#15 Southeast Missouri (7-3, 5-1 OVC) at Eastern Illinois (1-9, 1-5 OVC)

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2019
Kickoff: Noon, CT
Location: Charleston, Ill.                                                                                                 
Stadium: O'Brien Field (10,000)
Surface: Matrix Turf
Weather Forecast: Partly Cloudy, 44 degrees
Series History: EIU leads, 18-8
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (32-37 overall; 31-37 at SEMO; 23-22 OVC). Adam Cushing (1-9 overall; 1-9 at EIU; 1-5 OVC).

Media Coverage
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM & ESPN 1220 AM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN+ 
Live Stats: EIUPanthers.com
Twitter: @SEMOFootball
Southeast Missouri Notes

Redhawks Head to Eastern Illinois
#15 Southeast Missouri (7-3, 5-1) travels to Eastern Illinois (1-9, 1-5) for its final road game of the regular season. Kickoff is set for Noon, CT, at O'Brien Field.

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. Watch live on ESPN+. Live stats can be accessed online at GoSoutheast.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOFootball.

Series History
Eastern Illinois holds a 18-8 lead in its all-time series against Southeast Missouri. The Redhawks have won two of the last three meetings between these teams. Both of those victories came in Cape Girardeau. SEMO is looking to snap a four-game losing skid against the Panthers in Charleston. The Redhawks last won at O'Brien Field on Oct. 2, 2010 (28-13).

Redhawks in First Place
Southeast Missouri (5-1) and Austin Peay (5-1) are tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. The Redhawks carry a season-long four-game winning streak to Charleston, Illinois Saturday. SEMO can clinch at least a share of this year's OVC title if it beats Eastern Illinois on the road and finishes with a win over Murray State (Nov. 23) at home.

Matukewicz vs. Eastern Illinois
Tom Matukewicz is 2-3 against Eastern Illinois as Southeast Missouri's head coach. Both of Matukewicz's wins over the Panthers came in Cape Girardeau --Oct. 1, 2016 (21-14) and Nov. 17, 2018 (38-32).

Road Winning Streak
Southeast Missouri goes after its third-straight win on the road when it heads to Eastern Illinois this weekend. The Redhawks beat then-#14 Jacksonville State, 24-21, on Oct. 19 and Tennessee State, 32-13, on Nov. 2 in their previous two away contests. If SEMO wins Saturday, it will be on a three-game road winning streak for the first time in nine years. The Redhawks last won three-straight road games in 2010, the year they won their only Ohio Valley Conference title.

Back-to-Back Winning Seasons
With its win over Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 9), Southeast Missouri secured a winning season for the second-straight year. Tom Matukewicz's Redhawks are the first to post back-to-back winning seasons during the school's NCAA Division I history (since 1991). SEMO now has five winning seasons since moving to the Division I ranks. Prior to this year, each of the first four winning seasons came eight years apart (1994, 2002, 2010, 2018). Overall, this is the first time SEMO clinched back-to-back winning seasons since 1989 (7-4) and 1990 (7-3).

Four in a Row
The Redhawks are on a four-game winning streak, presently the longest in the Ohio Valley Conference. Southeast Missouri won six of its last seven games. The winning streak is SEMO's longest of the season.

What a Comeback
Southeast Missouri trailed, 31-14, with 10:11 remaining in the third quarter against Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 9) before scoring 24 unanswered points to pull off its 38-31 come-from-behind win. The Redhawks scored 17 fourth-quarter points with Zion Custis scoring two rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner with 37 seconds left. SEMO also overcame a season-high five turnovers in its victory over the Colonels.

Another Huge Game for Wilkerson
Kristian Wilkerson caught 10 passes for a season-high 254 yards and two touchdowns in Southeast Missouri's win over Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 9). Wilkerson averaged 25.4 yards per catch and scored on receptions of 68 and 45 yards. His 254 receiving yards are the most by any player in the Ohio Valley Conference this season. Wilkerson now holds the top two single-game receiving yard marks in school history.

Over 5,000
Daniel Santacaterina recently went over 5,000 yards of total offense in his Southeast Missouri career. Santacaterina presently has 5,172 total yards (4,856 passing, 316 rushing) as SEMO's quarterback. He ranks fourth all-time among the school's career leaders in that category. Santacaterina became the fourth quarterback to accumulate 5,000 or more career total yards in program history.

Santacaterina Nears 5,000 Passing Yards
Daniel Santacaterina needs 144 passing yards to reach 5,000 in his career. Santacaterina ranks fourth among the school's all-time career leaders with 4,856 passing yards. If he hits that milestone, Santacaterina will become just the third quarterback in Southeast Missouri football history to throw for 5,000 or more yards. Jason Liley (6,179, 1989-92) and Jeff Brown (5,853, 1983-87) are the others.

Closing In
Quarterback Daniel Santacaterina is just three touchdown passes away from breaking Southeast Missouri's all-time career record. Santacaterina threw for 43 touchdowns as SEMO's starting signal-caller. Jeff Brown (1983-87) currently holds the all-time career record with 45 passing touchdowns.

Hall Eyes 100 Tackles
Senior linebacker Zach Hall is just nine tackles away from getting 100 this season. Hall leads the Redhawks with 91 stops through 10 starts. If he hits the mark, Hall will become the first Southeast Missouri player to finish with 100 or more tackles in back-to-back seasons since fellow linebacker Blake Peiffer (151 in 2011; 117 in 2012).

Wilkerson Passes 1,000 Receiving Yards
For the first time in his career, Kristian Wilkerson is over 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Wilkerson enters the week with 1,085 yards and nine touchdowns. His 1,085 yards rank fourth all-time among Southeast Missouri's single-season leaders. Wilkerson is 369 receiving yards away from breaking the school's single-season record currently held by Willie Ponder (1,453 in 2002). He is also four touchdown receptions away from breaking the Ohio Valley Conference record in career receiving touchdowns -- currently held by Eastern Illinois' Erik Lora (35, 2009-13).

Winningest Senior Class
Southeast Missouri's 24-21 victory over #14 Jacksonville State (Oct. 19) made the Redhawk seniors the winningest senior class in the program's NCAA Division I history. SEMO's senior class, which consists of 20 players, has won a total of 22 games since 2016. The current senior class surpassed the 2010 class (18 wins from 2007-2010) for the new record.

OVC Honors are Flowing
The Redhawks won at least one Ohio Valley Conference weekly honor for four weeks in a row. Wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson was recently named OVC Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 10). Running back Geno Hess was named OVC Co-Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 3. Prior to that, outside linebacker Omardrick Douglas (Defensive Player of the Week) and backup quarterback Joe Pyle (Newcomer of the Week) were honored on Oct. 27, and Wilkerson (Offensive Player of the Week) and outside linebacker Justin Swift (Defensive Player of the Week) were honored on Oct. 20.

Wilkerson in the OVC Records
Kristian Wilkerson is among the Ohio Valley Conference all-time leaders in several catetories. Here is where Wilkerson ranks on those lists.

Receiving Yards (Career)
2009-13    Erik Lora (EIU)    4,006
2000-03    C.J. Johnson (TSU)    3,903
2013-16    Josh Barge (JSU)    3,611
2015-pr.    Kristian Wilkerson (SEMO)    3,275
2008-11    Tim Benford (TTU)    3,104
2002-05    Andre Ralston (EKU)    3,095
1967-70    Harold Roberts (APSU)    3,005
2011-14    Adam Drake (EIU)    2,979
2004-07    Larry Shipp (TTU)    2,950
1995-98    Rondel Menendez (EKU)    2,902

Receiving Touchdowns (Career)
2009-13    Erik Lora (EIU)    35
2015-pr.    Kristian Wilkerson (SEMO)    32
2009-12    Chris Wright (EIU)    32
2000-03    C.J. Johnson (TSU)    32
1967-70    Harold Roberts (APSU)    31
2015-18    Patrick Smith (TSU)    31
2010-13    Walter Powell (MUR)    29
2012-15    Paul McRoberts (SEMO)    29

Receptions (Career)
2009-13    Erik Lora (EIU)    332
2013-16    Josh Barge (JSU)    247
1967-70    Harold Roberts (APSU)    232
2008-11    Tim Benford (TTU)    217
2007-10    Marcus Harris (MUR)    216
2010-13    Walter Powell (MUR)    208
2012-15    Jeremy Harness (MUR)    204
2011-14    Adam Drake (EIU)    202
2003-06    Taurean Stephens (UTM)    201
2016-pr.    Kristian Wilkerson (SEMO)    199

Turnover Margin
Southeast Missouri is tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference in turnover margin. The Redhawks hold a +5 margin with a total of 20 takeaways (8 fumbles, 12 interceptions) through nine games. Fourteen of those takeaways have come in the last four games alone. The Redhawks led the FCS in turnover margin in 2018.

Fourth Quarter Points
The Redhawks scored double-digit points in the fourth quarter for the third time this season when they put up 17 against Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 9). It was the most points Southeast Missouri scored in the fourth quarter against a Division I opponent this season. SEMO has scored a total of 94 fourth-quarter points through 10 games in 2019, its most in any quarter.

Next in Line
Defensive back Bydarrius Knighten is the next Redhawk closing in on 200 career tackles. Knighten, Southeast Missouri's third-leading tackler with 52 stops this year, has 192 in his career. 

100-Yard Receiving Games
Kristian Wilkerson notched his sixth 100-yard receiving performance of the season when he finished with 254 yards and two touchdowns on 10 catches vs. Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 9). It was the 12th game with 100 or more receiving yards in Wilkerson's career.

Starting Streaks
Inside linebacker Zach Hall and defensive back Bydarrius Knighten have each started 34-consecutive games. Wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson has logged 25-straight starts, while outside linebacker Justin Swift and quarterback Daniel Santacaterina follow with 24 and 23, respectively.

Racking Up Sacks
Southeast Missouri led the Ohio Valley Conference in sacks each of the last two seasons. The Redhawks finished with 29 sacks in 2018. SEMO has accumulated 144 sacks for an average of 24 per season under head coach Tom Matukewicz. The Redhawks twice finished a season with over 30 sacks (31 in 2015; 37 in 2017) during that span. Matukewicz's 2017 (2nd) and 2015 (4th) teams are among the school's top four single-season leaders in sacks. SEMO has recorded a sack in 21-straight games. The last time the Redhawks went without a sack was at Arkansas State on Sept. 1, 2018. The Redhawks have 21 sacks in 2019.

Three-Headed Monster
Southeast Missouri's backfield trio of junior Mark Robinson, sophomore Zion Custis and redshirt-freshman Geno Hess has been equally impressive thus far. Hess presently leads the Redhawks with 570 yards on 97 carries. Custis follows with 507 yards and Robinson has 390 rushing yards on 89 attempts. Robinson and Hess each have six rushing touchdowns, as well. Hess (6), Custis (5) and Robinson (6) combined for 17 of SEMO's 22 rushing touchdowns this year. Hess (57.0) and Custis (50.7) rank fifth and seventh, respectively, in the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing. As a team, the Redhawks are third in the OVC in rushing with 170 yards per game.

51 to Go
Zach Hall is on pace to break Southeast Missouri's all-time career tackles record. Hall, who broke the school's single-season record with 168 tackles last season, is 51 away. Robert Haggerty (1993-96) presently holds the all-time career record with 424 stops. Hall has 374 tackles.

Games With a Catch
Senior wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson has caught a pass in 25 consecutive games. Wilkerson recently had 10 receptions for 254 yards and two touchdowns vs. Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 9). He finished with over 100 receiving yards in a game for the 12th time in his career. He leads the Redhawks with 1,085 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2019.

FCS Polls
Southeast Missouri is ranked 15th in the STATS Media and 17th in the AFCA FCS Coaches Polls this week. Here are the Redhawks rankings this season: Preseason
Athlon Sports    #19 (June 4)
Street & Smith's    #22 (July 9)
STATS Media    #17 (Aug. 5)
AFCA FCS Coaches    #18 (Aug. 19)
        STATS Media    Coaches
8/26/19    #17    #18
9/2/19    #12    #13
9/9/19    #19    #20
9/16/19    #23    #25
9/23/19    #23    RV
9/30/19    #23    #t25
10/7/19    #20    #22
10/14/19    RV    RV
10/21/19    #24    RV
10/28/19    #18    #21
11/4/19    #17    #18
11/11/19    #15    #17

FCS Rankings
Southeast Missouri ranks among the top 20 leaders in the Football Championship Subdivision in the following categories after 10 games this season.
Team
•    11th in Team Passing Effic. Defense (113.7)
•    13th in Winning Percentage (.700)
•    13th in Interceptions (12)
•    14th in Red Zone Offense (.900)
•    18th Turnovers Gained (18)

Individual
Daniel Santacaterina
•    10th in Passing Yards Per Completion (14.5)
Bryson Donnell
•    18th in Fumbles Recovered (2)
Daterraion Richardson
•    19th in Fumbles Recovered (2)
Kristian Wilkerson
•    3rd in Receiving Yards (1,085)
•    5th in Receiving Yards Per Game (108.5)
•    13th in Receiving TDs (9)
•    14th in Yards Per Reception (21.2)

OVC Rankings
Southeast Missouri ranks among the top five leaders in the Ohio Valley Conference in the following categories after nine games this season.
Team
•    1st in Pass Defense Effic. (113.7)
•    1st in Punting (37.1 ypp)
•    2nd in Red Zone Offense (90 pct.)
•    3rd in Scoring Offense (29.5 ppg)
•    3rd in Red Zone Defense (72.7 pct.)
•    3rd in Rushing Offense (170 ypg)
•    3rd in Interceptions (12)
•    t3rd in Sacks (21)
•    t3rd in Turnover Margin (+5)
•    3rd in 4th-Down Conversions (57.1 pct.)
•    4th in Scoring Defense (26.4 ppg allowed)
•    4th in Punt Return Average (11.2 ypr)
•    5th in Field Goals (11-of-15, .733)
•    5th in Pass Defense (237.1 ypg allowed)
•    5th in Kickoff Returns (18.5 ypr)

Individual
Geno Hess
•    5th in Rushing (57 ypg)
Kristian Wilkerson
•    3rd in Receiving Yards Per Game (108.5)
•    4th in Receptions Per Game (5.1)
Kendrick Tiller
•    2nd in Field Goals (11-of-15, .733)
•    3rd in Scoring (7.4 ppg)
•    3rd in Scoring (Kick) (7.4 ppg)   
Bryant Pirtle
•    3rd in Sacks (5.0)                                          
Jake Reynolds
•    3rd in Punting (40.5 ypp)
Zach Hall
•    3rd in Tackles (9.0 per game)
•    t4th in Fumbles Forced (2)
Justin Swift
•    4th in Tackles for Loss (11.0 avg)
Bryson Donnell
•    t3rd in Fumbles Recovered (2)    
Daterraion Richardson
•    t3rd in Fumbles Recovered (2)          
DJ Freeman
•    t5th in Passes Defended (9) 
Bydarrius Knighten
•    t3rd in Interceptions (3)   

About Eastern Illinois
Eastern Illinois lost its first nine games of the season before picking up its only win at Tennessee State (49-38, Nov. 9) last week. EIU is last in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a 1-9 overall record and 1-5 mark in conference play. The Panthers have the league's worst scoring offense (15.8 ppg), total offense (471.7 ypg), rushing offense (104.3 ypg) and pass efficiency (90.9). EIU is also last in kickoff returns (15.0 ypr), punt return average (2.0 ypr) and punting (31.6 ypp). The Panthers lead the OVC in 4th-down conversions with a 59.5 percent clip on 25-of-42 attempts.