#20 Southeast Missouri (9-3) at #2 Weber State (9-2)

NCAA Division I Championship Second Round
Date: Saturday, December 1, 2018
Kickoff: 3:04 p.m., CT
Location: Ogden, Utah
Stadium: Stewart Stadium (17,500)
Surface: Field Turf
Weather Forecast: Mostly Cloudy, 35 degrees
Series History: First Meeting
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (25-33 overall; 24-33 at SEMO; 18-21 OVC). Jay Hill (34-25 overall; 34-25 at Weber State).

Media Coverage
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN3 (Mike Watts, Tyoka Jackson)
Twitter: @SEMOFootball
Live Stats: NCAA.com
Southeast Missouri Notes
Playoff Bracket

Redhawks Advance 
#20 Southeast Missouri (9-3) advances to the second round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship to face #2 Weber State (9-2) Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m., CT, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden, Utah. 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. Erik Sean will call the action. Video can be accessed online at ESPN3 with Mike Watts and Tyoka Jackson on the call. Live stats are available at GoSoutheast.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOFootball.

Playoff History
Southeast Missouri is in its second NCAA Division I Championship appearance in 2018. The Redhawks last made the postseason when they shared the Ohio Valley Conference title with Jacksonville State and garnered the league's automatic berth in 2010. SEMO, then-ranked ninth, lost at #5 Eastern Washington (2010 National Champion), 37-17, on Dec. 4. The playoff bracket consisted of 20 teams in 2010.

Down to 16
This year's FCS Playoff bracket is down to 16 teams. #1 North Dakota State (11-0), #2 Weber State (9-2), #3 Eastern Washington (9-2), #4 Kennesaw State (10-1), #5 South Dakota State (8-2), #6 UC Davis (9-2), #7 Maine (8-3) and #8 Colgate (9-1) are the national seeds in this year's 24-team playoff bracket. Southeast Missouri, Montana State, James Madison, Duquesne, Wofford, Nicholls State, Northern Iowa and Jacksonville State all won first round games last week.

Series History
Southeast Missouri and Weber State meet for the first time Saturday. WSU marks the second Big Sky Conference opponent SEMO faces in the playoffs. The Redhawks fell to Eastern Washington, 37-17, in the second round on Dec. 4, 2010. The Wildcats are one of four Big Sky schools (along with Eastern Washington, Montana State and UC Davis) in this year's playoff field. 

OVC Wins Two
Automatic qualifier Jacksonville State and Southeast Missouri each picked up postseason wins during first round action last week. JSU beat East Tennessee State, 34-27, and SEMO upended Stony Brook, 28-14. The OVC has placed multiple teams in the playoffs (which began in 1978) in 22 of the 41 years. The OVC has had multiple teams in the field in six of the last nine and eight of the previous 13 years. OVC schools are a combined 37-65 in the FCS Playoffs.

Nine Wins
Southeast Missouri tied a school record for most wins in a season when it earned its ninth victory with a 28-14 win over Stony Brook (Nov. 24). This year marks SEMO's fourth nine-win season in program history. The Redhawks also won nine games in 1937 (9-0), 1955 (9-0) and 2010 (9-3). The 2018 campaign is SEMO's second nine-win campaign during the Redhawks NCAA Division I era (since 1991).

Most Improved Teams
Southeast Missouri has the third-best turnaround among all Football Championship Subdivision teams in 2018. SEMO, currently 9-3 after going 3-8 a year ago, has a +5.5 improvement. The Redhawks rank behind Missouri Valley Football Conference member Indiana State (0-11 in 2017 to 7-4 in 2018, +7.0) and Pioneer League member Stetson (2-9 in 2017 to 8-2 in 2018, +6.5).

First-Ever Playoff Win
Southeast Missouri erased a 14-point halftime deficit by scoring 28 third-quarter points en route to a 28-14 victory over Stony Brook  (Nov. 24), its first playoff win in program history. SEMO's defense forced four turnovers, three of which led to 21 points. The Redhawks also hosted a playoff game for the first time.

Matukewicz in the FCS Playoffs
This year marks Tom Matukewicz's sixth all-time FCS Playoff appearance and first as a head coach. Matukewicz was part of five-straight (2003-07) FCS Playoff teams as linebackers coach and run game coordinator at Southern Illinois. SIU fell one win away from advancing to the national title game in 2007. Current Southeast Missouri defensive coordinator Bryce Saia was with Matukewicz on SIU's staff during that time. Matukewicz is 1-0 in FCS Playoff games as SEMO's head coach.

Ranked FCS Foes
#2 Weber State marks the third ranked Football Championship Subdivision opponent Southeast Missouri faces this season. The Redhawks are 2-0 against such teams after knocking off then-#4 Jacksonville State (37-14, Oct. 20) and upending #15 Stony Brook (28-14, Nov. 24). Head Coach Tom Matukewicz has a program record five wins against ranked FCS opponents. In all, SEMO has seven victories against ranked foes. The Redhawks proudly display all of their wins over ranked teams on a "Brickyard" wall in their locker room. 

ESPN3 Exposure
This week marks the fourth-straight where Southeast Missouri's game will air live on ESPN3. The Redhawks were involved in the Ohio Valley Conference Game of the Week each of the last two weeks of the regular-season before playing on ESPN3 on Nov. 24. SEMO is 2-1 in those ESPN3 matchups.

Redhawks Rack Up All-OVC Honors
For the first time in school history, Southeast Missouri won the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year (Tom Matukewicz), Offensive Player of the Year (Marquis Terry) and Defensive Player of the Year (Zach Hall) honors in the same season. The Redhawks picked up a total of 10 All-OVC accolades, second-most in the conference behind Jacksonville State (14). Terry, Hall, Daniel Santacaterina, Drew Forbes and Bydarrius Knighten earned first-team honors, while Clarence Thornton, Kristian Wilkerson, Lucas Orchard and Justin Swift took second-team accolades. Santacaterina was also named to the league's All-Newcomer Team.

Hall Breaks Single-Season Tackles Record
Junior inside linebacker Zach Hall posted a game-high 13 tackles against Stony Brook (Nov. 24), and as a result, broke Southeast Missouri's all-time single-season record in tackles. Hall currently leads the Ohio Valley Conference and ranks second in the nation with 163 total tackles. He surpassed fellow linebacker Blake Peiffer's previous record of 151 tackles in 2011. Hall has posted double-digit tackles in seven-straight games and 10 of his 12 starts this year. He also has 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, a team-high four interceptions, four forced fumbles, a blocked field goal and a safety. Hall is now tied for 11th among SEMO's all-time career leaders with 278 tackles.

Big Third Quarter
After trailing, 14-0, at halftime, Southeast Missouri scored 28 points in the third quarter to beat #15 Stony Brook, 28-14, on Nov. 24. The 28 points tied SEMO's second-most in a third quarter during the Redhawks NCAA Division I era. SEMO started four of its six third quarter drives in Stony Brook territory.

Defense Comes Up Huge
Southeast Missouri's defense flipped the game in the Redhawks recent 28-14 win over #15 Stony Brook (Nov. 24). SEMO intercepted a pass on each of the Seawolves' first two drives of the second half. The Redhawks also recovered a fumble on a punt. SEMO forced four turnovers in the game and cashed in three of those for a total of 21 points. The Redhawks lead the nation with a staggering +27 turnover margin. SEMO has forced 22 turnovers in its last six contests.

More on the Margin
The Redhawks stifling +2.25 turnovers per game margin is presently tied for fifth in a season all-time in NCAA Football Championship Subdivision history. It is the highest turnover margin by a FCS team since Bethune-Cookman hit that same mark in 2010. Here is a look at the top part of that list:
Saint Peter's, 3.18, 2001
Western Kentucky, 2.73, 2000
Bucknell, 2.45, 2011
Canisius, 2.44, 1996
Southeast Missouri, 2.25, 2018
Bethune-Cookman, 2.25, 2010

Ball Security
Southeast Missouri has lost only one fumble in 12 games this season. The Redhawks fumbled a total of seven times with their lone fumble lost coming at Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 22). SEMO leads the nation in fewest fumbles lost.

Closing In
In his first year as Southeast Missouri's starting quarterback, Daniel Santacaterina is two touchdown passes away from breaking the school's single-season record. Santacaterina is presently second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 28 passing touchdowns this year. Jack Tomco presently holds the record with 29 touchdown passes in 2002. 

Approaching 1,000
Kristian Wilkerson is approaching 1,000 receiving yards this season. Wilkerson leads Southeast Missouri with 863 yards and 14 touchdowns through 12 starts. He needs 137 more yards to hit that mark. Wilkerson's 14 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 finished undefeated at home with a 6-0 record at Houck Field this season. SEMO and Jacksonville State 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 Ranked #20 in Final Regular Season Polls
The Redhawks were ranked 20th in the final regular season STATS FCS Media and American Football Coaches Association Polls. Southeast Missouri was ranked in both of the Top-25 polls four-straight weeks. SEMO's highest ranking of the season was 19th prior to its game against Murray State on Nov. 10.

Scoring Machine
The Redhawks are second in the Ohio Valley Conference and 10th in the nation in scoring offense with 38.3 points per game. Southeast Missouri won five of its last eight games by 17 or more points. The Redhawks also scored 40 or more points on four occasions this year. 

Redhawks Lead the Nation in Interceptions, Turnover Margin and Turnovers Gained 
Southeast Missouri leads the nation in interceptions, turnover margin and turnovers gained. SEMO has 23 picks in 12 games and boasts a staggering +27 turnover margin with 35 turnovers gained. Eleven different Redhawks have an interception this year.

Keeping Count
The Redhawks have won 25 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 (5)
OVC Specialist of the Week (4)
OVC Newcomer of the Week (3)
College Sports Madness OVC Offensive Player of the Week (3)
College Sports Madness OVC Defensive Player of the Week (2)
STATS Offensive Player of the Week (1)
STATS Defensive Player of the Week (1)
College Sports Madness National Offensive Player of the Week (1)
College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week (1)

Starting Streak
Senior Drew Forbes enters Saturday's game with a streak of 34 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 89-consecutive games and ranks behind Murray State (152) in that category. The last time the Redhawks were shutout in a game was at Purdue (59-0) on Sept. 17, 2011.