Dayton (1-0) vs. Southeast Missouri (0-1)

Date: Saturday, September 8, 2018
Kickoff: 1 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Stadium: Houck Field (10,000)
Surface: Field Turf
Weather Forecast: Scattered Thunderstorms, 81 degrees
Series History: Dayton leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Dayton 25, SEMO 23 (Sept. 9, 2017 / Dayton, Ohio)
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (16-31 overall; 15-31 at SEMO; 12-19 OVC). Rick Chamberlin (80-33 overall; 80-33 at UD).

Media Coverage
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean, Rick Wieser, Rusty Hendricks)
Video: ESPN+  (Erik Sean, Rick Wieser, Rusty Hendricks)
Live Stats: GoSoutheast.com
Twitter: @SEMOFootball
Southeast Missouri Notes

Redhawks Host Dayton 
Southeast Missouri (0-1) plays host to Pioneer League member Dayton (1-0) in its home-opener during Family Weekend Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., CT, at Houck Field. 

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

Series History
This year marks the second meeting between Southeast Missouri and Dayton. The Flyers make their first trip to Cape Girardeau on the backend of a home-and-home series. SEMO fell to Dayton, 25-23, on Sept. 9, 2017 at Welcome Stadium.

Home Openers
The Redhawks are 16-11 all-time in home openers since joining the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision in 1991. Southeast is 2-2 in such games with Tom Matukewicz as its coach, defeating Missouri Baptist, 77-0, on Aug. 28, 2014 and Southern Illinois, 27-24, on Sept. 12, 2015. The Redhawks won their home-opener in eight of the last 12 years.

Against the Pioneer League
Southeast Missouri is 3-4 all-time against Pioneer League opponents. The Redhawks are 0-1 against Drake, 0-1 against Dayton and 3-2 against Morehead State. Morehead State is with SEMO in the Ohio Valley Conference outside of football. The Redhawks won two of their last three games against Pioneer League foes, beating Morehead State, 45-20, on Oct. 1, 1994 and, 21-12, on Nov. 4, 1995. The Pioneer League is the nation's only non-scholarship football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference.

Family Weekend
The Redhawks are 3-1 in Family Weekend games under head coach Tom Matukewicz. Southeast Missouri's 29-10 victory over Eastern Kentucky last season was its largest Family Weekend win with Matukewicz at the helm. SEMO also beat then #3 Southeastern Louisiana, 24-23, in 2014 and Southern Illinois, 27-24, in 2015 for its other Family Weekend wins under Matukewicz.

Starting Debuts 
Ten players made their starting debuts at Southeast Missouri during week one at Arkansas State (Sept. 1). Elijah Swehla (LG), Jimmy Keutzer (RT), Austin Crump (TE), Jerrick Orr (WR) and Daniel Santacaterina (QB) are listed at the top of the Arkansas State game two-deep on offense, while Demarcus Rogers (ILB), Marcus Goree (OLB), Al Young (CB), DJ Freeman (FS) and Taj Jenkins (CB) will make their first Division I start on defense.

Hall Named OVC Defensive Player of the Week
Southeast Missouri junior inside linebacker Zach Hall won the first Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week award for the 2018 season, the league announced Sept. 2. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Hall recorded a career-high 22 tackles in SEMO's season-opening loss to Football Bowl Subdivision and Sun Belt Conference member Arkansas State. Hall had nine solo tackles and assisted on 13 others. He also forced a fumble. Hall turned in double-digit tackles for the fifth time in six games dating back to last season. His 22 tackles tied for third-most in a game in school history and were the most by an OVC player in a game since Murray State's Nathan Williams had 23 vs. Illinois State on Sept. 13, 2008. Additionally, Hall's 22 tackles are the most by any player in all divisions of college football this year. Eastern Illinois wide receiver Alexander Hollins (Offensive), Eastern Kentucky kicker Sam Hayworth (Co-Specialist), Tennessee State kicker Antonio Zita (Co-Specialist) and Jacksonville State quarterback Zerrick Cooper (Newcomer) round out this week's honorees.

Turnover Advantage
The Redhawks forced three turnovers in its season-opener at Arkansas State (Sept. 1). Marcus Lucas and Omardrick Douglas each had an interception and Bydarrius Knighten recovered a fumble. Southeast Missouri, meanwhile, did not have a turnover. All were career firsts for Lucas, Douglas and Knighten.

Scoring Start
Southeast Missouri opened the season by scoring 21 points at Arkansas State (Sept. 1). It was the most points the Redhawks put up in a season-opener since 2014. That year, SEMO scored 77 points vs. Missouri Baptist. The 21 points were also the most the Redhawks scored against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent since they put up 28 against Kansas in 2014.

Bryer Scores
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M transfer Kobe Bryer scored Southeast Missouri's first points of the 2018 season at Arkansas State (Sept. 1). Bryer caught a 5-yard pass from Daniel Santacaterina with 10:34 left to play in the second quarter. That play tied the game at 7-7. 

Hall Tabbed STATS National Defensive Player of the Week
Southeast Missouri linebacker Zach Hall also won this week's STATS National Defensive Player of the Week honor on Sept. 3. Hall is the first SEMO defensive player to win a National Player of the Week award since cornerback Tim Hamm-Bey was the Sports Network's National Player of the Week on Oct. 6, 2014. Butler's Pace Temple (Offensive), Montana State's Tristan Bailey (Special Teams) and UC Davis' Ulonzo Gilliam (Freshman) rounded out this week's honorees.

Santacaterina Update
With two minutes left before halftime at Arkansas State (Sept. 1), quarterback Daniel Santacaterina ran through an open lane and was hit hard by Demari Edwards when he slid to the turf for a first down. Edwards was ejected for targeting and Santacaterina was carted off the field on a stretcher. Santacaterina was evaluated at a local hospital for precautionary reasons and later returned to the Redhawks sideline. He is being evaluated day-to-day and his status for Saturday is undetermined at this time.

Big Plays
Southeast Missouri had two plays go for 50 or more yards at Arkansas State (Sept. 1). Kristian Wilkerson hauled in a 52-yard reception and Marquis Terry rushed for a 67-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It was the third time Wilkerson made a reception of 50 or more yards in his career and second time Terry ran for over 60 yards on a play in his career.

Starting Streak
Senior Drew Forbes enters Saturday's game with a streak of 23 consecutive starts at left tackle. Forbes anchors an offensive line that returns three starters.

Terry and Forbes Garner Preseason All-America Honors
Senior tailback Marquis Terry and senior left tackle Drew Forbes earned Preseason All-America honors. Terry was a First-Team Phil Steele's Preseason All-America selection, while Terry made the Lindy's Sports (second-team) and STATS (third-team) Preseason All-America teams.

Terry Named OVC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Senior tailback Marquis Terry became Southeast Missouri's first Preseason Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year. The OVC began selecting the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year on a regular basis since 2008. Terry rushed for 1,076 yards and seven touchdowns on 239 carries and averaged 4.5 yards per attempt in his first season at SEMO in 2017. He led the OVC with 97.8 rushing yards per game and was one of two running backs in the conference to rush for over 1,000 yards. Terry rated 13th in the Football Championship Subdivision in total rushing yards and 16th in rushing yards per game. He ran for over 100 yards four times with a season-high 184 vs. Eastern Kentucky. Terry went over 100 yards in two of his final three starts of the season as his 1,076 yards marked the fifth-most in a season at SEMO. Also an OVC All-Newcomer pick, Terry ranked fourth in the league in all-purpose yards (1,185) and caught 20 passes for 109 yards out of the backfield.

More Preseason Accolades
Senior offensive tackle Drew Forbes and junior inside linebacker Zach Hall joined teammate Marquis Terry on the 2018 Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference team. Forbes ranks at the top of the Athlon Sports Breakout Lineman Across FCS Football list. Hall led the Redhawks in tackles (79), tackles for loss (15) and sacks (9) in 2017. He forced a fumble and blocked a kick as well. Hall turned in 10 or more tackles in four of his final five starts of the season. He ranked eighth in the OVC in tackles, fourth in sacks and third in tackles for loss. Hall finished the year rated 18th in the nation in sacks and 27th in tackles for loss.

Interesting Trend
Southeast Missouri has had three winning seasons in its NCAA Division I era (since 1991). All three of those winning seasons have come at eight-year intervals (1994, 2002, 2010). The 2018 campaign marks eight years from SEMO's last winning campaign. The Redhawks went 9-3, won their only Ohio Valley Conference title and made the NCAA Playoffs that 2010 season.

Year Five
Tom Matukewicz is in his fifth season as head coach at Southeast Missouri. Matukewicz has three wins over ranked opponents, most in program history. He received a two-year contract extension through the 2020 season.

Roster Talk
The Redhawks 2018 roster consists of 97 players, including 16 seniors, 23 juniors, 24 sophomores and 34 freshmen. Five of SEMO's seniors are fifth-year players. The Redhawks also return nine starters with five on offense and four on defense. Lucas Orchard (C), Junior Pierre (G), Drew Forbes (OT), Marquis Terry (RB) and Kristian Wilkerson (WR) return on offense, while Zach Hall (ILB), Bydarrius Knighten (FS), Reggie Miles (NT) and Clarence Thornton (DE) are back on defense.

On Watch
Jake Reynolds, Zach Hall and Justin Swift enter the season ranked among Southeast Missouri's all-time career leaders. Reynolds is fourth in punting average (40.48 ypp), Hall is tied for seventh in sacks (10.0) and tied for 14th in tackles for loss (19.5), and Swift is tied for 20th in sacks (7.0).

Road to 100
Junior wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson is 11 receptions away from 100 in his career. Wilkerson has caught 89 passes for 1,352 yards and nine touchdowns as Southeast Missouri's top receiver. He averages just under 15 yards per catch (14.9) in his career.

Scoring Streak
The Redhawks presently have the second-longest scoring streak in the Ohio Valley Conference. Southeast Missouri has scored in 78-consecutive games and ranks behind Murray State (143) in that category. The last time the Redhawks were shutout in a game was at Purdue (59-0) on Sept. 17, 2011.

Up Next
Southeast MIssouri crosses the Mississippi River to face regional-rival Southern Illinois in the "War for the Wheel" on Sept. 15. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., CT, at Saluki Stadium.