MORAGA, Calif. -- Turnovers, missed opportunities and an energized running game by St. Mary's proved too tough a task for Southeastern Louisiana as it dropped a 33-27 decision Saturday afternoon in a matchup of Division I-AA Independents.

Saint Mary's, which picked up its first win of the season improving to 1-7, turned four Southeastern turnovers into 21 points and rushed for a season high 265 yards to give the Gaels' first-year head coach Vincent White his first victory.

Southeastern fell to 3-6 on the year with the loss and returned home still in search of its first road win of the year. The Lions will have one more opportunity to pick up a road win as they take on Alcorn State next Saturday in Lorman, Miss. before returning home for their final two games of the season.

"Our offense gave them (St. Mary's) too many opportunities and we missed too many assignments," Southeastern head coach Hal Mumme said. "We knew that they (St. Mary's) would play their best game of the year coming in and we would have to respond. Unfortunately we didn't, but you have to give credit to (St. Mary's) Coach White and his staff for not quitting. They played a heck of a game."

The Lions moved the ball well at times and outgained SMC 379-336, but the turnovers stymied productive drives and threw the powerful Lions' offense out of rhythm. Quarterback Martin Hankins finished 31-for-49 for 315 yards but had three interceptions and a fumble to offset his three TD passes. Wide receiver Felton Huggins led the Lions with seven catches for 92 yards and one TD.

The Gaels' Ryan Kirby rushed for a game-high 90 yards and his first career touchdown on a 28-yard burst in the third quarter that capped a 17-point flurry to open the second half which turned a slim three-point spread at the break into a 33-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Much like the Henderson State game, Southeastern rallied scoring 13-unanswered points late in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard TD catch by Huggins and two-yard rush by Ray Perkins to draw to within six points, 33-27, but Dre' Coleman pulled in the Lions' onsides kick giving the Gaels an opportunity to run the clock out to win the game.

But Brad Scoffer's missed field goal from 42 yards that would have sealed the win sailed short and wide left giving the Lions' the ball back with 49.5 seconds remaining.

Southeastern failed to get anything productive going offensively in the last drive and Hankins exited after suffering leg cramps on third-and-7 forcing backup Seth Babin into action. But Babin was flushed out of the pocket and finished three yards short of the first down turning the ball over on downs and locking up the win for the Gaels.

The Lions opened the scoring in the first half converting a fourth-and-six play from the Gaels 22-yard line as Hankins found Jeffery Howard alone in the right corner of the endzone. It was Howard's third TD in the past two games and gave the Lions an early 7-0 lead.

After three-and-outs by both squads, St. Mary's finally got their offense in gear moving 37 yards in eight plays culminating in a 28-yard field goal by Brad Scoffern to cut the lead to 7-3.

Turnovers by Southeastern on the next three offensive possessions accounted for 14 unanswered points by St. Mary's as they took a 17-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

On the first turnover, Hankins fumbled on the first play of the second quarter which was picked up by the Gaels' Weston Borba. Borba took the ball 17 yards into the endzone but fumbled only to be recovered by Ray Mike for a SMC touchdown and a 10-7 lead.

On the next possession, Hankins moved SLU to the SMC 47 yard line but a holding penalty pushed the Lions' back into a third-and-20 situation. Hankins' next attempt was picked off by the Gaels' Ryan Coogler and returned to the SMC 40 yard line.

SMC quarterback Cordell Webb led the squad down the field going 60 yards in 6:57 and converting two fourth downs in the process including a fourth-and-goal from the two yard line to push the lead to 10.

Another pick by Hankins to open the next drive gave the Gaels' the ball at the Lions' 45 yard line but the Southeastern defense stiffened forcing a three and out and giving the ball back to the offense with just over four minutes remaining in the half.

Hankins settled down and completed 8-of-10 passes on an 80 yard scoring drive to draw the Lions' to within three 17-14 as the half wore down.

Scoffern opened the scoring in the second stanza with a 30-yard field goal and a 39-yard INT return by Borba pushed the lead to 26-14.

Southeastern Louisiana 7 7 0 13 -- 27
St. Mary's (CA) College3 14 16 0 -- 33

FIRST QUARTER
SLU - Howard 22 pass from Hankins (Peed kick) 8:40
SMC - FG Scoffern 28 2:36

SECOND QUARTER
SMC - Ray 0 fumble recovery (Lucia kick) 14:48
SMC - Webb 2 run (Lucia kick) 5:10
SLU - Jordan 8 pass from Hankins (Peed kick) :20

THIRD QUARTER
SMC - FG Scoffern 30 10:29
SMC - Borba 39 interception return (Webb run failed) 9:26
SMC - Kirby 28 rush (Lucia kick) 2:45

FOURTH QUARTER
SLU - Huggins 20 pass from Hankins (Peed kick) 9:29
SLU - Perkins 2 run (kick blocked) 3:01

A - 1,431

SLU SMC
FIRST DOWNS 24 20
RUSHES-YARDS (NET) 23-64 55-265
PASSING YDS (NET) 315 71
Passes Att-Comp-Int 49-31-3 13-7-0
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS 72-379 68-336
Fumble Returns-Yards 0-0 1-18
Punt Returns-Yards 1-6 0-0
Kickoff Returns-Yards 4-37 4-106
Interception Returns-Yards 0-0 3-49
Punts (Number-Avg) 2-41.5 4-36
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-0
Penalties-Yards 7-63 9-101
Possession Time 27:18 32:42

RUSHING
Southeastern La. - Ray Perkins 14-42, Marcus Thompson 4-20, Keylam Davis 1-11, Seth Babin 1-4, Martin Hankins 3 - (-15), Victor Carter 0-2.

St. Mary's - Ryan Kirby 15-91, Dre Coleman 8-50, Stephen Ratliff 4-39, Clint Wilson 7-37, Cordell Webb 12-31, Tom Steiner 1-12, Chris Harrell 4-6, Phillip Goldsby 1-3, Ryan Coogler 1-(-1), Team 2- (-2).

PASSING
Southeastern La. - Martin Hankins 31-49-3 315

St. Mary's - Cordell Webb 7-13-0 71

RECEIVING
Southeastern La. - Felton Huggins 7-92, Josh Taylor 5-68, Ray Perkins 5-53, Hutch Gonzales 4-6, Brooks Jordan 3-26, Marcus Thompson 3-20, Jeffrey Howard 2-25, Keylam Davis 1-25, Scott Goldberg 1-0.

St. Mary's - Dre Coleman 3-28, Stephen Ratliff 2-22, Tom Steiner 2-21.