Hawks shock SEMO
Shorter upsets Division I Southeast Missouri State on the road. Shorter 26, Southeast Missouri State 21
In the last nine games they played, a span that covered two seasons, the Shorter Hawks suffered through nine-straight defeats.
On Saturday, they tasted what victory was like when Division II Shorter shocked Division I FCS and Ohio Valley Conference foe Southeast Missouri State 26-21 at Houck Stadium.
“This is such a great group of kids,” Shorter head coach Phil Jones said. “Throughout it all, they never, never gave up. They believed in themselves and each other.
“This is the greatest feeling I’ve ever had.”
The Hawks’ historic win, which improved Shorter to 1-2 heading into the start of its Gulf South Conference schedule next week, marked just the second time in seven contests they have beaten an FCS program while at the same time ended what had been SEMO’s perfect 15-0 record against non-Division I teams.
Leading the charge into the win column was what emerged as a balanced Shorter scheme on both sides of the line.
While the Hawks’ defense came up with a much-needed stop of the Redhawks on what appeared to be a go-ahead drive in the final minutes, the Shorter defense held its ground, that coming on what became the best offensive showing by the Hawks in two years.
By the time the final second clicked off the scoreboard, Shorter had rolled up 409 yards in total offense, 300 of that on the ground and 109 more through the air.
Heading up the run game was junior B.J. McCoy, who rushed for a career-high 159 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns, the final one a three-yard scoring run that gave the Hawks what proved to be the winning touchdown with just over six minutes to play.
Red-shirt freshman Kar tez Carr added 71 more yards on just six carries, while sophomore quarterback Aaron Bryant had 41 yards.
Bryant also turned in a near-perfect afternoon passing the ball as he completed 6-of-8 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, that coming on an 18-yard toss to senior receiver Cody Simpson, who had three receptions for 63 yards.
The Hawks head back on the road for the fourth straight time next week when they open the GSC slate facing Mississippi College on Saturday.