Gridiron: SEMO sees potential for historic greatness

The construction at Houck Field is the responsibility of Southeast Missouri State University to beautify the centerpiece of the campus.

It is an ongoing project that is nowhere near completion.

The construction of the 2023 Redhawk football squad is complete, and this team has the potential (for what that is worth) to be an absolute masterpiece of beauty.

“I feel like we can be,” 10th-year Redhawk coach Tom Matukewicz said of being among the nation’s best teams. “And I’m going to be mad if we don’t.”

Not only does Matukewicz believe his team has potential (there is that dreaded word again), but so does every other prognosticator of FCS football. Athlon Sports has the Redhawks ranked ninth in its pre-season poll, while CBS Sports has SEMO ranked 13th.

“I do think that if you are a top 10 program,” Matukewicz said, “then you have set yourself apart.”

The peers of Matukewicz concur. At the recent Big South-OVC Football Association media day in Nashville, SEMO received six of the 10 first-place votes cast by the head coaches in the preseason conference poll while leading all teams with 96 points, 10 more than runner-up Gardner-Webb.

“There is excitement,” Matuke-which said. “This is the best roster that I have had.”

How good (and deep) are the Redhawks?

The Southeast Missouri State football team celebrates winning the Ohio Valley Conference championship trophy in 2022 at Houck Stadium. (Photo by Tom Davis)

A total of 10 SEMO players were named to the OVC-Big South Football Association's Pre-season Top 64 Players to Watch List, and only one (senior wide receiver Ryan Flournoy) was at the event to represent the program.

“You can expect big plays,” Flournoy said of the SEMO offense, which was ranked eighth in the country in total offense last fall. “We have a lot of weapons.”

Everywhere.

Among the 10 Redhawk student-athletes who were named to the Big South-OVC Football Association Preseason “Watch List,” was the best player in the Association, the 2022-23 OVC Male Athlete of the

Year, running back Geno Hess.

“We have a great running back,” Flournoy said.

Joining Hess on the honored squad was Flournoy, as well as quarterback Paxton DeLaurent, offensive lineman Zack Gieg, defensive lineman Steven Lewis, line-backers Keandre Booker and Bryce Norman, defensive backs Lawrence Johnson and Ty Leonard, and return specialist Dalyn McDonald.

“We have to put the focus on us,” senior defensive lineman Lun-den Manuel said, “and drown out the outside noise and constant reminders of everything that we did last year.

“You can’t go into this season with hopes and dreams. We haven’t accomplished anything this season. (But) We’re looking forward to making that happen.”

Manuel is talking the talk necessary for success, but Matukewicz has concerns (albeit positive problems to possess).

“Our biggest challenge this year is going to be ourselves,” Matukewicz said. “It’s our egos.”

The Redhawks are coming off a 9-3 season in which they won their second OVC title in four seasons and advanced into the FCS Playoffs for the third time in five years.

“We do have a lot of great things going for us,” Matukewicz said. “But I struggle with my ego, and I am 50, so what do you think a 20-year-old does?

“We have to make sure that we can check our egos and have the courage to do the things it takes to make sure that we keep ourselves on track.”

Three times in the past five seasons, SEMO has won nine games, but no team in school history has ever won 10.

“There is this unknown,” Matukewicz said, “this pressure on myself that I just want to make sure that I’m not the reason that we don’t accomplish the mission this year.”

SEMO returns 17 starters (eight defensive, six offensive, three specialty) from the 2022 squad and will open the regular season at Kansas State on Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.

The Redhawks will open their home season at renovated Houck Field on Sept. 9 against Linden-wood at 6 p.m.

“Just like every football coach,” Matukewicz said, “there is excitement, but there is also this tense exchange in making sure that I am ready and leading my team well.”