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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Four different players scored touchdowns as the Eastern Kentucky University football team cruised to a 31-7 victory over host Southeast Missouri Saturday afternoon at Houck Stadium.

The Colonels (5-3, 3-1 OVC) scored the first 24 points of the game and never looked back on the way to their third straight victory. SEMO (1-7, 1-4) managed just seven points after scoring at least 33 points in each of its previous two games.

Redshirt freshman running back JJ Jude highlighted the offensive effort by reaching the 100-yard plateau for the second time this season. Jude finished with 114 yards on the ground and scored the game's first touchdown, a 28-yard burst up the middle, barely three minutes after kick-off.

The Redhawks had a chance to tie the game late in the first quarter, but junior defensive back Brandon Stanley recovered a fumble at the EKU two-yard line.

Eastern Kentucky then scored on its next three possessions to take control of the game. Junior kicker Andrew Lloyd made the score 10-0 with a 44-yard field goal. Following a quick three-and-out by Southeast Missouri, the Colonels struck again three minutes later when junior quarterback Jared McClain found senior tight end Ike Ariguzo behind the defense for a 45-yard touchdown strike.

Southeast Missouri's second fumble led to more EKU points. The Colonels lined up for a 42-yard field goal attempt with 3:27 remaining before halftime only to see holder Jordan Berry take the snap and race untouched to the end zone. That play made the score 24-0 at intermission.

The Redhawks finally scored late in the third quarter only to see Eastern respond with its final scoring drive. EKU ran the ball seven times out of eight plays on that drive until McClain scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak.

Junior safety Chris Owens posted a team-high eight stops as Eastern Kentucky held its third straight opponent to 10 points or less. The Colonels tallied 10 tackles for loss including two each from senior linebacker Ichiro Vance and redshirt freshman defensive back Kiante Northington.

Next week, Eastern returns home to face Tennessee State on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Roy Kidd Stadium. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

NOTES
--Andrew Lloyd's second quarter 44-yard field goal was his longest of the season.

--Eastern Kentucky's offense put together its longest scoring drive of the year in terms of plays (14) and time of possession (7:01) in the second quarter. That drive ended with a field goal.

--Punter Jordan Berry scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 25-yard fake field goal in the second quarter. Berry also booted a 76-yard punt, two yards shy of the EKU record, in the first quarter.

--The Colonels scored on their opening possession for the second straight game and third time this season.

--With the win, Eastern improves to 11-1 all-time in Cape Girardeau. The Colonels have scored at least 20 points in 15 straight meetings against the Redhawks.