
Despite the loss for APSU, the Govs put up over 250 total yards on offense with sophomore Jared Beard receiving 92 of those yards.
SEMO out-rushed APSU by a tremendous margin, rushing for 220 while APSU rushed for 82 yards. Morris rushed for 73 of the 82 yards for APSU.
APSU’s final game of the season will be in Cookeville, Tenn. to take on the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech.
The game will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
