Southeast Missouri at Memphis

Date: Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016
Kickoff: 6:04 p.m., CT
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Stadium: Liberty Bowl (61,000)
Surface: FieldTurf
Weather Forecast: Partly Cloudy, 89 degrees
Series History: Memphis leads, 2-1-2
Last Meeting: SEMO 6, Memphis 0 (1934 / Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (10-14 overall; 9-14 at SEMO; 6-9 OVC). Mike Norvell (First Year)

Media Coverage
Radio: SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM (Erik Sean (play-by-play) / Real Rock 99.3 FM
TV/Video: ESPN3/WatchESPN (Trey Bender, Pete Najarian)
Live Stats: GoTigersGo.com
Twitter Updates: @SEMOFootball
Southeast Missouri Notes

2016 Season-Opener
Southeast Missouri opens its 2016 season at American Athletic Conference member Memphis Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6:04 p.m., CT, at the Liberty Bowl.

Tailgate with the Redhawks
There will be a designated, reserved area in the Tan Lot for Southeast Missouri fan tailgating at Memphis. Click Here for map. Redhawk fans will be permitted to set up tents, tables, grills, etc. in this area. Gameday parking near the tailgate area is $15 per spot and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Grills are permitted on the paved surface only.

Follow the Redhawks
Saturday's game will air live on ESPN3 with Trey Bender and Pete Najarian calling the action at the Liberty Bowl. Fans can listen on the radio at ESPN 92.9 FM and Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean will handle the play-by-play. Live stats can be accessed online at GoTigersGo.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOFootball.

Another Year Begins
The 2016 campaign marks Southeast's 112th season of football. The Redhawks enter their 26th season at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. Southeast joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 1991 and has compiled an overall record of 98-184 with one Ohio Valley Conference title (2010) as a D-I program.

Season-Openers
Southeast is 9-16 all-time in season-openers since joining the Football Championship Subdivision in 1991. The Redhawks last win in a season-opener on the road came at Austin Peay (38-13) on Sept. 2, 2006. Southeast opens a season against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent for the ninth time in 2016. The Redhawks are 0-8 in season-openers against FBS teams.

Receiving Votes
The Redhawks received votes in both the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches and STATS Preseason Polls. Southeast tallied 17 votes in the Coaches poll and two in the STATS media poll. Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State was picked first in both polls. Jacksonville State (No. 3), which was the FCS national runner-up last season, is the only Ohio Valley Conference school ranked in the preseason Top-25.

Matukewicz Enters Third Year
Southeast starts its third season under head coach Tom Matukewicz. The Redhawks return 17 starters, including eight on offense, seven on defense and two on special teams. Southeast finished 5-7 in 2014 and 4-7 in 2015 during Matukewicz's first two seasons at the helm.

Two To Go
The Redhawks are two wins away from reaching 100 victories at the NCAA Division I level. Southeast is 98-184 all-time since joining the FCS in 1991.

Series History
The Redhawks meet Memphis for the first time in 82 years Saturday. Memphis owns a 2-1-2 lead in the all-time series that saw a combined 31 points scored during matchups in 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933 and 1934. The Redhawks beat the Tigers, 6-0, the last time they faced each other in 1934.

Against the FBS
Southeast is 1-20 all-time against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents. The Redhawks have dropped their last 15 matchups with FBS schools. Additionally, Southeast has 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
09-05-15    at #24 Missouri    L, 3-34
Southeast's future dates with FBS opponents include: Sept. 2, 2017 at Kansas; Sept. 21, 2019 at Missouri; Sept. 3, 2022 at Iowa State.

Hosket Named Starting Quarterback
Junior transfer Jesse Hosket was named Southeast's starting quarterback for Saturday's season-opener at Memphis. Hosket joined the Redhawks from East Central Community College. A native of French Camp, Mississippi, Hosket ranked fifth in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges in passing. He completed 117-of-191 passes (61.3 pct.) for 1,504 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2015. Hosket averaged 222.3 passing yards per game as the Warriors finished 10th in the final National Junior College Athletic Association Football Poll after advancing to the semifinals of the MACJC Playoffs.

Starting Quarterbacks
Jesse Hosket will be the third different quarterback to start a season-opener for Southeast in as many years. Iowa Western Community College transfer Tay Bender was under center for the Redhawks 2015-opener at Missouri and Ohio University transfer Kyle Snyder started the 2014-opener vs. Missouri Baptist. Snyder was the last Redhawk quarterback to start consecutive season-openers in 2013 and 2014.

Tight Race
Sophomore Dante Vandeven was neck-and-neck with Jesse Hosket in this year's tight quarterback race. The 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, Vandeven completed 155-of-250 passes for 1,568 yards and 11 touchdowns, and rushed for 292 yards and another six TDs. He became Southeast's first true freshman quarterback to throw for over 1,000 yards in a season since 1998 (Bobby Brune). He ranked 26th in the nation in completion percentage (62 pct.), 41st in completions (17.22/game) and 46th in points responsible for (12.0/game). Vandeven, who was also named to the league's All-Newcomer Team, became the second Southeast player to win the Freshman of the Year award since its inception in 2004. He started each of the last eight games of the 2015 campaign.

Memphis Connection
A total of seven players on this year's roster have ties to the Memphis area. Cameron Sanders (Christian Brothers H.S.), Kristian Wilkerson (Craigmont H.S.), Clarence Thornton (Ridgeway H.S.), Marquette Murdock (Ridgeway H.S.), Justin Swift (Trezevant H.S.), Rudie Frye (White Station H.S.) and JJ Flye (Southaven, Miss./Southaven H.S.) form that group.

Redhawks Fifth in OVC Preseason Poll
Southeast was picked to finish fifth in this year's Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll. The Redhawks accumulated 66 points in the overall voting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Jacksonville State (16 first-place votes, 128 pts.) was picked to win the OVC, while Eastern Kentucky (100 pts.), Eastern Illinois (2 first-place votes, 97 pts.) and UT Martin (96 pts.) were also selected ahead of Southeast. Tennessee State (55 pts.), Tennessee Tech (45 pts.), Murray State (43 pts.) and Austin Peay (18 pts.) rounded out the predicted order of finish.

Preseason All-OVC
Running back Tremane McCullough, linebacker Roper Garrett, guard Garret Baker, cornerbacke Mike Ford and strong safety Eriq Moore were named Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference. A native of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, McCullough stormed onto the scene and staked his claim as the Redhawks top rusher last season. He ran for 1,028 yards and five touchdowns on 170 carries, averaging six yards per touch. McCullough led the OVC with six 100-yard rushing games, racking up a season-high 220 yards vs. Murray State. He became the first Southeast running back to get over 1,000 yards in a season since 2012 (Levi Terrell). McCullough had 33 catches for 279 yards out of the backfield, as well. He ranked second in the OVC in rushing yards and rushing yards per game (93.5). In addition, McCullough ranked nationally in rushing yards per carry (19th, 6.1 ypc), rushing yards per game (24th) and all-purpose yardage (20th, 134.2 ypg). He earned first-team and all-newcomer accolades. For the second year in a row, Garrett led Southeast in tackles. A Second-Team All-OVC pick, he notched 106 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 42 solo stops in 11 starts. Garrett, who is from Farmington, Missouri, ranked second in the OVC in tackles and was one of only four players in the league to get over 100 tackles this season. He was also 10th in the conference in both sacks and tackles for loss, and became the first Redhawk to get 100 tackles in a season since 2012 (Blake Peiffer). Garrett posted a total of six double-digit tackle games during the 2015 campaign. Baker, who hails from Owensville, Missouri, started all 11 games at left guard, helping lead a Southeast offense that ranked second in the OVC with 182.9 rushing yards per game. He was a Second-Team All-OVC pick, claiming all-conference honors for the first time in his career. A native of Alton, Illinois, Ford led the OVC with five interceptions during his first year as a starting cornerback in 2015. He had 44 tackles, two tackles for loss, a team-high seven pass breakups and a sack. Ford was ninth in the FCS in interceptions per game and joined both Garrett and Baker on the league's second-team unit. Moore, from St. Louis, is on the Preseason All-OVC team for the first time in his career. He ranked third on the team with 60 tackles and second behind Ford with four interceptions. Moore averaged 5.5 tackles per game in 10 starts and 11 contests a year ago. He currently stands tied for 12th on the Redhawks all-time career interceptions list.

Knight Collects Preseason
All-America Honors Senior punter Alex Knight landed on three different All-America teams this preseason. Knight made the Football Gameplan, Lindy's Sports and STATS Preseason All-America units. A native of Boca Raton, Florida, Knight garnered Second-Team All-OVC honors in 2015 after ranking fifth nationally in punting with 44.8 yards per punt. He saw 29 of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line and 18 punts travel 50 or more yards.

Ford Secures Preseason All-America Accolades
Junior cornerback Mike Ford was named to the 2016 HERO Sports Preseason Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team. Ford, one of six Ohio Valley Conference players to make the team, earned second-team accolades. A native of Alton, Illinois, Ford was a Second-Team All-OVC selection during his first year as a starting cornerback in 2015. He registered 44 tackles (32 solo), two tackles for loss, five interceptions and seven pass breakups. Ford returned an interception for a touchdown against Southern Illinois and led the Redhawks with five picks. His five interceptions ranked eighth in a single-season at Southeast. Murray State quarterback KD Humphries, Tennessee State offensive lineman Jessamen Dunker, Jacksonville State center Casey Dunn, Jacksonville State defensive lineman Darius Jackson and Eastern Kentucky punter Keith Wrzuszczak also represented the OVC.

Stagner Awarded Scholarship
Long snapper Zach Stagner was awarded a full scholarship on Southeast's final day of preseason camp. Stagner, who initially joined the team as a walk-on in 2014, will make his first career start against Memphis Saturday. Stagner and members of his family were caught off guard during a surprise presentation immediately after the team's scrimmage on Aug. 20. Two members of the Cape Girardeau Police Department entered Houck Stadium in a patrol car with lights flashing and sirens blaring. Officer Gregory exited the car, walked onto the field and issued Stagner the scholarship. As soon as the presentation was over, Stagner was congratulated and mobbed by his teammates. He is the eighth different player to earn a scholarship after entering the program as a walk-on under head coach Tom Matukewicz.

Experienced Offensive Line
Southeast returns four 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 (33), Baker (22), Cooke (11) and Snyder (11) have combined for 77 starts up front. McCandless and Baker started 33 and 16 consecutive games, respectively. McCandless is a four-year starter, while Baker enters his third season starting on the offensive line.

Sack Attack
The Redhawks led the Ohio Valley Conference and ranked 15th in the Football Championship Subdivision with 2.82 sacks per game in 2015. Southeast notched a total of 31 sacks in 11 games with 15 di erent players recording at least one. John Popovich paved the way with five sacks for a loss of 32 yards. The 31 sacks marked the Redhawks third-most in a season behind the 1994 (38 sacks) and 1997 (33 sacks) campaigns. Southeast had a sack in 12 of its last 15 games dating back to 2014.

Major Improvement
After ranking last in the Ohio Valley Conference with a -9 turnover margin in 2014, Southeast led the league in that category with a +10 mark last season. The Redhawk defense forced a turnover in nine of 11 games and finished the 2015 campaign with multiple takeaways in each of their final four contests. Southeast recovered 10 fumbles and had 11 interceptions en route to leading the OVC in turnover margin for the first time since 2010 (+13).

Senior Driven
The Redhawks have 25 seniors on their roster this season. It is Southeast's largest senior class since 2012 (24).

Garrett Primed for Big Senior Season
Senior linebacker Roper Garrett led Southeast in tackles for the second-straight season in 2015. Garrett ranked second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 106 tackles, averaging 9.6 per game in 11 starts. He earned Second-Team All-OVC accolades as one of four league players with 100 or more tackles. Garrett also finished the year ranked second on the team in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (10). He currently ranks 13th all- time at Southeast with 267 tackles in his career. If Garrett leads the Redhawks in tackles again this year, he will become the first player in Southeast's NCAA Division I era to lead the team in tackles three-straight seasons.

More on the Defense
Each of Southeast's top-five tacklers behind Roper Garrett are also back on defense this year. Outside linebacker Chad Meredith was second on the team with 68 tackles and 3.5 sacks, and led the Redhawks with 10.5 tackles for loss. Strong safety Eriq Moore was third with 60 tackles and second on the team with four interceptions. Cornerback Ryan Moore (54 tackles), linebacker Stephon Williams (50 tackles) and Second-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference cornerback Mike Ford (44 tackles) were fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Ford also posted a team-high five interceptions and seven pass breakups.

OVC Top Three
Southeast finished the 2015 season ranked among the top three in the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing offense (2nd, 182.9 ypg), kicko  returns (20.6 ypr), punt return average (3rd, 9.6 ypr), kickoff  coverage (2nd, 40.6 net avg), sacks (2nd, 31), fourth-down conversions (2nd, 60 pct) and turnover margin (1st, +10).

Coaching Changes
Ben Blake and Ghaali Muhammad-Lankford are the newest members of Southeast's coaching staff. Blake was hired as offensive line coach on Jan. 21 and comes to Southeast after spending two seasons in the same capacity at the University of Sioux Falls. Muhammad-Lankford was named the Redhawks running backs coach on Feb. 2. Muhammad-Lankford previously worked as an offensive graduate assistant at Missouri. Jon Wiemers, who worked the last two years as Southeast's offensive line coach, was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Something Special
Southeast has both its starting punter and kicker returning in 2016. Alex Knight earned Second- Team All-Ohio Valley Conference laurels after leading the OVC and ranking fifth in the nation with 44.8 yards per punt last season. Knight dropped 29 of his punts inside the 20-yardline and had 18 of his punts travel 50 or more yards. He also had three punts go 60-plus yards. Ryan McCrum will again handle the kicking duties. McCrum was Southeast's second-leading scorer with 56 points on 9-of-16 field goals and a perfect 29-of-29 PATs in 2015. He tied for first in the OVC in PAT kicking percentage, tied for fifth in field goals and ranked sixth in scoring.

Red Zone Focus
One of the areas Southeast will be working to improve this season is red zone defense. The Redhawks closed out the 2015 campaign ranked seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference in that category. Opponents scored on 86.1 percent (31-of-36) of their chances inside Southeast's 20-yardline. The Redhawks surrendered 24 touchdowns (13 rush, 11 pass) and 171 points inside the red zone last year.