Southeast Missouri (0-1) at #17 Southern Illinois (0-1)

Game Information
Date: September 10, 2022
Kickoff: 6 p.m., CT
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Facility: Saluki Stadium (15,000)
Surface: FieldTurf
Series: SEMO leads, 42-39-8
Head Coaches: Tom Matukewicz (42-50 overall; 41-50 at SEMO). Nick Hill (31-38 overall; 31-38 at SIU).

Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN3/KFVSTOO
Live Stats: SIUSalukis.com
Twitter: @SEMOfootball
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)

War for the Wheel
Longtime rivals Southeast MIssouri (0-1) and #17 Southern Illinois (0-1) meet in their annual "War for the Wheel" matchup Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., CT at Saluki Stadium.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean will be on the call. Watch on ESPN3 and KFVSTOO. Live stats are available at SIUSalukis.com and Twitter updates will be provided @SEMOFootball.

Redhawks, Dawgs and Hawgs Oh My!
The Redhawks will be in Carbondale for Southern Illinois' Hawgs & Dawgs event. Motorcycle riders can participate by purchasing a $10 game ticket or pay $20 for a game ticket and t-shirt. Motorcycles will then be invited to assemble at the South tunnel entrance of Saluki Stadium prior to kickoff.

Series History
This year marks the 90th meeting between Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, schools separated 48 miles apart. SEMO holds a 42-39-8 lead in the all-time series which dates all the way back to 1909. It is the longest series for both schools.

More on the Rivalry
In 2018, the football rivalry between the Redhawks and Salukis was officially deemed "War for the Wheel." It was named this in reference to the ship's wheel trophy which goes to the winner. During the early years of the series, Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois used to cross the Mississippi River by boat to play. The wheel currently resides in Carbondale after SIU won each of the last two years.

Matukewicz vs. Southern Illinois
Tom Matukewicz is 3-5 all-time against Southern Illinois, the school he worked as an assistant coach from 2001-07. Two of Matukewicz's three wins over SIU came in the final 25 seconds of the game. SEMO last beat the Salukis on Aug. 28, 2019 (44-26). The Redhawks last win in Carbondale came on Sept. 15, 2018 (48-44).

Tuke vs. Hill
Seventh-year Southern Illinois Head Coach Nick Hill was the starting quarterback when Tom Matukewicz was an assistant coach on Jerry Kill's staff at SIU. Hill played for the Salukis from 2005-07. All three teams Hill was a part of made the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs. Matukewicz's Redhawks and Hill's Salukis have met on six occasions. Hill holds a 4-2 advantage in those matchups.

Brickyard Game
Saturday's contest against #17 Southern Illinois is a Brickyard game for the Redhawks. Each time Southeast Missouri upends a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) or ranked Football Championship Subdivision opponent, those victories are laid to rest in the Brickyard. The Brickyard resides in SEMO's locker room. The Redhawks have a total of 11 Brickyard wins, seven of which have come under Head Coach Tom Matukewicz.

SEMO vs. Ranked FCS Opponents
Southeast Missouri is 9-31 against ranked Football Championship Subdivision opponents since 2004. The Redhawks last beat  a ranked FCS team in their 2021 season finale vs. #8 UT Martin (31-14). SEMO last knocked off a ranked non-conference FCS opponent in the first round of the 2018 Playoffs (28-14, vs. #15 Stony Brook). If the Redhawks win Saturday, it will mark only the second time in program history where SEMO posted consecutive wins over a ranked foe. That also happened in 2014 (24-23, vs. #3 Southeastern Louisiana; 28-21, vs. #20 Tennessee State).

Against the Missouri Valley
Southern Illinois is one of two Missouri Valley Football Conference schools Southeast Missouri has a winning record against. SEMO is 42-39-8 against the Salukis and 1-0 vs. Western Illinois. The Redhawks have faced six MVFC teams in their football history and are a combined 79-99-8 in those 186 matchups. Murray State will become the 12th school in the MVFC when it leaves the Ohio Valley Conference at the end of the 2022 campaign.
vs. Illinois State    3-8
vs. Indiana State    4-5
vs. Missouri State    28-46
vs. Northern Iowa    1-1
vs. Southern Illinois    42-39-8
vs. Western Illinois    1-0

2022 Opener
Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois both dropped their season-openers last week. SEMO fell at Big 12 Conference member Iowa State, 42-10, and SIU suffered a 64-29 setback at Incarnate Word. UT Martin was the only Ohio Valley Conference team to begin its 2022 season with a win.

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. 

First Career Start
Newcomer Paxton DeLaurent, the ninth transfer quarterback to start a season-opener with Tom Matukewicz at the helm, played strong in his first career Division I start. DeLaurent completed 19-of-38 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown, and finished as Southeast Missouri's top rusher with 74 yards at Iowa State (Sept. 3). He averaged 6.2 yards per carry and threw his first career touchdown pass as a Redhawk late in the second quarter. 

Vick Scores First Touchdown
The Redhawks first touchdown of the 2022 season went to first-year Southeast Missouri wide receiver Damoriea Vick. Vick, who played the last three years at Missouri State, caught an 11-yard pass from Paxton DeLaurent for the Redhawks first points with just under two minutes left in the second quarter.  

Vick Against the Salukis
Damoriea Vick played in three games against Southern Illinois during his career at Missouri State. Vick has 10 receptions for 130 yards all-time against SIU.

Add it to the Highlight Reel
Iowa Western Community College transfer Ryan Flournoy made a splash in his Southeast Missouri debut at Iowa State (Sept. 3). Flourney hauled in a spectacular 41-yard catch over two defenders to set up the Redhawks only touchdown of the game. He registered a team-high 56 yards on three catches against the Cyclones. 

Nice Response
Down, 21-0, Southeast Missouri scored 10 points in a quick 2:27 to close out the first half at Iowa State (Sept. 3). After Damoriea Vick caught an 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:59 left in the second quarter, Joedrick Lewis picked off Hunter Dekker's pass on the second play of ISU's ensuing drive. Lewis ran his interception back 27 yards to the Cyclones 7-yard line. DC Pippin later kicked a 23-yard field goal to narrow ISU's lead to 21-10 at the intermission. 

Johnson Matches Career-High
Safety Lawrence Johnson matched a career-high 12 tackles in his first start of the 2022 campaign. Johnson collected 10 solo stops and recorded double-digit tackles for the fourth time in his career. 

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 130-220 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.

Receiving Votes
Southeast Missouri received three votes in the 2022 Preseason American Football Coaches Association (AFCS) Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll. Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference favorite UT Martin (#15) is the only ranked OVC school in the poll. Murray State (5) and SEMO (3) both received votes.

All Aboard the Hess Express
Geno Hess is in posiiton to do some major damage in Southeast Missouri's record book. Hess is 963 yards away from becoming SEMO's all-time leading rusher and five touchdowns from breaking the school's career rushing touchdowns mark. Hess (2,429 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.

Haynes Makes Augusta Sports Council FCS Punter of the Year Preseason Watch List
Southeast Missouri's Zach Haynes is one of 22 candidates on the Augusta Sports Council 2022 FCS Punter of the Year Award Preseason Watch List. The award honors the nation's top collegiate punter in the FCS. The candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) punters. The 2022 watch list was compiled based on the 2021 FCS Punter of the Year watch list, the 2021 All-Conference teams, the 2021 All-America teams and the 2022 preseason All-Conference teams. A native of Potosi, Missouri, Haynes earned preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference accolades. He was a semifinalist for the FCS Punter of the Year Award after averaging 41.2 yards per punt last season. The FCS Punter of the Year Award winner will be voted on by the FCS Punter of the Year/Ray Guy Award Committee and will be announced after regular season play commences.

100-Yard Games
Geno Hess ran for over 100 yards in five-straight games dating back to Oct. 9 of last season. Hess is tied for third among Southeast Missouri's all-time career leaders with ten 100-yard games. Kelvin Anderson (1992-94) holds the record of 14 contests with 100 or more yards.

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.

Matukewicz Momentum
Tom Matukewicz is in his ninth year as Southeast Missouri's head coach in 2022. With a total of 41 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 41-50 and 33-27 in the OVC as SEMO's head coach.

26 Wins
Since the start of the 2018 season, Southeast Missouri accumulated 26 wins, most in the Ohio Valley Conference during that span. UT Martin is next with 22 victories. Murray State (20), Tennessee State (14), Tennessee Tech (12) 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 this preseason. Eleven 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 and Houston Texans 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 in Professional Football
Three former Southeast Missouri players are presently on active NFL rosters. Cornerback Mike Ford is with the Atlanta Falcons, offensive lineman Drew Forbes is with the Cleveland Browns and wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson is with the New England Patriots. Two other former Redhawks are playing in the USFL. Defensive end Aaron Adeyoe is with the 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.