Eastern Illinois (3-7, 3-4 OVC) vs. #23 Southeast Missouri (7-3, 5-2 OVC)

Date: Saturday, November 17, 2018
Kickoff: 1 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Stadium: Houck Field (10,000)
Surface: Field Turf
Weather Forecast: Mostly Cloudy, 46 degrees
Series History: EIU leads, 18-7
Last Meeting: EIU 19, SEMO 16 (Sept. 23, 2017 / Charleston, Ill.)
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (22-33 overall; 21-33 at SEMO; 16-21 OVC). Kim Dameron (27-29 overall; 27-29 at EIU; 24-15 OVC).

Media Coverage
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM & ESPN 1220 AM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN3 (Kevin Ingram, Bob Belvin)
Live Stats: GoSoutheast.com
Twitter: @SEMOFootball
Southeast Missouri Notes

Redhawks Host Eastern Illinois 
#23 Southeast Missouri (7-3, 5-2) plays host to Eastern Illinois (3-7, 3-4) in the Ohio Valley Conference Game of the Week Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., CT, at Houck Field. Saturday's game will air live on ESPN3.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Saturday's game live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM and SEMO ESPN 1220 AM. Erik Sean, Rick Wieser and Rusty Hendricks will call the action. Video can be accessed online at ESPN3 with Kevin Ingram and Bob Belvin on the call. Live stats are available at GoSoutheast.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOFootball.

OVC Game of the Week
For the second-straight week, Southeast Missouri is involved in the Ohio Valley Conference Game of the Week on ESPN3.Saturday's game was picked as a "Wildcard Selection" in the league's football package. When the OVC's eight  contest Game of the Week schedule was announced in August, the Oct. 27, Nov. 3, Nov. 10 and Nov. 17 games were deemed "Wildcard" dates where the matchup would not be announced until roughly two weeks prior to the contest. This marks the sixth-straight season the league has produced the Game of the Week package in conjunction with Tupelo Raycom (formerly WebStream Sports). With offices in New York, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Nashville and Los Angeles the company develops new programming and delivers live events, music specials and branded features for broadcast, digital and in-venue entertainment. ESPN3 is ESPN's live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually. It is accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices through the ESPN App. The network is currently available nationwide at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. It is also available at no cost to U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks.

Series History
Eastern Illinois leads the all-time series against Southeast Missouri by a count of 18-7. Five of SEMO's wins in the series have come at Houck Field. The Redhawks beat the Panthers in two of the last three meetings between these teams in Cape Girardeau. EIU, however, holds a 11-3 advantage in the previous 14 matchups in the series.

Heartbreaker in Murray
Murray State spoiled Southeast Missouri's Ohio Valley Conference title hopes when it overcame a 31-point deficit in a 40-38 victory on Nov. 10. After Daniel Santacaterina threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Zack Smith to put SEMO ahead, 38-34, with 20 seconds left, Malik Honeycutt ran back the ensuing kickoff 79 yards for a TD to send the Racers to victory. With the Redhawks loss to MSU, Jacksonville State won the OVC regular season title and claimed the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. 

Still in the Hunt
Despite its loss to Murray State, Southeast Missouri remains in the playoff hunt for an at-large bid. With a win over Eastern Illinois, SEMO will finish with eight NCAA Division I wins at 8-3 overall. So far, five FCS teams (Colgate, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, North Dakota State and San Diego) have secured their league's automatic berth. Five more automatic qualifiers and 14 at-large selections are to be determined. The entire 24-team field will be revealed during the NCAA FCS Selection Show on ESPNU Sunday at 11:30 a.m., CT.

Swift Named OVC Defensive Player of the Week 
Southeast Missouri outside linebacker Justin Swift was named Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 11. The honor marks Swift's second of the season. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Swift scored a pair of defensive touchdowns (60-yard fumble return, 76-yard interception return) on back-to-back possessions against Murray State. He also added eight tackles and assisted on a sack. Late in the first quarter, Swift scooped up a MSU fumble and ran 60 yards for a touchdown. A little over two minutes later, he intercepted a pass and ran 76 yards to the end zone. His fumble return was the fourth-longest and his interception return was second-longest in school history. Swift was part of a defense that forced five turnovers in the game. Murray State quarterback Drew Anderson (Co-Offensive, Newcomer), Eastern Illinois running back Isaiah Johnson (Co-Offensive) and Murray State's Malik Honeycutt (Specialist) rounded out this week's honorees.

OVC Game of the Week
Saturday's game against Eastern Illinois is the Ohio Valley Conference Game of the Week on ESPN3. Southeast Missouri was last involved in a OVC Game of the Week in Cape Girardeau on Nov. 5, 2016. That year, the Redhawks fell to then-#2 Jacksonville State on their homecoming, 17-10.

Farewell Seniors
The Redhawks will honor 15 seniors prior to kickoff against Eastern Illinois Saturday. Marquis Terry, Anthony Cooper, Richie Eisenhart, Nicholas Litang, KT McCollin, Marcus Goree, Demarcus Rogers, Zach Stagner, Lucas Orchard, Giovanni Negron, Jimmy Keutzer, Drew Forbes, Junior Pierre, Eain Roberts and Reggie Miles will suit up one final time at Houck Field.

Finish Strong
The Redhawks look to close out a regular season with a win for the second year in a row. Southeast Missouri beat Murray State, 21-10, in its 2017 season finale at Houck Field. SEMO last ended a regular season with a win in back-to back years was 2007 (32-25, vs. Jacksonville State) and 2008 (33-30, at Austin Peay).

Approaching 1,000
Kristian Wilkerson is approaching 1,000 receiving yards this season. Wilkerson leads Southeast Missouri with 766 yards and 11 touchdowns through 10 starts. He needs 234 more yards to hit that mark. Wilkerson's 11 receiving touchdowns are the most in a season by a SEMO receiver since Willie Ponder had 15 in 2002. Ponder was also the last receiver to get 1,000 yards in a season when he finished with 1,453 that year.

Undefeated at Home
Southeast Missouri is a perfect 4-0 at Houck Field this season. SEMO and Jacksonville State (5-0) are the only Ohio Valley Conference teams with undefeated home records in 2018. The last time the Redhawks finished a season undefeated at home was in 2010 (5-0).

Redhawks Now 23rd in Both FCS Polls
The Redhawks were ranked 23rd in the American Football Coaches Association Football Championship Subdivision Coaches and STATS FCS Media Polls on Nov. 12. SEMO, which is 7-3 overall and tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference at 5-2, won five of its last six contests. The Redhawks are 7-2 against FCS opponents this year. SEMO is ranked in the Top-25 for the second time under head coach Tom Matukewicz and first in both FCS Polls with Matukewicz at the helm. SEMO is in the Top 25 for the second-straight week. This week marks the third-straight where the Redhawks have been ranked in the Top 25.

Scoring Machine
The Redhawks are second in the Ohio Valley Conference and ninth in the nation in scoring offense with 39.3 points per game. Southeast Missouri has won four of its last six games by 17 or more points. The Redhawks also scored 40 or more points on four occasions this year. 

Record in Reach
Southeast Missouri needs 24 points to break the team single-season scoring record. Currently, the Redhawks have scored 393 points in 10 contests. The 2002 team presently holds the record with 416 points. SEMO's 39.3 points per game are also in position to break the school's current record of 34.7 also set by the 2002 Redhawks.

Closing In
In his first year as Southeast Missouri's starting quarterback, Daniel Santacaterina is closing in on the school's single season record in passing touchdowns. Santacaterina is presently second with an Ohio Valley Conference high 24 passing touchdowns this year. He is averaging 2.4 per game and is six away from breaking the record currently held by Jack Tomco (29 in 2002).

Redhawks Lead the Nation in Interceptions and Turnover Margin 
Southeast Missouri leads nation in interceptions, turnover margin and turnovers gained. SEMO has 19 picks in 10 games and boasts a staggering +21 turnover margin with 29 turnovers gained. Eleven different Redhawks have an interception this year.

Hall Leads the FCS in Tackles
Junior inside linebacker Zach Hall is having an outstanding year as the Ohio Valley Conference's leading tackler. Through 10 starts, Hall leads the league in total tackles (134) and tackles per game (13.4). Nationally, he is first in the Football Championship Subdivision in total tackles and 15th in solo tackles (5.8 per game). Hall posted double-digit tackles in five-straight games and eight of his 10 starts this year. He also has 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, a team-high four interceptions, four quarterback hurries, a team-high two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a blocked kick and one safety in 2018. Hall ranks 19th all-time with 249 career tackles at SEMO.

Keeping Count
The Redhawks have won 23 weekly honors this 2018 season. Here is a breakdown of those awards:
OVC Offensive Player of the Week (4)
OVC Defensive Player of the Week (4)
OVC Specialist of the Week (3)
OVC Newcomer of the Week (3)
CSM OVC Offensive Player of the Week (3)
CSM OVC Defensive Player of the Week (2)
STATS Offensive Player of the Week (1)
STATS Defensive Player of the Week (1)
CSM National Offensive Player of the Week (1)
CSM National Defensive Player of the Week (1)

- CSM (College Sports Madness)

Against the OVC
Fifth-year Southeast Missouri head coach Tom Matukewicz is 17-21 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Matukewicz has at least one win against all eight league schools. Here is a breakdown of Matukewicz'a records in the conference:
vs. Austin Peay    4-1
vs. Eastern Illinois    1-3
vs. Eastern Kentucky    1-4
vs. Jacksonville State    1-4
vs. Murray State    3-2
vs. Tennessee State    2-2
vs. Tennessee Tech    3-2
vs. UT Martin    2-3

Starting Streak
Senior Drew Forbes enters Saturday's game with a streak of 32 consecutive starts at left tackle. Forbes anchors an offensive line that features three returning starters.

Scoring Streak
The Redhawks presently have the second-longest scoring streak in the Ohio Valley Conference. Southeast Missouri has scored in 87-consecutive games and ranks behind Murray State (151) in that category. The last time the Redhawks were shutout in a game was at Purdue (59-0) on Sept. 17, 2011.