Murray State (4-7, 2-5 OVC) vs. #13 Southeast Missouri (8-3, 7-1 OVC)

Date: Saturday, November 23, 2019
Kickoff: 1 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.                                                                                                
Stadium: Houck Field (10,000)
Surface: Field Turf
Weather Forecast: Partly Cloudy, 45 degrees
Series History: MSU leads, 40-12-1
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (33-37 overall; 32-37 at SEMO; 24-22 OVC). Mitch Stewart (19-36 overall; 19-36 at MSU; 15-23 OVC).

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

Redhawks Wrap Up Regular Season
#13 Southeast Missouri (8-3, 6-1) hosts rival Murray State (4-7, 2-5) on Senior Day 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 at Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean, Rick Wieser and Rusty Hendricks will call the action. Watch live on ESPN+. Live stats can be accessed online at GoSoutheast.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOFootball.

Series History
Rivals Southeast Missouri and Murray State meet for the 54th time Saturday. MSU holds a 40-12-1 lead in the all-time series although SEMO has won three of the last four matchups. The Redhawks posted eight of their 12 wins in their series against the Racers at Houck Field. 

OVC Title Implications
Southeast Missouri (6-1) and Austin Peay (6-1) are tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. The Redhawks carry a season-long five-game winning streak into their final game of the regular season Saturday. If SEMO wins, it will clinch at least a share of this year's OVC title. If SEMO wins and Austin Peay loses, the Redhawks will win the title outright and secure the league's automatic berth to the playoffs.

Matukewicz vs. Murray State
Tom Matukewicz is 3-2 against Murray State as Southeast Missouri's head coach. Matukewicz is 2-0 all-time against the Racers at Houck Field winning there in 2015 and 2017.

Home Winning Streak
The Redhawks are on a 12-game winning streak at Houck Field. Southeast Missouri went undefeated at 6-0 in Cape Girardeau a year ago and won its season-finale at home in 2017 before going 5-0 at home this year. It is currently the longest home winning streak in the Ohio Valley Conference and longest in the Redhawks NCAA Divsion I era.

Eight-Win Seasons
For the first time in Southeast Missouri football history, the Redhawks posted eight wins in back-to-back seasons. SEMO improved to 8-3 following its 26-12 win over Eastern Illinois (Nov. 16). It marked the ninth time the Redhawks have won eight or more games in a season during their 115-year football history. Those seasons include 1937 (9-0), 1955 (9-0), 2010 (9-3), 2018 (9-4), 1946 (8-0-1), 1967 (8-2), 1969 (8-2), 2019 (8-3) and 2002 (8-4).

Farewell Seniors
The Redhawks will honor 17 seniors prior to kickoff against Murray State. This class of seniors is the winningest senior class in Southeast Missouri's NCAA Division I history. The special group has won a total of 23 games since 2016. SEMO's seniors include Zach Hall (ILB), Daniel Santacaterina (QB), Kristian Wilkerson (WR), Justin Swift (OLB), Noah McWell (WR), Clarence Thornton (DL), Josh Price (DL), Nick Thompson (ILB), Devin Alexander (ILB), Tyler Ford (OL), DJ Freeman (DB), Bud Hilburn (TE), Taj Jenkins (DB), Ryan Ochoa (DL), Eric Williams (TE), Elijah Swehla (OL) and Josh Avery (DL).

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.

Lots to Celebrate
Football isn't the only sport achieving major success at Southeast Missouri this fall. SEMO's women's soccer team won the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference title and volleyball recently finished second in the OVC and will head to this week's conference tournament in Jacksonville, Alabama. In the history of the OVC since women's soccer was officially added as a sport in 1998, there has been only one other time that a school has had a top-two finish in football, soccer and volleyball. Eastern Illinois did that in 2001. Football (3-1), soccer (6-0-1) and volleyball (8-1) were a combined 17-2-1 in the month of October alone.

Hall Clears 100 Tackles
Senior linebacker Zach Hall turned in 12 tackles against Eastern Illinois (Nov. 16) to go over 100 this 2019 season. Hall leads the Redhawks with 103 stops through 11 starts. He became 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). Hall enters the week ranked third in the Ohio Valley Conference and 24th in the nation with 9.3 tackles per game.

Linebacker Matchup
Saturday's game will feature two of the Ohio Valley Conference's best linebackers in Southeast Missouri's Zach Hall and Murray State's Anthony Koclanakis. Koclanakis is the league's leading tackler with 113 total stops, while Hall follows with 102. The two have combined for a 108 solo tackles through 11 games.

Another First Ahead
If Southeast Missouri beats Murray State Saturday, it will mark the first time in the Redhawks NCAA Division I era that they will close out a regular season on a six-game winning streak. SEMO came close to doing that twice, but a road loss at Jacksonville State in the final game of the regular season ended a nine-game winning streak in 2010 and a road loss at Murray State snapped a five-game winning streak during the second to last week of the 2018 campaign. The Redhawks last won their final six games of a regular season in 1989.

Here We Go Again
For the second-straight season a lot will be riding on Southeast Missouri's game with rival Murray State. SEMO is again in position to win the Ohio Valley Conference title and make the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs. A win over the Racers will clinch at least a share of the regular season crown. In 2018, the Redhawks were also nationally-ranked and on a five-game winning streak when they faced the Racers. Also with OVC title hopes at stake, MSU overcame a 31-point deficit and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 79-yard kickoff return by Malik Honeycutt to stun SEMO on Nov. 10, 2018. Despite the loss, the Redhawks claimed an at-large berth to the FCS Playoffs that year.

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

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.

Santacaterina Nears 5,000 Passing Yards
Daniel Santacaterina needs just five passing yards to reach 5,000 in his career. Santacaterina ranks third among the school's all-time career leaders with 4,995 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.

Wilkerson Approaching OVC Record
Kristian Wilkerson is four receiving touchdowns away from breaking the all-time Ohio Valley Conference career record in that category. Wilkerson currently has 32 receiving touchdowns and ranks second behind Eastern Illinois' Erik Lora (35, 2009-13) on that list.

Special Teams Touchdown
Shabari Davis swung the game in Southeast Missouri's favor with a huge punt return at Eastern Illinois (Nov. 16). SEMO trailed, 7-6, when Davis ran back a punt 46 yards for a touchdown to give the Redhawks the lead with 13:03 remaining in the third quarter. SEMO did not lose its lead the rest of the way. Davis became the first Redhawk to return a punt for a touchdown in four years.

OVC Honors are Flowing
The Redhawks won at least one Ohio Valley Conference weekly honor for five weeks in a row. Linebacker Zach Hall was recently named OVC Defensive Player of the Week and Shabari Davis was named OVC Specialist of the Week on Nov. 18. Wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson was rnamed 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)    3,331
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
2016-pr.    Kristian Wilkerson (SEMO)    203
2011-14    Adam Drake (EIU)    202
2003-06    Taurean Stephens (UTM)    201

Turnover Margin
Southeast Missouri is second in the Ohio Valley Conference in turnover margin. The Redhawks hold a +5 margin with a total of 21 takeaways (8 fumbles, 13 interceptions) through 11 games. Fifteen of those takeaways have come in the last five 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 fourth time this season when they put up 13 against Eastern Illinois (Nov. 16). SEMO has scored a total of 107 fourth-quarter points through 11 games in 2019, its most in any quarter.

Starting Streaks
Inside linebacker Zach Hall and defensive back Bydarrius Knighten have each started 35-consecutive games. Wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson has logged 26-straight starts, while outside linebacker Justin Swift and quarterback Daniel Santacaterina follow with 25 and 24, respectively.

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 575 yards on 102 carries. Custis follows with 549 yards and Robinson has 467 rushing yards on 102 attempts. Robinson leads the team with seven touchdowns and Hess follows with six. Hess (6), Custis (5) and Robinson (7) combined for 18 of SEMO's 24 rushing touchdowns this year. Hess (52.3), Custis (49.9) and Robinson (42.5) rank sixth, eighth and 10th, respectively, in the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing. As a team, the Redhawks are third in the OVC in rushing with 167.7 yards per game.

39 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 39 away. Robert Haggerty (1993-96) presently holds the all-time career record with 424 stops. Hall has 386 tackles.

Games With a Catch
Senior wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson has caught a pass in 26 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 1,141 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2019.

FCS Polls
Southeast Missouri is ranked 13th in the STATS Media and 16th 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
11/18/19    #13    #16