A Big 12 task awaits Southeast Missouri State football team

It will be like a trip home for five members of the Southeast Missouri State football coaching staff when the Redhawks travel to play at Kansas on Saturday.

Coach Tom Matukewicz, defensive coordinator Bryce Saia, offensive line coach Jon Wiemers, defensive line coach Ricky Coon and running backs coach Matt Martin all have ties to the state of Kansas.

"All of us grew up hearing about K-State, hearing about KU, and the fact that none of us were good enough to play there but now we get to go back to their stadiums and coach in it is a special moment, and it's something I don't think we should hide," Matukewicz said. "We should enjoy the moment. We've worked really hard for these opportunities and to get to play in your home state at the flagship university is exciting for us. It's going to be fun. I've got a lot of family coming and I can't wait for the kickoff so I don't have to worry about making sure everybody's got a ticket."

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. It is the first meeting between the Redhawks and Jayhawks, and Southeast (1-0) will receive $325,000 for playing the Big 12 opponent.

Matukewicz, who has coached at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, has stressed to his players what it will take to win against an FBS opponent like Kansas, which is something Southeast -- 1-18 all-time against FBS opponents -- hasn't done since 2002.

"We could've jacked up six or seven plays against Missouri Baptist and still won the game," Matukewicz said. "If we do that we won't even be in the game this week, so we've just got to really detail all the schemes and game plan."

Saturday's game will be the season opener for the Jayhawks, who are coming off their fifth straight losing season after going 3-9 a year ago, which leaves some unknowns for Southeast going into the game.

The Jayhawks have switched to a spread offense under first-year offensive coordinator John Reagan. Reagan, who was the offensive line coach and run-game coordinator at KU from 2005 to 2009, spent the last four seasons at Rice as the offensive coordinator and has taken over coordinating duties from head coach Charlie Weis.

The Jayhawks averaged 15.3 points per game last season, averaging 154.1 rushing yards and 140.4 receiving yards per game.

"We've prepared with a lot of knowledge from Rice and what they've done in the past, but at the end of the day we've got to be able to adjust to what they try to do on offense," Matukewicz said. "They have some good players, good receivers. Running game, we're just not really sure who's going to be the running back, but I'd imagine they've got some pretty good players."

KU's offense will be led by sophomore quarterback Montell Cozart, who started three games and played in seven as a freshman, completing 23 of 63 passes for 227 yards. He was the team's third-leading rusher, compiling 214 yards and one touchdown on 66 carries.

Junior college transfer De'Andre Mann and freshman Corey Avery are the Jayhawks' top running backs after senior Brandon Bourbon, from Potosi, Missouri, and senior Taylor Cox suffered season-ending injuries midway through August.

KU's No. 1 receivers are senior transfer Nick Harwell, who had to sit out last season after transferring from Miami (Ohio), and senior Tony Pierson. Pierson had 24 receptions for 333 yards and one touchdown in 2013.

Senior tight end Jimmay Mundine had a team-high five receiving touchdowns on 229 yards last season.

The Jayhawks, who run a 3-4 defense, return nine of 11 starters on the defensive side of the ball.

KU linebacker Ben Heeney returns for his senior season after leading the team with 88 tackles -- 11.5 for loss -- last season. The Jayhawks also return the 2013 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year Isaiah Johnson. The junior strong safety had five interceptions last year, which tied for second in the conference.

"We've got to find a way to run it," Matukewicz said. "You know, if we can't blow them off the ball then we've got to find a different way to run it, but I don't want to hear we can't run the ball. Like we've got to find a way to run it. That's easy to say and hard to do, but it all starts there ... and then balance, throwing the ball and making sure at the end of the day that our playmakers got an opportunity to make a play in this ballgame."

Weis watched the Redhawks' 77-0 victory over Missouri Baptist on the OVC Digital Network on Aug. 28 before getting a coach's copy of the game tape. He said he learned a few things about Southeast even though it was such a lopsided victory.

"I mean, it was 49-0 at halftime, so it was brutal," Weis said in Monday's Big 12 teleconference. "But at the same time ... we already had a pretty good idea. It confirmed what they were practicing against, what they actually do because it was a new coaching staff, so that got done. And then you could see the tempo that the offense runs the game at, you could see the defense [and] any tweaks that they were going to have, so I think it did give you an opportunity to confirm, especially when you have a new coaching staff going into a place, what their bread and butter is."

The Redhawks had 516 yards of offense against the Spartans. Senior quarterback Kyle Snyder completed 10 of 12 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns and also had a couple of rushing touchdowns.

The defense held NAIA MBU to 81 total yards of offense in its inaugural game.

"Well, first of all, in that game they played great in all three facets," Weis said. "I know that they were concerned about their special teams from a year ago, but they obviously dominated the game on special teams. Besides going up and down the field on offense and shutting them down on defense, I think that the one point of the game, in addition to those two facets, what kind of slapped you right in the face was how well their special teams played."

Sophomore kicker Ryan McCrum was 7 for 7 on PATs after making only eight all of last season. He also had four touchbacks on eight kickoffs.

Senior punt and kickoff returner Spencer Davis returned the first punt of the game 61 yards.

Matukewicz said following the season-opening win that he'd learn a lot about how his team responded, and he was pleased with the team this week in practice.

"I guarantee we're going to play hard," Matukewicz said. "I guarantee that we're going to play with that attitude and effort that we talk about. I mean, they have since I've been here. And that doesn't take any talent -- those are choices. So I have a lot of peace. Like I'm not up all night worrying about them because this team has been consistent ever since I've been here, so I think the same thing's going to happen on Saturday. You know, what I'm looking for is our best. If our best isn't good enough, then it's not good enough, but as long as we have our best out there, then there are no regrets."

Notes

* The Redhawks will make a stop in Columbia, Missouri on their way to Lawrence, Kansas. The team will visit Faurot Field -- the Redhawks will play Missouri on Sept. 5, 2015 -- today and run through some plays and stretch out their legs before finishing the trip.

* The Redhawks Club is holding a tailgate before Saturday's game at Memorial Sadium. The Redhawks Club's tent will be set up by 1 p.m. in Lot 54 located at Naismith Drive and Irbing Hill Road near Allen Fieldhouse. The lot is a cash lot that costs $20 per vehicle and there is a free shuttle from the lot to the stadium.