Southeast Missouri (2-3, 2-0 OVC) at Eastern Kentucky (1-3, 0-1 OVC)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016
Kickoff: 5 p.m., CT
Location: Richmond, Ky.
Stadium: Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000)
Surface: Synthetic Turf
Weather Forecast: Sunny, 70 degrees
Series History: Eastern Kentucky leads, 23-3
Last Meeting: EKU 27, SEMO 10 (Oct. 17, 2015 / Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (12-17 overall; 11-17 at SEMO; 8-9 OVC). Mark Elder (1-3 overall, 1-3 at EKU; 0-1 OVC).

Media Coverage
Radio: SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM Erik Sean (play-by-play) / Real Rock 99.3 FM
TV/Video: OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: EKUSports.com
Twitter Updates: @SEMOFootball
Southeast Missouri Notes

Redhawks Visit Eastern Kentucky
Southeast Missouri (2-3, 2-0) travels to Eastern Kentucky (1-3, 0-1) for an Ohio Valley Conference matchup Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m., CT, at Roy Kidd Stadium.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Saturday's game on the radio at ESPN 92.9 FM and Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean will call the action. Video can be accessed online at the OVC Digital Network. Live stats are available at EKUSports.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOFootball.

On the Road Again
Southeast plays its Ohio Valley Conference high fourth road game of the season when it heads to Eastern Kentucky this weekend. The Redhawks, on the road for five of their first seven contests this year, are looking for their second-straight win outside of Cape Girardeau after edging Murray State in their league-opener on Sept. 17. Southeast last posted back-to-back road victories in 2010 (28-13, at Eastern Illinois; 41-24, at Austin Peay). The Redhawks are 3-11 all-time on the road under head coach Tom Matukewicz.

Series History
Saturday marks the 27th matchup between Southeast and Eastern Kentucky. The Colonels hold a 23-3 lead in the all-time series. Southeast lost 11 of the previous 12 meetings between these teams and is looking to snap a five-game losing streak in the series. The Redhawks are 2-11 in Richmond, last winning there on Oct. 18, 2003 (41-38). Southeast's only win against the Colonels in the last 12 years was during its 2010 Ohio Valley Conference championship season in 2010 (40-21, Oct. 23, Cape Girardeau).

100 Wins
The Redhawks picked up their 100th victory at the NCAA Division I level when they ousted #13 Eastern Illinois (Oct. 1). Southeast is 100-187 all-time since joining the FCS in 1991.

Undefeated in OVC
Southeast enters the week atop the Ohio Valley Conference standings at 2-0. The Redhawks won their first two league contests by a combined eight points (17-16, at Murray State; 21-14, vs. #13 Eastern Illinois). Southeast is undefeated through its first two conference games for the second time in three years with Tom Matukewicz as its head coach.

Another One for the Brickyard
Since Tom Matukewicz has taken over as Southeast's head coach, he has established a special area where his program can always reflect on its wins over ranked opponents. The Redhawks added their fifth victory to their "Brickyard" when they upended #13 Eastern Illinois in their home Ohio Valley Conference opener on Oct. 1. Three of Southeast's five wins over ranked Football Championship Subdivision foes have come under Matukewicz. The Redhawks are 5-24 all-time against ranked FCS opponents.

Hosket, Meredith Win OVC Weekly Honors
Quarterback Jesse Hosket and outside linebacker Chad Meredith were named adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, the league announced Oct. 2. A native of French Camp, Mississippi, Hosket completed 12-of-20 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 16 yards and another TD in SEMO's 21-14 win over #13 Eastern Illinois. He threw for over 200 yards in his fourth-straight start. Hosket scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 1-yard run and threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Davis to give the Redhawks a 14-0 lead seven minutes into the game. He later tossed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Marquette Murdock that proved to be the game-winner 2:58 after EIU tied the game early in the third quarter. Hosket became the third quarterback to throw for over 1,000 yards (1,076) in the OVC this season, joining Murray State's KD Humphries (1,317) and Tennessee Tech's Michael Birdsong (1,336). Meredith, who hails from Louisville, Kentucky, notched a game-high 12 tackles and a breakup against the Panthers. He recorded double-digit tackles for the second time this season. Meredith keyed a SEMO defense that allowed only one touchdown, as the Redhawks shutout EIU in the second and fourth quarters. He also batted down a pass on a third-and-16 that later led to the Redhawks stopping the Panthers on their final drive of the game. Meredith and the SEMO defense held EIU to just 93 total yards in the second half. Hosket wins the first OVC Newcomer of the Week honor of his career, while the OVC Defensive Player of the Week is the second career accolade for Meredith. They join Murray State's KD Humphries (Offensive) and Tennessee State's Lane Clark (Specialist) as this week's honorees.

Moving the Chains
Southeast ranks third in the Ohio Valley Conference in first downs through five games this season. The Redhawks accumulated a total of 104 first downs for an average of 20.8 per contest. Southeast is also 24th in the Football Championship Subdivision in that area.

FCS Top-20
The Redhawks rank among the top 20 Football Championship Subdivision teams in five statistical categories. Southeast is 15th in fourth down conversion percentage (77.8 pct.), 20th in net punting (39.18 ypp), ninth in red zone defense (66.7 pct.), 18th in rushing defense (106.4 ypg allowed) and 16th in time of possession (33:20).

Garrett Clears 300 Career Tackles
Senior inside linebacker Roper Garrett, who leads the team and is seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference in tackles, went over 300 in his career against Eastern Illinois (Oct. 1). Garrett tallied eight stops in that game and stands eighth all-time with 307 total tackles. He became the eighth different Southeast player to get over 300 career tackles and first since fellow linebacker Blake Peiffer finished with 359 tackles from 2009-12.

Davis Goes Long
Adrian Davis was on the receiving end of a 62-yard touchdown pass from Jesse Hosket that grabbed Southeast a 14-0 first-quarter lead over Eastern Illinois (Oct. 1). It was the Redhawks longest pass play of the season to date. Davis, who leads Southeast with three receiving touchdowns, scored a TD in back-to-back games for the second time in his career. He ranks first on the team with 283 receiving yards and averages a team-high 18.9 yards per catch this year. Additionally, Davis is eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference in receiving yards per game (56.6).

Murdock Comes Up Big
Marquette Murdock hauled in a career-high three catches for 86 yards and a touchdown against Eastern Illinois (Oct. 1). Murdock's first career touchdown reception came on a 45-yard pass from Jesse Hosket with 11:13 left in the third quarter of that game. It ended up being the decisive score of the contest.

Tough Defense
Southeast allowed a season-low 337 total yards in its latest win over #13 Eastern Illinois (Oct. 1). The Redhawks held the Panthers to only 93 total yards in the second half. Southeast also gave up just one touchdown.

Red Zone Defense
The Redhawks lead the Ohio Valley Conference and rank ninth in the nation in red zone defense. Opponents have scored on 66.7 percent of their chances against Southeast in the red zone this season. The Redhawks have forced two turnovers in the red zone, as well. Southeast was seventh in the OVC in that category a year ago.

Time of Possession
Southeast leads the Ohio Valley Conference and ranks 16th in the Football Championship Subdivision in time of possession. The Redhawks held a +11:00 margin in that category at Murray State (Sept. 24). Southeast is averaging 33:21 per game in time of possession this season.

Sanders is Back
Defensive end Travis Sanders made his return against Eastern Illinois (Oct. 1). Sanders suffered a season-ending knee injury during week three of the 2015 season and was granted a medical hardship. He ranks 12th all-time at Southeast in career sacks (8.0) and 13th in tackles for loss (18.5).

Scoring Streak
The Redhawks presently have the third-longest scoring streak in the Ohio Valley Conference. Southeast has scored in 60-consecutive games and ranks behind Murray State (126) and UT Martin (73) in that category. The last time the Redhawks went scoreless in a game was at Purdue (59-0) on Sept. 17, 2011.

Last Time vs. Eastern Kentucky
Southeast had less than 200 yards of total offense and only 52 in the second half during a 27-10 loss to then-#14 Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 17, 2015. The Redhawks and Colonels were tied, 10-10, at halftime. EKU then scored 17 unanswered points in the game's final two quarters.  

37 in a Row
Southeast kicker Ryan McCrum has made 40-consecutive extra points. McCrum did not miss a PAT all of last season going a perfect 29-of-29. He is 11-of-11 in PATs over his first five contests this year. McCrum last missed a PAT with 3:32 left in the fourth quarter vs. Jacksonville State on Nov. 22, 2014.

Knight Leads OVC
Senior punter Alex Knight enters the week ranked first in the Ohio Valley Conference and sixth in the nation in punting with 44.9 yards per punt. He punted a total of 31 times for 1,393 yards in his first five contests this season. Knight had eight punts of 50 or more yards and was named OVC Specialist of the Week once over that span. He is third all-time in career punting yards at Southeast with 7,688.

Sack Attack
Southeast registered multiple sacks in four of five games this season. The Redhawks are tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 12 sacks for a loss of 65 yards. Southeast led the OVC and ranked 15th in the Football Championship Subdivision with 2.82 sacks per game in 2015. The Redhawks had a sack in 17 of their last 20 games dating back to 2014. Southeast is also 30th in the FCS in sacks this week.

Experienced Offensive Line
Southeast has four returning starters on a veteran offensive line this season. Junior Alex Snyder (RT) and seniors Michael Cooke (RG), Garret Baker (LG) and Jake McCandless (C) are all back. McCandless (38), Baker (27), Cooke (16) and Snyder (16) have combined for 97 starts up front. McCandless and Baker started 38 and 21 consecutive games, respectively. McCandless is a four-year starter, while Baker is in his third season starting on the offensive line.