Nicholls (0-2) vs. Southeast Missouri (1-1)

Game Information
Date: September 17, 2022
Kickoff: 2 p.m., CT 
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Houck Field
Surface: FieldTurf
Series: Nicholls leads, 1-0
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (43-50 overall; 42-50 at SEMO). Tim Rebowe (44-37 overall; 44-37 at Nicholls).

Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean, Rick Wieser)
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: SEMORedhawks.com
Twitter: @SEMOfootball
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)

Redhawks Host Nicholls
Southeast Missouri (1-1) plays host to Southland Conference member Nicholls (0-2) in its home-opener Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., CT at Houck Field.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean, Rick Wieser and Rusty Hendricks will be on the call. Watch on ESPN+. Live stats are available at SEMORedhawks.com and Twitter updates will be provided @SEMOFootball.

OVC and Southland Scheduling Alliance
Southeast Missouri and Nicholls meet in a football scheduling alliance between the Ohio Valley and Southland Conferences for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The planned collaboration will see institutions from each conference fill available non-conference dates on schedules with a focus toward competitive balance and reasonable travel. In addition to providing quality Division I FCS non-conference matchups, the alliance will allow increased visibility, exposure and branding for each conference. Both the OVC and Southland have longstanding ESPN broadcast agreements. SEMO also travels to Northwestern State (Oct. 22) as part of this alliance. 

Receiving Votes
Southeast Missouri received 40 votes in the latest version of the Stats Perform Top-25 Poll (Sept. 12). Presently, UT  Martin is the only Ohio Valley Conference team ranked. The Skyhawks are #16 in the media poll and #18 in the FCS Coaches Poll.

Series History
The Redhawks and Colonels meet for just the second time in 2022. These teams last faced each other 47 years ago in Cape Girardeau. Nicholls edged Southeast Missouri, 18-17, in that game.

Home-Openers
Southeast Missouri is 18-13 all-time in home-openers during its NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision tenure. SEMO holds an even 4-4 record in home-openers under Head Coach Tom Matukewicz.

Against the Southland
The Redhawks are 1-2 against the current members of the Southland Conference. Southeast Missouri is 1-1 vs. Southeastern Louisiana and 0-1 vs. Nicholls. SEMO faces fellow Southland foe Northwestern State later this season on Oct. 22.    

Something in Common
Southeast Missouri and Nicholls each made the FCS Playoffs in 2019, the last year both schools advanced to the postseason. SEMO fell to Illinois State, 24-6, in the first round, while Nicholls went to the second round where it was eliminated by eventual National Champion North Dakota State.

Redhawks Upend #17 Southern Illinois for First Win of 2022
In a game that featured nine lead changes, Southeast Missouri prevailed in a 34-31 victory over #17 Southern Illinois (Sept. 10). SEMO picked up its first win of the season in the final seconds when Paxton DeLaurent threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Damoriea Vick with 11 ticks on the clock. SIU committed pass interference penalties on incompletions twice on fourth down during the Redhawks game-winning drive.

Another Brickyard Win
Southeast Missouri's win over #17 Southern Illinois (Sept. 10) marked Tom Matukewicz's eighth against a ranked opponent as the Redhawks head coach. The Redhawks have a total of 12 wins over ranked FCS or FBS foes. Those victories are laid to rest in the Brickyard that resides in SEMO's locker room. Matukewicz has the most wins over ranked opponents of any SEMO head coach. 

Back-to-Back Brickyard Victories
With their win over #17 Southern Illinois, the Redhawks improved to 10-31 against ranked Football Championship Subdivision opponents since 2004. For only the second time in program history, Southeast Missouri won consecutive games against ranked foes. SEMO beat then-#8 UT Martin in its 2021 season finale before taking down the Salukis on Sept. 10.

You Got Mossed!
Southeast Missouri wide receiver Ryan Flournoy's spectacular catch over two defenders at Iowa State (Sept. 3) was featured as the No. 3 play on You Got Mossed. It was the first time SEMO made the segment that highlights great receptions like the former NFL receiver Randy Moss would make.

80th Win Against the Missouri Valley
The Redhawks win over #17 Southern Illinois marked their 80th all-time against Missouri Valley Football Conference schools. Southeast Missouri improved to 80-99-8 against such teams. Forty-three of those wins came against the Salukis.    

DeLaurent Nabs OVC Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Week Honors
First-year Southeast Missouri quarterback Paxton DeLaurent was named Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Week on Sept. 11. DeLaurent threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns to lead SEMO to a 34-31 upset over #17 Southern Illinois (Sept. 10). He completed 33-of-44 passes and did not throw an interception. At one time, DeLaurent had 16-straight completions. He also threw the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds remaining.

Spreading it Around
Paxton DeLaurent completed passes to nine different receivers in his outstanding effort at #17 Southern Illinois (Sept. 10). Johnny King (14), Ryan Flournoy (10), Damoriea Vick (2), Danny Joiner (2), Garrett Todd (1), Pervis Frazier (1), Will Weidemann (1), Dalyn McDonald (1) and Shamenski Rucker (1) combined for SEMO's 33 receptions.

Pippin Secures OVC Co-Specialist of the Week Accolades
Kicker DC Pippin shared Ohio Valley Conference Specialist of the Week honors on Sept. 11. Pippin scored 10 points on 2-of-3 field goals and a perfect 4-of-4 extra points against #17 Southern Illinois (Sept. 10). He split the uprights from 50 and 45 yards, respectively. Pippin's 50-yard field goal tied the game with 4:19 remaining in the third quarter. His 45-yard kick then gave SEMO the lead five seconds into the fourth period. Pippin also kicked off five times for 294 yards, averaging 58.8 yards per kickoff.

Top Performances
The top two passing performances in the Ohio Valley Conference came during week two of the 2022 campaign. Paxton DeLaurent threw for 332 yards and a league-best four touchdowns at #17 Southern Illinois (Sept. 10). Meanwhile, UT Martin's Dresser Winn threw for 344 yards and three touchdowns at #5 Missouri State (Sept. 8).

100-Yard Tandem
Johnny King and Ryan Flournoy each finished with over 100 receiving yards at #17 Southern Illinois (Sept. 10). King caught 14 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns, while Flournoy made 10 catches for 145 yards and one touchdown. It was the first time Southeast Missouri had a pair of 100-yard receivers in a game since 2018 (Jerrick Orr 121 yards and Colby Cornett 115 yards at Tennessee Tech). It also marked the second time King scored multiple touchdowns in a game.

It's Been Awhile
Paxton DeLaurent's 332 passing yards against #17 Southern Illinois (Sept. 10) were the most by a Southeast Missouri quarterback in four years. That total is the highest since Daniel Santacaterina threw for 386 yards at UT martin during the 2018 season.

Vick Does it Again
Missouri State transfer Damoriea Vick caught a touchdown pass in each of Southeast Missouri's two games this season. Vick caught the game-winning 2-yard touchdown pass against #17 Southern Illinois (Sept. 10). He previously faced the Salukis three other times in his career, but never scored a touchdown against them until this year.

Pulling Rank
Southeast Missouri ranks second in the Football Championship Subdivision in turnovers lost. SEMO has turned the ball over just one time in its first two games. Johnny King ranks second in receptions per game (10.0) and 17th in receiving touchdowns (2). Ryan Flournoy is 19th in receptions per game (6.5), while Paxton DeLaurent is seventh in completions per game (26.0), 12th in passing touchdowns (5), 18th in passing yards (554), 14th in passing yards per game (277.0 ypg) and 11th in total offense (310.5 ypg). DC Pippin ranks 14th in field goals per game (1.5) and Keandre Booker enters the week ranked 18th in sacks (1.0 per game). 

OVC It
Two of the Ohio Valley Conference's top three receivers include Johnny King and Ryan Flournoy. King leads the OVC in receptions per game (10.0) and Flournoy is third in that category with 6.5. Flournoy (100.5 ypg) and King (85.5 ypg) are second and third, respectively in receiving yards per game. Paxton DeLaurent is second in the league in passing average (277 ypg), third in pass efficiency (137.8) and second in total offense (310.5 ypg).

Division I Debuts
A total of 23 players saw their first NCAA Division I action during Southeast Missouri's season-opener at Iowa State (Sept. 3). Harris Adams, McKel Brumfield, Nasim Cairo, Jack Clinkenbeard, Judd Cunningham, Paxton DeLaurent, Slade Dollar, Ryan Flournoy, Chris Frye, Christian Fuhrman, Eric Ivory Jr., Michael Jamerson, Danny Joiner, Joedrick Lewis, Zach Martin, Dalyn McDonald, Henry Pickens III, Kobe Sixkiller, Darrell Smith, Braden Thompson, Ja'Kobe Watkins, Caleb Webb and JaQori Williams formed that group. 

Season 118
The 2022 campaign is Southeast Missouri's 118th season of college football. SEMO is in its 32nd season at the NCAA Division Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The Redhawks joined the FCS in 1991 and are 131-220 with two Ohio Valley Conference titles (2010, 2019) and three NCAA Playoff appearances (2010, 2018, 2019) as a Division I program. 

Transfer Quarterbacks
A transfer has started at quarterback in all nine of Southeast Missouri's season-opening games with Tom Matukewicz at the helm. Kyle Snyder (Ohio University, 2014), Tay Bender (Iowa Western CC, 2015), Jesse Hosket (East Central CC, 2016, 2017), Daniel Santacaterina (Northern Illinois, 2018, 2019), Andrew Bunch (Nebraska, 2021 spring), CJ Ogbonna (Hutchinson CC, 2021 fall) and Paxton DeLaurent (Central Methodist, 2022) form that group. 

Redhawks Picked Second in OVC Preseason Poll
Southeast Missouri was picked second in the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll selected by the league's Head Coaches and Communication Directors. SEMO accumulated 59 points and three first-place votes behind UT Martin (70 pts., 10 first-place votes). Murray State (51 pts.), Tennessee State (46 pts., 1 first-place vote), Tennessee Tech (29 pts.), Eastern Illinois (20 pts.) and first-year OVC member Lindenwood (19 pts.) complete the seven-team predicted order of finish. This is the final year Murray State is a member of the OVC. The Racers will be in the Missouri Valley Football Conference starting in 2023. 

Hess Named OVC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
One of the best tailbacks in the Football Championship Subdivision is at Southeast Missouri in senior Geno Hess. Hess was named the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 1,116 yards, 14 touchdowns and 111.6 yards per game last season. He landed a spot on this year's Lindy's, Stats Perform and HERO Sports Preseason All-America teams and is one of 35 players on the 2022 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List.

All Aboard the Hess Express
Geno Hess is in posiiton to do some major damage in Southeast Missouri's record book. Hess is 898 yards away from becoming SEMO's all-time leading rusher and five touchdowns from breaking the school's career rushing touchdowns mark. Hess (2,494 yards) is chasing Kelvin Anderson's 3,392 rushing yards, a record that has stood for 28 years. Anderson played with the Redhawks from 1992-94. Meanwhile, Walter Smallwood (1965-68) holds the program's record of 36 career rushing touchdowns. Hess is presently fifth behind Anderson on the career rushing list and second behind Smallwood with 32 TDs.

Please Read
Paxton DeLaurent's path to Southeast Missouri started with a hand-written letter from his mother, Heather. Heather's letter reached the Cape Girardeau home of Head Coach Tom Matukewicz. When Matukewicz received the letter in his mailbox, the Redhawks began recruiting DeLaurent and later signed him to a National Letter of Intent.

Six Redhawks Earn Preseason All-OVC Honors
Six Redhawks earned Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference honors ahead of the 2022 season. Running back Geno Hess, wide receiver Johnny King, offensive tackle Nate Korte, center Zack Gieg, inside linebacker Bryce Norman and punter Zach Haynes all landed a spot on this year's team.

Lots of New Faces
Southeast Missouri's roster includes 52 newcomers, 43 of which are freshmen. The Redhawks have a total of 106 players on their roster going into the 2022 season.

Matukewicz Momentum
Tom Matukewicz is in his ninth year as Southeast Missouri's head coach in 2022. With a total of 42 wins and 33 in Ohio Valley Conference play, Matukewicz has more victories than any head head coach in SEMO's NCAA Division I era. He also guided the Redhawks to one OVC title (2019) and two FCS Playoff appearances (2018, 2019). Matukewicz is 42-50 and 33-27 in the OVC as SEMO's head coach.

27 Wins
Since the start of the 2018 season, Southeast Missouri accumulated 27 wins, most in the Ohio Valley Conference during that span. UT Martin is next with 23 victories. Murray State (20), Tennessee State (14), Tennessee Tech (13) and Eastern Illinois (6) round out the league.

Big 2022 Class
Southeast Missouri's 2022 recruiting class consists of 38 players. It is the largest recruiting class in SEMO football history. Of that group, 11 were mid-year transfers who participated in spring drills.

NFL Watch
Several NFL teams have visited Cape Girardeau to check out the Redhawks. Twelve teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders have stopped by practices. Southeast Missouri's players getting looks are Geno Hess (RB), Johnny King (WR), Ryan Flournoy (WR), Shyron Rodgers (OL), Lawrence Johnson (DB), Trai Hodges (DB), LaWilliam Holmes (DL), Jordan Cole (OLB) and Damoriea Vick (WR).    

Redhawks Establish Partnership to Sack Hunger During 2022 Football Season
The Southeast Missouri Department of Athletics is teaming up with the Southeast Missouri Food Bank, Sikeston Jaycees, TAG Truck Center and Ford & Liley Countertops to Sack Hunger this upcoming 2022 football season. For every quarterback sack against opposing teams this year, Sikeston Jaycees, TAG Truck Center and Ford & Liley Countertops will each donate $100 to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. Every $1 donated to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank provides four meals, which means each Redhawk sack will supply 1,200 meals to families facing hunger in the southeast Missouri region. River Radio, the official radio broadcast partner of SEMO Athletics, will also support the campaign by airing public service announcements during Redhawk football broadcasts throughout the 2022 campaign. Fans who wish to join the Redhawks in the fight against hunger can donate to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank at SEMOFoodBank.org.

Championship Culture
Southeast Missouri Athletics has reached unprecedented success. Since the start of the 2019 calendar year, Redhawk teams have won a combined 17 Ohio Valley Conference titles, most in the league in that stretch. Nine of SEMO's 10 head coaches have won OVC Coach of the Year honors along the way. In 2020-21, the Redhawks claimed the OVC Commissioner's Cup for the first time ever.