ATHENS (AP) -- Stafford Owens rushed for a touchdown and Scott Mayle caught a TD pass as Ohio beat Southeast Missouri State 17-3 Thursday night in the sloppy season opener for both teams.

Ohio lost four fumbles while Division I-AA Southeast Missouri had two fumbles and three interceptions. Eight of the nine turnovers and all the scoring was in the first half.

The Bobcats used eight players to rush for 227 yards on 52 attempts. Owens had 49 on seven carries, including a 12-yard TD run to make it 17-0 with 5:36 left in the second quarter.

Mayle's 32-yard TD reception gave the Bobcats a 7-0 lead with 3:37 to play in the first. It was backup quarterback Ryan Hawk's only completion in three attempts. Fred Ray was 9-of-16 for 49 yards.

Jack Tomko was 13-of-31 for 202 yards and two interceptions for the Indians, whose only score came on Derek Kutz's 24-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Three of Southeast Missouri's drives in the second half stalled inside Ohio's 20-yard line. The Indians threw an interception and twice turned the ball over on downs.

Greg DiMarino kicked a 23-yard field goal for Ohio in the second quarter.