Bryce Norman has career game in SEMO loss

Southeast Missouri State linebacker Bryce Norman picked the last home game of the season to have the game of his life.

The Jackson High School alum had 3.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and a touchdown. Norman had dealt with injuries since the start of the season, so this was a sign of the junior returning to form.

"It feels good just to have the plays come to me," Norman said. "It feels like I'm getting back to normal, so that's good."

SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz said Norman is "everything you want in a student-athlete."

"That guy's a great football player, and you love every single thing about him," Matukewicz said. "He's gonna have to have surgery at the end of the season."

Yet it wasn't enough as the Redhawks fell to Robert Morris 21-20 on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Houck Stadium. Quarterback Patrick Heitert completed 14 passes for 144 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

The Redhawks found themselves down 14-3 in the first quarter after a quarterback keeper and a 51-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Chiccitt to Noah Robinson. SEMO then took a 17-14 lead at halftime after a touchdown pass from Heitert to Dorian Anderson and Norman's scoop-n-score.

"I thought we played better in the second half," Matukewicz said. "The first half, we gave up a big play, and that should never happen."

A 43-yard field goal from junior kicker DC Pippin added to the Redhawks' 20-14 lead in the third quarter, and the defense spent the entire second half working to maintain it.

A four-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Chiccitt to Chaese Jackson gave Robert Morris the go-ahead score with 2:19 left in the game. The Colonials (3-7, 1-3) threw for 250 of their 372 total yards.

"We knew that it was going to be a defensive game," Norman said. "It came down to one play."

The Redhawks had one last chance to win the game starting at their 21-yard line. On fourth-and-10, Heitert completed a 21-yard pass to Anderson for a first down at the Colonials' 42-yard line.

All they needed was a field goal to win the game. Pippin once kicked a season-high 48-yarder back in September against Southern Illinois. The Redhawks elected to try to move closer.

"We felt like 38 (yards) was the ceiling," Matukewicz said. "The ball needed to get to the 38 (yard line) to give us a chance and it was never that close."

The Redhawks were backed up to their 49-yard line on the next play after Heitert was sacked, and an intentional grounding penalty was called on him. The drive died after two straight incompletions.

Saturday was the final game for 12 SEMO seniors; Ryan Flournoy, Damoriea Vick, Christian Fuhrman, Mike Matthews, Dalyn McDonald, Garrett Todd, Q’Nairies Anderson, Jacob Morrissey, Lunden Manuel, AJ Laux, Clve Truschel and LaWilliam Holmes. Running back Geno Hess, a graduate student playing out his final year of eligibility, ran for 150 yards in his last home game.

"They've had a huge impact, obviously in our locker room, and to our coaches, but even on our campus and in our community," Matukewicz said. "We've improved the program. Football is relevant and meaningful in our area, and it's because of those seniors.

"You hate that they lost their last game here," he said, "but that's kind of how life works. You don't just get to have fairy tale endings. You do get to choose to respond and I know these guys are going to lead us well these next two games."

Morrissey and Fuhrman are two linebackers who had the biggest impact on Norman.

"Those are two of my best friends on the team," Norman said. "I'm gonna miss them a lot."

The Redhawks travel to take on No. 18 UT Martin on Saturday, Nov. 11. SEMO is tied with Gardner-Webb in second place of the Big South-OVC Association at 3-1. The Skyhawks have a slight lead at 4-1.