Matukewicz tests coaches and players at Southeast Missouri State football practice

Midway through the Southeast Missouri State football team's practice on Wednesday coach Tom Matukewicz hollered at first-year equipment manager Johnathon Hankinson to turn the music off after the third stringers wrapped up the situation drill they were completing near midfield.

A minute later Hankinson cut the rap music that blares at every Redhawks football practice and left Houck Stadium unusually quiet for a split second before Matukewicz began yelling into his megaphone, "Number 1 offense, number 1 defense, you're up."

He continued to direct his team and coaches to the situation -- game tied 21-21 -- as the ball was set down near the defense's 40-yard line.

After the offense, led by No. 1 quarterback Tay Bender, ran a few plays it settled for a field goal.

"I surprised the coaches and the players with a 'sudden-change' drill," Matukewicz said. "The coaches need reps, too. You can prepare so much, but all of a sudden you've got to be ready to think on your toes."

Matukewicz thought all parties handled the unexpected situation well.

The Redhawks did a two-minute drill a little bit later in practice. Bender scrambled and picked up several yards, eliciting a "Good job, Tay," from Matukewicz, on his first play of the drive. He was sacked and fumbled on the next play with defensive lineman Travis Sanders recovering and running it in for a touchdown.

However, the defense wasn't celebrating. Both the offense and defense were sent back to their respective sidelines and all the defensive players had two run sideline to sideline a couple of times.

"Because we're supposed to be thudding and keeping people up, and our defense doesn't know how to practice yet," Matukewicz said when asked about the punishment. "They're still on the ground all the time and that's how we get players injured."

Running back DeMichael Jackson got a little banged up because someone was on the ground. Matukewicz said Jackson, who also rolled his ankle during Saturday's first scrimmage, was hit in the groin.

"What's disappointing is how some of those injuries happen," Matukewicz said. "Those are the injuries we can control and we've got to do a good job controlling them."

No. 2 quarter Alex Niznak was limited during Wednesday's practice due to a pulled groin muscle. He remained on the sideline for most of the situational drills. Freshman quarterback and Jackson graduate Dante Vandeven took repetitions with the No. 2 and 3 offenses.

Niznak is expected to participate in the team's final preseason scrimmage on Saturday.

"We held him a little today more so just to make sure he's good for Saturday," Matukewicz said.

Working on returning

Matukewicz emphasized the need to focus on the return specialists this week after the team's first scrimmage last weekend.

Jackson, senior receiver Peter Lloyd, junior transfer running back Tremane McCullough, junior transfer receiver Markuice Savage and freshman receiver Jacquan Fuller all practiced kick returns on Wednesday. Junior receiver Tyler Manne is in the mix for punt returning.

"We're coaching them a lot," Matukewicz said, "and on Friday we're going to have a competition where they'll each get about 10 balls and we're going to judge them, and then come Saturday put them in some live situations and be able to try and name some people after the scrimmage."

Spencer Davis, who finished his career last year as the program's leader in all-purpose and kick return yards was Southeast's top returner during his senior campaign. He returned 12 punts for 103 yards, including a season-long 61-yard return. He averaged 8.6 per punt. He had 29 kick returns for 599 yards, an average of 20.7.

Manne returned seven punts, averaging 9.0 yards, with his longest being 38 yards.

Lloyd returned 14 kickoffs for 382 yards, an average of 27.3, over a four-game stretch. He began returning kickoffs against Murray State on Oct. 11 and continued until he missed the final two games of the season after breaking his leg. He had the team's longest kickoff return of 55 yards against the Racers.

"Right now it looks like we don't have a veteran back there," Matukewicz said. "We're misjudging some balls and we're a little hesitant. It's such a confidence-driven position that you have to feel confident in your ability to go judge a ball and return it, so I just think that comes from putting in work.

"That's what we really worked on this week, making sure that they're getting a lot of balls, making sure they're getting coached and then we're going to give them their opportunity Saturday to rise and fall."

The Redhawks' final scrimmage of fall camp is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Saturday at Houck Stadium.

"That last scrimmage I just want to make sure no balls on the ground, you know, we had some quarterback-center exchange issues," Matukewicz said. "Want to make sure it's clean -- there's no discipline (problems), no stupid penalties. And then I want to see a quarterback separate himself."

Website announced

The Southeast athletic department announced on Wednesday afternoon that it has launched PaulMcRoberts.com to chronicle senior receiver Paul McRoberts' life and accomplishments.

According to a press release the site, "will primarily be used to promote the Redhawks star wide receiver for national awards and other honors throughout the 2015 season."

The site includes photos and videos of McRoberts as well as statistics and will be updated through the season.