SAINT CHARLES, Mo. (Interstat) — Braylen Ragland threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score as visiting Southeast Missouri State defeated Lindenwood 38-27 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Saturday at Hunter Stadium. The announced attendance was 5,008. The Redhawks improved to 3-3. The Lions fell to 1-4.

Ragland, a 6-foot, 207-pound quarterback from Memphis, Tenn., completed 17 of 23 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran five times for 17 yards and scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. His top target was John Anthony Jr., a 6-foot-4, 198-pound receiver who caught four passes for 82 yards and three touchdowns.

Southeast Missouri State also got production on the ground from Tyrell Reed Jr., who ran 14 times for 68 yards and caught one pass for 14 yards, and Cole Ruble, who carried 15 times for 48 yards. Jobe Bryant caught four passes for 37 yards and returned two punts for 64 yards. Tristin Purnell added four receptions for 48 yards, while Khylen Harris-Norman had three catches for 21 yards and two kickoff returns for 67 yards.

Defensively for the Redhawks, Cyler Christmas recorded six tackles. LJ Minner Jr. had five tackles and two quarterback hurries. Nehemiah Scott, Ashton Jones and Cole Dutkovich each finished with five tackles. Josiah Raven and DJ Delmore added four tackles apiece, while Adam Camphor had three. Demarcus King Jr. made two tackles.

Lindenwood quarterback Pops Battle completed 12 of 28 passes for 182 yards and rushed four times for 49 yards and a touchdown. He opened the scoring with a 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Jared Rhodes ran 14 times for 67 yards and a touchdown, scoring on a 43-yard run in the second quarter.

Through the air for the Lions, Jalen Smith caught two passes for 55 yards. Drew Krobath had four receptions for 49 yards. Aiden Grote added one catch for 41 yards. Christopher Bennett Jr. caught two passes for 19 yards and returned one punt for no gain. CJ Reese had one reception for 7 yards and two kickoff returns for 32 yards.

Lindenwood’s defense was led by Jacob Waller, who made 13 tackles and recorded one quarterback hurry. Caleb Jacobmeier added nine tackles. Jalon Jones had seven tackles. Andrew Baumgart and Owen Thomas each made five tackles. Keshawn Lyons, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound cornerback, made four tackles. Mason Burke, a 6-foot-4, 273-pound defensive end, also had four tackles. Nolan O’Hara, a 6-foot, 221-pound linebacker, finished with four tackles. Brayon Crawford had three tackles and returned a fumble 86 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Ashtin Rustemeyer and Zach Lewis each made three tackles. DeVonta Owens, Zech Pratt, Andrew Zook, Aiden Knapke, Reece Satterwhite, Mason Van Der Brink and Ke’Andre McClendon each had two tackles. Sam Owens, Isaac Edwards, David Amaliri and King Smith each made one tackle. Liam Corley punted four times for 158 yards and made one tackle.

Lindenwood struck first when Battle broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run. Will Graham’s kick gave the Lions a 7-0 lead. Southeast Missouri State answered when Ragland hit Anthony for a 19-yard score, and Justin Keller tied the game. In the second quarter, Rhodes gave Lindenwood the lead again with a 43-yard run, but Ragland and Anthony connected for 29 yards. Graham missed a 31-yard field goal, and the Redhawks took advantage when K. Spain scored from 4 yards out. That sent Southeast Missouri State into halftime with a 21-14 lead.

Lindenwood tied the game in the third quarter when Crawford returned a fumble 86 yards for a touchdown. Graham’s kick made it 21-21. Ragland responded with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Anthony, and Keller’s kick put the Redhawks back in front. In the fourth quarter, Ragland scored on a 1-yard run. Keller later added a 45-yard field goal for a 38-21 lead. Lindenwood’s S. Hall scored on a 5-yard run with 5:06 remaining, but Battle’s two-point pass attempt failed, and the Lions could not score again.

Keller kicked successfully after each Southeast Missouri State touchdown. The Redhawks scored on their first possession of the fourth quarter and added a field goal later in the period. Southeast Missouri State’s defense held Lindenwood to six points in the fourth quarter. The Redhawks added 10 points in the fourth quarter. Lindenwood moved the ball through Battle and Rhodes but could not complete the comeback after pulling within one score in the fourth quarter. The Lions’ special teams also had a missed field goal in the second quarter, when Graham’s 31-yard attempt failed.

Southeast Missouri State entered the game looking to build on a win against Central Arkansas. The Redhawks had also faced West Florida, Southern Illinois and Iowa State earlier in the season. Lindenwood had defeated Charleston Southern and had played Eastern Michigan, Missouri State and Stony Brook. Southeast Missouri State’s previous results included a 20-17 loss to West Florida, a 27-9 win against Central Arkansas, a 34-20 loss to Southern Illinois, a 38-10 loss to Iowa State and a 23-21 win at Indiana State. Lindenwood had a 29-3 loss to Eastern Michigan, a 48-14 loss to Missouri State, a 36-32 loss to Stony Brook and a 20-17 win against Charleston Southern. Southeast Missouri State is scheduled to host Western Illinois next before visiting Eastern Illinois. Lindenwood is set to visit Eastern Illinois before hosting Chicago State.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Lindenwood 40, Southeast Missouri State 29. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Lindenwood with a 69.7 percent probability to win. Lindenwood had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -2.5. The total score of 65 went under the over/under line of 45.5.