#24 Southeast Missouri (3-1) at Lindenwood (2-1, 0-1 OVC)

Game Information
Date: October 1, 2022
Kickoff: 1 p.m., CT 
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Facility: Hunter Stadium (6,000)
Surface: FieldTurf
Series: First Meeting
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (45-50 overall; 44-50 at SEMO; 33-27 OVC). Jed Stugart (119-46 overall; 28-21 at LU; 0-1 OVC).

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

In-State Matchup
Missouri schools #24 Southeast Missouri (3-1) and Lindenwood (2-1, 0-1) meet for the first time Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., CT at Hunter Stadium.

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

Tailgate Time
Southeast Missouri will host a tailgate from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lindenwood's Harmon Hall parking lot. SEMO alumni, friends, staff, faculty and students are welcome as the Redhawks take on their newest in-state rival Lindenwood Lions. Wear RED when you cheer on the Redhawks this weekend.

Game Ball Brawl
Since there are now two Missouri schools in the Ohio Valley Conference, it's only fitting that the Southeast Missouri and Lindenwood matchup be a trophy game moving forward. Starting with the first-ever meeting between the teams this year, the game will be known as the "Game Ball Brawl." A traveling trophy will be created that will feature the game ball from the first meeting between the two programs. SEMO and Lindenwood are the only Division I schools in Missouri that are conference rivals. The Redhawks have had football at the NCAA Division I level for over 30 years, while the 2022 campaign marks Lindenwood's first as a Division I program.

New to the OVC
On Feb. 23, 2022, Lindenwood University, located in St. Charles, Missouri, officially joined the Ohio Valley Conference. LU marks only the 24th full-time member in the 74-year history of the OVC. The Lions, who are in their reclassfication to Division I, are eligible to win the OVC Championship, but cannot earn the league's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs. Should LU claim the regular season title, the runner-up (as determined through a tiebreaker to address the unbalanced schedule), would earn the automatic berth.

Series History
This year marks the first meeting between Southeast Missouri and Lindenwood. LU is the only Missouri school on SEMO's 11-game schedule this season.

Redhawks Crack Top-25
Southeast Missouri cracked the Sports Perform Top-25 Media Poll this week. The Redhawks are #24 as the Ohio Valley Conference's second Top-25 team. SEMO also received 33 votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll. The Redhawks were last ranked in the Top-25 during the 2021 spring season (#16, Mar. 1, Stats Perform Media Poll).

Winning Records
Southeast Missouri and Lindenwood are currently the only Ohio Valley Conference schools with winning records this year. SEMO (3-1) leads the league with three victories, while LU is 2-1. Everyone else in the league is .500 or below. Tennessee State (0-3) and Murray State (0-4) are still winless.

Go For Four
The Redhawks are on a three-game winning streak after beating Central Arkansas, 35-27, on Sept. 24. A win Saturday will give Southeast Missouri its first four-game winning streak since the 2019 season. SEMO's 3-1 start is also its best since the 2010 campaign.

Ohio Valley Conference Openers
Southeast Missouri is 12-19 all-time in Ohio Valley Conference openers. SEMO is 6-2 in such games under Head Coach Tom Matukewicz. The Redhawks started league play with a win in each of their previous three seasons. SEMO last began OVC play with a road victory in 2016 (17-16, at Murray State, Sept. 24).

Hess Two Touchdowns Away from Breaking Program's Career Total Touchdowns Record
Geno Hess is only two touchdowns away from breaking Southeast Missouri's all-time career record in total touchdowns. Hess has 35 touchdowns (33 rushing, 2 receiving) in his career. He trails only Walter Smallwood (36 touchdowns, 1965-68) in that category. Smallwood's record has stood for 54 years.

100 Tackles in Sight
Sophomore linebacker Bryce Norman is coming up on 100 career tackles. Norman, who leads the team and ranks sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 32 tackles, has 98 stops. He averaged 12.5 tackles per game in his last two starts alone. 

Defensive Touchdown
Southeast Missouri scored its first defensive touchdown of the season when Henry Pickens III put a big hit on Central Arkansas quarterback Will McElvain. Bryce Norman recovered the fumble and ran three yards into the end zone to give SEMO a 7-0 lead with 9:44 left to play in the first quarter. It was the first career touchdown for Norman. 

Touchdown Streak
First-year Southeast Missouri wide receiver Ryan Flournoy has caught a touchdown pass in three-straight games. Flournoy had a 4-yard touchdown reception at #17 Southern Illinois (Sept. 10), an 18-yard touchdown catch vs. Nicholls (Sept. 17) and a season-long 62-yard touchdown reception vs. Central Arkansas (Sept. 24). His 62-yard catch is SEMO's longest completion of the season so far. 

Dangerous Duo
Southeast Missouri's receiving duo of Johnny King and Ryan Flournoy have been tough for opponents to handle this season. Both King and Flournoy are identical in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and receiving yards per game through four starts. They each have 321 receiving yards, three touchdowns and 80.2 receiving yards per contest. King and Flournoy are tied for third in the Ohio Valley Conference in receiving yards per game.

Run it Back McDonald
After Central Arkansas pulled to within four points (21-17) late in the first half, Dalyn McDonald ran the ensuing kickoff back 97 yards for a touchdown. McDonald became the first player in the Ohio Valley Conference to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season. His 97-yard kickoff return tied for the second-longest in program history. He became the first Redhawk to run back a kickoff for a touchdown since Shabari Davis (86 yards, vs. Eastern Illinois, Oct. 30, 2021). It also marked the second-straight game where Southeast Missouri scored a touchdown on special teams.

McDonald and DeLaurent Honored
Dalyn McDonald was named Ohio Valley Conference Specialist of the Week and quarterback Paxton DeLaurent won his third-straight OVC Newcomer of the Week honor on Sept. 25. McDonald ran back a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and finished with 192 all-purpose yards in Southeast Missouri's 35-27 win over Central Arkansas (Sept. 24). Meanwhile, DeLaurent accumulated 312 yards of total offense and three touchdowns against UCA. He completed 17-of-31 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 60 yards and another score.

18 in a Row
Kicker DC Pippin has not missed an extra point in his Southeast Missouri career. Pippin is a perfect 18-of-18 in PATs dating back to last season. He made 16-of-16 through four games in 2022 and is tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference in PAT kicking percentage. 

Hess Springs for Over 100 Yards
Geno Hess ran for over 100 yards for the first time this season when he gained 123 and averaged 6.2 yards on 20 carries against Central Arkansas (Sept. 24). Hess ran for 100 or more yards for the 11th time in his career. He is now tied for second all-time in program history in career 100-yard games.

Nice Defense
Southeast Missouri's defense limited Central Arkansas to a mere 16 rushing yards in its latest win on Sept. 24. The Redhawks held the Bears to less than a yard (0.7) per rush on 24 attempts in the game. The 16 yards were the fifth fewest by any opponent against the Redhawks during SEMO's NCAA Division I era.

Award-Winners
The Redhawks claimed multiple Ohio Valley Conference weekly honors in three-straight weeks. Paxton DeLaurent won Offensive Player and Newcomer accolades, and DC Pippin was Specialist on Sept. 11, while DeLaurent was tabbed Newcomer and Bryce Norman earned Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 18. Dalyn McDonald (Specialist) and DeLaurent (Newcomer) were honored on Sept. 25. Southeast Missouri won seven of the league's weekly awards this year.

This is Our House!
Southeast Missouri has won 18 of its last 23 games at Houck Field dating back to the start of the 2018 season. SEMO finished with a winning record on its home field four of the last five seasons. The Redhawks also had a 12-game home winning streak in that stretch which ended on Mar. 7, 2021.

Season-High
Southeast Missouri scored a season-high 42 points in its win over Nicholls (Sept. 17). The Redhawks, who rank second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 30.2 points per game, averaged 37 in their last three contests.

Matukewicz Fourth All-Time in Wins
Southeast Missouri Head Coach Tom Matukewics ranks fourth all-time in program history with 44 wins. Matukewicz is the 13th head coach in SEMO's football tenure.
Kenneth Knox (1952-67)    88
Abe Stuber (1932-46)    72
Jim Lohr (1974-83)    52
Tom Matukewicz (2014-present)    44

Sack Count
The Redhawks collected 10 sacks in their last three games, including four during their recent win over Nicholls (Sept. 17). Southeast Missouri ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference in sacks and is already over halfway to its season total of 16 sacks in 2021.

Top-10 in the FCS
As a team, Southeast Missouri rankscamong the top-10 in the Football Championship Subdivision in blocked kicks (5th, 2), blocked punts (9th, 1), blocked punts allowed (1st, 0), punt return defense (7th, -0.33) and sacks allowed (7th, 0.75). Individually, Dalyn McDonald ranks among the top-10 in kick return yards (3rd, 343), kick return TDs (2nd, 1) and kick return average (10th, 26.8); Lawrence Johnson is ninth in passes defended (1.8 per game); Paxton DeLaurent is eighth in passing yards (1,115), 10th in passing yards per game (278.8), 10th in points responsible for (72) and seventh in total offense (317.2 ypg); Johnny King is sixth in receptions per game (7.5); and Garrett Todd is first in punt return TDs (1).  

Atop the OVC
Johnny King leads the Ohio Valley Conference in receptions per game (7.5), Paxton DeLaurent is first in total offense (317.2 ypg), Dalyn McDonald is first in kick return average (26.8 ypr) and DC Pippin is first in PAT kicking percentage (16-of-16, 1.00 pct.). Team wise, Southeast Missouri leads the league in total defense (383.2 ypg allowed), rushing defense (93.5 ypg allowed), kickoff returns (23.1 ypr), first downs (86) and third-down conversions (26-of-58, 44.8 pct.).

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 706 yards away from becoming SEMO's all-time leading rusher and five touchdowns from breaking the school's career rushing touchdowns mark. Hess (2,687 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 fourth behind Anderson on the career rushing list and second behind Smallwood with 33 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.

Matukewicz Momentum
Tom Matukewicz is in his ninth year as Southeast Missouri's head coach in 2022. With a total of 44 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 44-50 and 33-27 in the OVC as SEMO's head coach.

29 Wins
Since the start of the 2018 season, Southeast Missouri accumulated 29 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 (12) and Eastern Illinois (7) round out the league.

NFL Watch
Several NFL teams have visited Cape Girardeau to check out the Redhawks. Sixteen 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, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings 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.

Redhawks in Professional Football
Four former Southeast Missouri players are presently on active NFL rosters. Cornerback Mike Ford is with the Atlanta Falcons, wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson is with the New England Patriots, offensive lineman Drew Forbes is with the Detroit Lions and linebacker Mark Robinson is with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two  other former Redhawks are playing in the USFL. Defensive end Aaron Adeyoe is with wthe Birmingham Stallions and defensive tackle Josh Avery is with the Houston Gamblers.

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.