Southeast Missouri at #24/23 Missouri

Game Information
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015 
Kickoff: 3:01 p.m., CT 
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field (71,168) 
Surface: FieldTurf
Forecast: Mostly Sunny, 91 degrees
Series: Missouri leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Missouri 52, Southeast 3  |  Sept. 6, 2008 • Columbia, Mo. 
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (6-7 overall; 5-7 at Southeast; 3-5 OVC). Gary Pinkel (186-103-3 overall; 113-66 at Missouri).

Media Information  
TV: SEC Network (alternate) and SEC Network+ on the WatchESPN app (Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Paul Carcaterra) | Watch Live
Radio: ESPN 92.9 FM, Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean, Rick Wieser) | Listen Live
Live Stats: MUTigers.com 
Twitter Updates: @SEMOFootball
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri

Southeast Opens Season Saturday
Southeast Missouri begins its 2015 season at #24 Missouri Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m., CT, at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field.

Follow the Redhawks
Saturday's game will be televised live on SEC Network (alternate) and SEC Network+ on the WatchESPN app. Fans can listen on the radio at ESPN 92.9 FM and Real Rock 99.3 FM with Erik Sean and Rick Wieser calling the action. Live stats can be accessed online at MUTigers.com. Follow the Redhawks live on Twitter @SEMOFootball.

Season-Openers
Southeast is 9-15 all-time in season-openers since joining the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision in 1991. The Redhawks blanked Missouri Baptist, 77-0, in their season-opener a year ago. Southeast has not posted back-to-back season-opening victories since 2008 (vs. Southwest Baptist, 35-28 in OT) and 2009 (vs. Quincy, 72-3). The Redhawks last win in a season-opener on the road came at Austin Peay (38-13) on Sept. 2, 2006.

Series History
The Redhawks hook up with Football Bowl Subdivison Missouri for just the third time in 2015. These teams last met in Columbia on Sept. 6, 2008, with the Tigers winning by a score of 52-3. Southeast is 0-2 all-time against Missouri. Both of those games were in Columbia.

Bender Named Starting Quarterback
Junior Tay Bender makes his debut as Southeast's starting quarterback against Missouri Saturday. Bender was officially named the Redhawks starter after the team's practice on Aug. 27. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Bender transferred to Southeast from Iowa Western Community College. He finished spring drills at the top of the Redhawks depth chart and did not fall out of that spot throughout preseason camp. Bender, who stands at 6'4", 220, was a two-time All-Midwest Conference selection for Iowa Western CC, leading his team to a 22-2 record over the last two seasons. He completed 166-of-282 passes (58.9 pct.) for 1,912 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2014, as the Reivers went 11-1 and finished runner-up in the junior college national championship game. Bender also rushed for 184 yards and another four TDs on 82 carries. He graduated early from Southwest High School and enrolled at Kansas State. Bender worked with the second-team offense during the Wildcats spring drills in 2012 before transferring to Iowa Western CC prior to the start of the 2013 campaign.

Tight Quarterback Race
One of the big storylines during Southeast's preseason camp was the quarterback race. Three dual threat quarterbacks, including Tay Bender, Dante Vandeven and Alex Niznak, hooked up in that heated position battle this year. None have been Southeast's starting QB before and all can pick apart defenses with their ability to run and pass the football. Bender, who stands at 6'4", 220, won the job, while Vandeven (6'2", 190) and Niznak (6'2", 240) finished the preseason at No. 2 and No. 3 on the depth chart, respectively. Vandeven, a local product from nearby Jackson, Missouri, had an outstanding camp as a true freshman. Niznak played in four games as Southeast's backup quarterback a year ago. Bender is the third different starting QB in as many years for the Redhawks. Kyle Snyder broke Southeast's single-season record  in total offense with 3,243 yards in his only year as a starter in 2014. Snyder threw for 2,582 yards and 23 touchdowns and ran for 661 yards and nine touchdowns. Before that, Scott Lathrop started eight games under center in 2013.

Matukewicz Enters Second Year
Tom Matukewicz enters his second year as Southeast's head coach. Matukewicz led the Redhawks to an overall record of 5-7 in his debut as head coach last season. Southeast knocked off two ranked opponents in a season for the first time in the program's history en route to its highest win total since 2010. Statistically, the Redhawks led the Ohio Valley Conference and ranked nationally in third down conversion percentage (45.7), fourth down conversion percentage (66.7) and sacks allowed (9). Matukewicz's 2014 club averaged 32 points per game, its second highest scoring average in school history. The excitement around Matukewicz's Brick-by-Brick process driven approach resulted in an increase of 1,024 at Houck Stadium, as well.

For the Record
Tom Matukewicz owns a 6-7 record as a head coach. Matukewicz is 1-1 all-time against Football Bowl Subdivision teams. His first win came when he was an interim head coach at Northern Illinois in 2010. Matukewicz guided the Huskies to a 40-17 win over Fresno State in the Humanitarian Bowl that year. Matukewicz's other game involving an FBS opponent was at Kansas on Sept. 6, 2014. Southeast fell to the Jayhawks, 34-28, in that contest. The Redhawks are 1-5 on the road with Matukewicz at the helm and that lone victory came at UT Martin (31-27) on Sept. 27, 2014.

Something in Common
Gary Pinkel and Tom Matukewicz each coached at the University of Toledo earlier in their careers. Pinkel amassed a 73-37-3 record in 10 seasons (1991-2000) and left as UT's all-time winningest coach. The last stop Matukewicz made before taking the head coaching job at Southeast was Toledo. As the Rockets defensive coordinator/linebackers coach in 2012 and 2013, Matukewicz led a defense that ranked among the top 25 in the nation in fourth-down conversion (9th), red zone defense (10th), interceptions (18th) and turnovers forced (25th) during the 2012 campaign.

The Chase is On
Star wide receiver Paul McRoberts is on pace to break Southeast's all-time career record in receiving touchdowns. McRoberts enters his senior year with 20 receiving touchdowns and needs seven more to break the record. He is currently tied for second behind Willie Ponder who caught 26 touchdown passes from 2001-02. Ponder is the Redhawks all-time leading receiver with 2,543 yards.

One for 100
One more reception will give Paul McRoberts 100 in his career. McRoberts has 99 catches for 1,495 yards and 20 touchdowns in three years as a starting wide receiver at Southeast. He averaged 101.6 receiving yards per game in seven starts last season.

Major Attention
Legitimately one of the best receivers the Football Championship Subdivision has to offer, Preseason All-American Paul McRoberts has received significant interest. Several NFL teams, including the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles already made trips to Cape Girardeau to get an early look at McRoberts during the Redhawks preseason camp.

Against the FBS
The Redhawks are 1-19 all-time against Football Bowl Sudivision oppponents. Southeast has dropped its last 14 matchups with FBS schools. Additionally, the Redhawks have never beaten a BCS team.
11-12-94    at Hawai'i                           L, 0-34
10-19-96    at Arkansas State              L, 9-38
08-31-00    at Marshall                         L, 7-63
09-01-01    at Eastern Michigan           L, 12-16
09-14-02    at Eastern Michigan           L, 32-35
09-28-02    at Middle Tennessee          W, 24-14
08-30-03    at Ohio                               L, 3-17
09-13-03    at Arkansas State              L, 3-21
09-11-04    at Bowling Green               L, 10-49
09-18-04    at Central Michigan           L, 27-44
09-10-05    at Kent State                     L, 12-33
10-14-06    at Arkansas                       L, 7-63
08-30-07    at Cincinnati                      L, 3-59
09-06-08    at #6 Missouri                   L, 3-52
09-12-09    at #23 Cincinnati               L, 3-70
09-02-10    at Ball State                      L, 10-27
09-17-11    at Purdue                          L, 0-59
08-30-12    at Central Michigan          L, 27-38
09-07-13    at Ole Miss                       L, 13-31
09-06-14    at Kansas                         L, 28-34
Southeast's future dates with FBS opponents include: Sept. 3, 2016 at Memphis; Sept. 2, 2017 at Kansas; Sept. 21, 2019 at Missouri; Sept. 3, 2022 at Iowa State.

Ranked FBS Opponents
Missouri was ranked 24th and 23rd in the 2015 Preseason Associated Press and Amway Coaches Top-25 Polls, respectively. The Tigers were ranked sixth in the nation the last time they hosted Southeast on Sept. 6, 2008. The Redhawks played one other ranked Football Bowl Subdivision team the following year when they travelled to then-No. 23 Cincinnati on Sept. 12, 2009. Southeast was outscored 122-6 in those matchups, losing, 52-3, at Missouri and, 70-3, at Cincinnati.

Garrett Returns
Southeast returns middle linebacker Roper Garrett, its top tackler from last season. In his first year as a starter, Garrett recorded 96 tackles and led the Redhawks in tackles for loss (8.5), sacks (3) and forced fumbles (5). He tied for second in the OVC with 10.7 tackles per game, finishing with double-digit stops on five occasions. Garrett made a full recovery from a broken leg injury that sidelined him for the final three weeks of the 2014 season. Saturday will be his first game action since he played at Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 25, 2014.  

Closing In
Southeast's 1,000-yard rusher, DeMichael Jackson is coming up on 2,000 yards in his career. Jackson presently has 1,731 yards and nine touchdowns in 28 games and 14 starts at Southeast. He needs 269 yards to reach the mark. Jackson, one of three All-Ohio Valley Conference performers back from last season, led Southeast with 734 yards and five touchdowns on 137 carries in 2014. Henry Harris (2,773 from 2008-10) was the last Redhawk running back to rush for 2,000 career yards.

Offensive Line Strong Again
Southeast's offensive line figures to be strong again this season. In 2014, the Redhawks excelled in their protection game, allowing only nine sacks in 12 contests. Southeast led the Ohio Valley Conference and ranked sixth in the Football Championship Subdivision in sacks allowed. The line anchored an offense that rated among the top 15 FCS teams in both third and fourth down conversions, and put up 384 points (32 ppg) for the second-highest point total in a season in school history. Starters Jake McCandless (C), Garret Baker (LG) and Traven Mable (RG) are back to fill the interior. McCandless (12), Baker (11) and Mable (11) combined for 34 starts last season.

Deep Secondary
The Redhawk secondary went from having not enough depth in 2014 to being the deepest part of the defense this season. A total of 14 players with an even split of seven returnees and seven newcomers form the re-vamped defensive backfield. Safeties David Coley and Eriq Moore are the leaders. Coley, who had some interest from NFL teams this preseason, saw action in 12 games and made five starts a year ago. Moore returns after leading the team in interceptions (3) and tying for fourth in tackles (65). Ryan Moore, along with transfers Jamarl Holloway and Taron Divens, give Southeast a fresh look at cornerback where it lost both starters after the 2014 campaign.

Something Special
For the first time in his Southeast career, kicker Ryan McCrum will enter a season as a scholarship player. McCrum, who joined the team as a walk-on in 2012, was awarded a full scholarship after a gigantic 2014 season. Southeast was last in the Ohio Valley Conference in field goals and PAT kicking in 2013 before McCrum entirely flipped the kicking game a year ago. He led the OVC in field goals and scoring (kick) with 94 points. McCrum made four field goals of 50 or more yards, including a career and OVC season-long 55-yarder vs. Tennessee State (Oct. 4). At one time, he kicked a 50-yard field goal in three-straight games. A First-Team All-OVC pick, Third-Team Sports Network All-American and finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award, McCrum added 40-of-41 extra points and didn't miss a PAT until his final attempt of the season.

Football Season is Here
All nine Ohio Valley Conference schools will be in action this weekend with Southeast (at Missouri), UT Martin (Ole Miss) and Tennessee Tech (Houston) opening their seasons against Football Bowl Subdivision teams. The OVC's current membership is 21-165-1 all-time against FBS schools. Eastern Kentucky was the last OVC member to knock off a FBS team when it beat Miami (Ohio), 17-10, on Sept. 6, 2014. The league has only one win against an SEC foe and that belongs to Jacksonville State (won at Ole Miss, 49-48 2OT, on Sept. 4, 2010).

About #24 Missouri
No. 24 Missouri enters the 2015 campaign fresh off its second-straight SEC East Division championship. The Tigers went 11-3 and won their division after being picked a distant fourth under 2014 SEC Coach of the Year Gary Pinkel. Mizzou ended its magical season with a New Year's Day 33-17 win over Minnesota in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl. The Tigers won a school record 23 games over the last two seasons combined. The Tigers return a veteran offensive line to protect and pave the way for the winningest returning starting quarterback in the SEC in junior Maty Mauk (14-4 as a starter), and a 1,000-yard rusher in senior tailback Russell Hansbrough (1,084 yards, 10 TDs in 2014). On the defensive side, Mizzou is under a new defensive coordinator in Barry Odom. Despite losing, the top defensive end duo in the nation a year ago (Shane Ray, Markus Golden -- both 2015 NFL draftees), the Tigers expect to be stout again after making big strides in 2014. Senior PK Andrew Baggett returns as one of the top kickers in the SEC, but the rest of the special teams will face a transition. Mizzou will need to replace record-setting return man Marcus Murphy (drafted by the New Orleans Saints) and punter Christian Brinser, a two-year starter lost to graduation.

McRoberts, Jackson and McCrum Earn Preseason All-America Honors
Wide receiver Paul McRoberts, kicker Ryan McCrum and running back DeMichael Jackson each earned Preseason All-America honors. McRoberts and McCrum were named to both the USA College Football and STATS Football Championship Subdivision Preseason All-America teams. Jackson was a USA College Football FCS Preseason All-America selection.  

Four Redhawks Secure Preseason All-OVC Accolades
Four Redhawks, including wide receiver Paul McRoberts, kicker Ryan McCrum, running back DeMichael Jackson and linebacker Roper Garrett garnered Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference accolades. McRoberts made a huge impact for first-year head coach Tom Matukewicz despite missing five games due to a lisfranc fracture. McRoberts caught six touchdown passes in his first four games, including the game-winner against then-No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 20). He had three more touchdown receptions and notched a pair of 100-yard receiving games after he returned in November. McRoberts completed his junior campaign with 44 catches for 711 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 16.2 yards per catch and 101.6 receiving yards a game. His nine receiving touchdowns were third most in the conference and tied for fourth on Southeast's all-time single-season list. McCrum ended his 2014 campaign with a Southeast single-season record 18 field goals. He led the OVC in both field goals (18-of-23, 78.3 pct.) and scoring (kick) with 94 points. McCrum made four field goals over 50 yards, including a career and OVC long 55-yarder vs. Tennessee State (Oct. 4). At one time, he kicked a 50-yard field goal in three-straight games -- 55 vs. Tennessee State (Oct. 4), 52 at Murray State (Oct. 11), 51 vs. Eastern Illinois (Oct. 18). McCrum scored a season-high 15 points on 4-of-6 field goals and 3-of-3 extra points at Murray State. He made 42-consecutive PATs before missing his final extra point of the season. McCrum rated fifth in the nation in field goals per game. Additionally, he claimed First-Team All-OVC accolades, finished among finalists for the Fred Mitchell Award and earned Third-Team Sports Network All-America accolades. A Second-Team All-OVC selection, Jackson was the Redhawks top rusher with 734 yards and five touchdowns on 137 carries in 2014. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry and was fourth in the conference with 91.8 yards per game. Jackson scored a rushing touchdown in each of his last three games of the season and ran for over 100 yards three times in 2014. Garrett led the Redhawks in tackles (96), tackles for loss (8.5), sacks (3) and forced fumbles (5) last season, his first year starting at linebacker. His 40 solo stops were second-most on the squad, as he tied for second in the OVC with 10.7 tackles per contest. Garrett turned in double-digit tackles five times and ranked 12th among league-leaders in sacks. Additionally, he ranked second nationally in forced fumbles.  

Redhawks Sixth in OVC Preseason Poll
Southeast was picked sixth in the 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll, the league announced during its annual media day on July 20. The Redhawks tallied 63 points in the overall voting by OVC head coaches and sports information directors. For the second-straight year, Jacksonville State has been selected the preseason favorite. The Gamecocks accumulated 128 points and received 16 of the 18 first-place votes. Eastern Illinois (107 pts.), Eastern Kentucky (106 pts.), UT Martin (78 pts.) and Tennessee State (66 pts.) were also picked ahead of Southeast. Tennessee Tech (45 pts.), Murray State (38 pts.) and Austin Peay (17 pts.) rounded out the poll. Eastern Kentucky running back Dy'Shawn Mobley and Jacksonville State defensive lineman Devaunte Sigler were named Preseason OVC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.

Redhawk Football
The 2015 campaign marks the 111th season of Southeast football. The Redhawks own an all-time record of 441-507-36. That includes a 94-177 record at the Division I level. Southeast moved to the Football Championship Subdivision in 1991.

Brick-By-Brick
Tom Matukewicz's Brick-By-Brick effort to rebuild Southeast's football program is in full effect. His Brick-By-Brick mantra, which is laying the foundation for a turnaround, has four important cornerstones. Attitude, effort, passion and discipline are the staples of Matukewicz's process driven mission to change the landscape of Redhawk football.