#13 Illinois State (8-4) vs. #12 Southeast Missouri (9-3)

NCAA Playoffs First Round
Date: Saturday, November 30, 2019
Kickoff: 1 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.                                                                                                
Stadium: HouckField (10,000)
Surface: Field Turf
Weather Forecast: Showers, 65 degrees
Series History: ISU leads, 7-3
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (34-37 overall; 33-37 at SEMO; 25-22 OVC). Brock Spack (89-52 overall; 89-52 at ISU)

Media Coverage
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM & ESPN 1220 AM (Erik Sean, Rick Wieser, Rusty Hendricks)
Video: ESPN3 
Live Stats: NCAA.com/mediastats
Twitter: @SEMOFootball
Southeast Missouri Notes
FCS Playoffs Bracket

Redhawks are in the Playoffs
#12 Southeast Missouri (9-3) faces #13 Illinois State (8-4) in the first round of the 2019 FCS Playoffs 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 ESPN3. Live stats can be accessed online at NCAA.com/mediastats. Twitter updates provided @SEMOFootball.

Back-to-Back Playoff Appearances
For the first time since moving to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision in 1991, Southeast Missouri is in the FCS Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The Redhawks went 9-4 overall and recorded their first playoff win in program history with a 28-14 first-round victory over #15 Stony Brook in Cape Girardeau a year ago. The 2019 campaign is also the second year in a row where SEMO will host a playoff game.

Playoff History
The 2019 season marks Southeast Missouri's third FCS Playoff appearance. SEMO is 1-2 overall in FCS Playoff games. The Redhawks also made appearances in 2010 and 2018 (both of those seasons ended in the second round against Big Sky Conference opponents). Here is a look at SEMO's all-time FCS Playoff history.
12/4/10    at #1 Eastern Washington*    L, 17-37, Second Round
11/24/18    vs. #15 Stony Brook    W, 28-14, First Round
12/1/18    at #3 Weber State    L, 23-48, Second Round

* - National Champion

2019 OVC Co-Champions
With its 31-24 win over rival Murray State on Nov. 23, Southeast Missouri won a share of the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference Championship. SEMO and Austin Peay each earned a piece of this year's title. It was SEMO's second OVC title and first in nine years. The Redhawks also won the conference in 2010. That year, SEMO was an automatic qualifier in its first FCS Playoff appearance.

Redhawks Make 24-Team Field as At-Large Selection
For the second year in a row, Southeast Missouri enters the 24-team FCS Playoff bracket as an at-large selection. The Redhawks are one of 14 at-large picks in this year's field. Austin Peay claimed the Ohio Valley Conference's automatic berth. Although SEMO and APSU tied atop the OVC with identical 9-3 overall records and 7-1 league marks, the Governors gave the Redhawks their only conference loss (28-24, Oct. 12, Clarksville, Tenn.), therefore winning the tiebreaker.

2019 FCS Championship Field
#1 North Dakota State, #2James Madison, #3 Weber State, #4 Sacramento State, #5 Montana State, #6 Montana, #7 South Dakota State and #8 Central Arkansas are the top eight national seeds who will await winners of the eight first-round matchups. The first round games are as follows:
North Dakota at Nicholls, 4 p.m., ET
Illinois State at Southeast Missouri, 2 p.m., ET
Central Connecticut St. at Albany, 1 p.m., ET
Furman at Austin Peay, 1 p.m., ET
Kennesaw State at Wofford, 4 p.m., ET
Villanova at Southeastern Louisiana, 4 p.m., ET
San Diego at Northern Iowa, 2 p.m., ET
Holy Cross at Monmouth, Noon, ET

Matukewicz vs. Illinois State
This year marks the first time Southeast Missouri head coach Tom Matukewicz faces Illinois State. Matukewicz coached against the Redbirds when he was an assistant at Southern Illinois from 2001-07. He is 2-5 all-time against Missouri Valley Football Conference schools -- 0-2 vs. Indiana State; 2-3 vs. Southern Illinois.

Home Winning Streak
The Redhawks are on a 13-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 6-0 at home again this year. It is currently the longest home winning streak in the Ohio Valley Conference and longest in the Redhawks NCAA Divsion I era.

OVC Sends Two Teams to FCS Playoffs
Co-Ohio Valley Conference Champions Southeast Missouri and Austin Peay represent the league in this year's 2019 FCS Championship. Both the Redhawks and Governors will have home games in the first round. The OVC has placed multiple teams in the playoffs (which began in 1978) in 23 of the 42 years. The OVC has also had multiple teams in the field in seven of the last 10 and nine of the last 14 years.

Series History
Southeast Missouri and Illinois State meet for the first time in 18 years. ISU holds a 7-3 lead in the all-time series with the last meeting being a SEMO 38-33 victory over the Redbirds on Sept. 22, 2001. This year marks the sixth time ISU faces the Redhawks in Cape Girardeau. The Redbirds are 2-3 at Houck Field. ISU was the first ranked opponent SEMO beat in its history against ranked FCS opponents. The Redhawks defeated the then-#17 Redbirds, 28-25, on Sept. 16, 2000 in that game.

Nine-Win Seasons
Southeast MIssouri posted back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time in its 115-year football history. The nine wins match the school's all-time season record. It is the fifth time SEMO won nine games. The other years include 1937 (9-0), 1955 (9-0), 2010 (9-3) and 2018 (9-4).

Single-Season Record in Sight
Kristian Wilkerson is close to breaking Southeast Missouri's all-time single-season record in receiving yardage. Wilkerson is second on that list with 1,236 yards. He needs 218 more yards ot break the record which is presently held by Willie Ponder (1,453 in 2002). Wilkerson is over 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time in his career.

Senior Salute
The Redhawk seniors are the winningest senior class in Southeast Missouri's NCAA Division I history. The special group has won a total of 24 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).

Lots to Celebrate
Football hasn't been 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 won the OVC Tournament crown. 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 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 October alone.

More History Made
Southeast Missouri finished a regular-season with six-straight victories for the first time in its NCAA Division I era. The Redhawks last won their final six games of a regular season in 1989.

Six in a Row
The Redhawks carry a six-game winning streak into this year's FCS Playoffs, presently the longest in the Ohio Valley Conference. Southeast Missouri won eight of its last nine games. The winning streak is SEMO's longest of the season.

Santacaterina Breaks All-Time Record in Passing Touchdowns
Quarterback Daniel Santacaterina threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter to beat Murray State (Nov. 23). Santacaterina broke Southeast Missouri's all-time career record in passing touchdowns. He currently has 46 in his two-year career as SEMO's starter. Santacaterina surpassed Jeff Brown (45), who held the record since 1987.

Santacaterina Goes Over 5,000 Passing Yards
Daniel Santacaterina became just the third quarterback in Southeast Missouri football history to throw for over 5,000 yards. Santacaterina ranks third all-time among the school's all-time career leaders with 5,210 passing yards. Jason Liley (6,179, 1989-92) and Jeff Brown (5,853, 1983-87) are the others.

Wilkerson Approaching OVC Record
Kristian Wilkerson is three receiving touchdowns away from breaking the all-time Ohio Valley Conference career record in that category. Wilkerson currently has 33 receiving touchdowns and ranks second behind Eastern Illinois' Erik Lora (35, 2009-13) on that list.

Hall Wins OVC Defensive Player of the Week for Second Week in a Row
Zach Hall was named Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week. Hall finished with double-digit tackles for the fourth time in five games when he led Southeast Missouri with 10 against Murray State (Nov. 23). He gave the Redhawks their first lead (17-10) when he picked off Preston Rice and ran 61 yards for a touchdown with 7:37 left to play in the second quarter. Hall also added one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. He keyed a SEMO defense that shutout the Racers and allowed just 114 yards in the second half.

Wilkerson in the OVC Records
Kristian Wilkerson is among the Ohio Valley Conference all-time leaders in several categories. 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)    3,426
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)    33
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
2016-pr.    Kristian Wilkerson (SEMO)    214
2010-13    Walter Powell (MUR)    208
2012-15    Jeremy Harness (MUR)    204
2011-14    Adam Drake (EIU)    202
2003-06    Taurean Stephens (UTM)    201

Turnover Margin
Southeast Missouri is tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference in turnover margin. The Redhawks hold a +5 margin with a total of 22 takeaways (8 fumbles, 14 interceptions) through 12 games. Sixteen of those takeaways have come in the last six games. 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 fifth time this season when they put up 14 against Murray State (Nov. 23). SEMO has scored a total of 121 fourth-quarter points through 12 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 27-straight starts, while outside linebacker Justin Swift and quarterback Daniel Santacaterina follow with 26 and 25, 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. Custis presently leads the Redhawks with 635 yards on 134 carries. Hess follows with 575 yards and Robinson has 522 rushing yards on 114 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. Custis (52.9) and Hess (52.3) rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing. As a team, the Redhawks are third in the OVC in rushing with 166.1 yards per game.

29 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 29 away. Robert Haggerty (1993-96) presently holds the all-time career record with 424 stops. Hall has 396 tackles.

Games With a Catch
Senior wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson has caught a pass in 27 consecutive games. Wilkerson 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 1,236 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019.

FCS Polls
Southeast Missouri ranked 12th in the final regular-season STATS Media and 13th in the AFCA FCS Coaches Polls. 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
11/25/19    #12    #13