Offense dominates at Southeast Missouri State football scrimmage

An emphasis after the Southeast Missouri State football team's first intrasquad scrimmage a week ago was to take care of the football.

Apart from one interception during the Redhawks' second scrimmage at Houck Stadium on Saturday, the offense was able to do that, and wide receiver Spencer Davis accounted for three of the offense's seven touchdowns.

"Offense moved the ball pretty good today," said Davis, who will be a senior next season. "I like how the line got a push, running backs did their thing and as wide receivers, we did our thing. It was a good day for the offense. Defense always does a good job, but today I think we got after them."

Two of Davis' touchdown receptions came from quarterback Blake Jackson and another from Kyle Snyder.

Snyder also connected with Lewis Washington on a touchdown pass from five yards out and Scott Lathrop hit David Smart for a touchdown.

DeMichael Jackson and Lennies McFerren each ran for a touchdown in the scrimmage.

First-year Southeast coach Tom Matukewicz said he is in no rush to put one quarterback ahead of the others at this point.

"They're all getting the reps, they all bring different skill sets to the table and there's some talent there," Matukewicz said. "The biggest thing is when I met all three of them is, 'I want to hand this team over to you.' Like, who am I going to hand this team over to? Right now I'm not ready to do that, and that's fine. But not only just from the skill sets standpoint, like I really want our quarterbacks to be able to lead our team, and that's a process and that'll go into August before we make that decision."

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Scott Lathrop drops back to pass during the Redhawks second intrasquad scrimmage under first-year coach Tom Matukewicz Saturday, April 12, at Houck Stadium. (Adam Vogler)

Last year Southeast never settled on a starting quarterback, and Snyder and Lathrop shared the role. One of Jackson's focuses right now is to try to get back to game speed after redshirting last season.

"That's what I like about this year is ... the quarterbacks, last year we didn't get hit, and now in the practices we're getting hit, which helps a lot," Jackson said. "It helps, when you get hit it's actually like a game so it helps out a lot. That's my big thing, just get it back in the flow of things, get the speed down and once I get that down things are going to be great."

At the end of the scrimmage, the team did two-minute drills. The first started with the offense trailing 8-0, which Matukewicz said was supposed to be a simulation of Southeast's 42-34 loss to Jacksonville State last season.

The Redhawks took the ball over with 2 minutes, 26 seconds remaining in that loss, marched down the field and ended up turning the ball over on downs to lose the season finale to the Gamecocks.

On Saturday, the Redhawks were able to complete one of its two attempts in that situation. The other attempt ended in an interception by cornerback Reggie Jennings.

"I think it's important as a coach that you don't talk bad about what's going on last year or the years in the past, like that ain't got anything to do with the future," Matukewicz said. "But you've got to learn from your past experiences. I put up the stats and everything about how you win the [Ohio Valley Conference]. We go through the film, I put all those situations out. I think they're just buying in to learning the game."

Jennings' interception was the lone defensive highlight in the otherwise offense-dominated scrimmage.

Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Spencer Davis, right, makes a diving catch in the end zone for a touchdown during the Redhawks second intrasquad scrimmage under first-year coach Tom Matukewicz on Saturday at Houck Stadium. (Adam Vogler)

"I just have to be consistent," Jennings said. "I gave up a touchdown early in cover three, which I shouldn't have gave up, so I had to come back and make a play for the team late in the game. I'm just waiting my turn. I'm not going to force anything trying to make plays. I'm going to let the game come to me."

Jennings, Davis and Jackson all agreed that there's a different energy around the team with the new coaching staff. Part of it could be that "Tuke" held a dance-off at the end of practice, but whatever it is, it's changed the attitude of the players.

"Everybody's confidence levels have gone up, everybody's work ethic has gone up," Jackson said. "You know, we want to win for that man, for all the coaches. But coach Tuke came in here and Day 1 everybody was like, 'Man, we want to play already.' Everybody was pumped up to play the next day. That man has brought a great philosophy here, and he's teaching us great things."

When asked why the players were so eager to play for Matukewicz, Jackson added: "It's the way he views us. He doesn't view us as just players. He views us as if we're his kids, like we're his sons. He treats us like that, he takes care of us, his energy. Everyone knows about his energy -- his energy is out the roof. And he's a great man."

Matukewicz didn't point out a specific group or player that stood out to him in the scrimmage but sensed that excitement from his players.

"I thought they came out and exactly what we talked about all week they come out and did," Matukewicz said. "We had, I think, two ignorant penalties. That was disappointing, but other than that it was a clean day, and to be honest, I'm just proud that they're listening. Like, they're all in. They're, 'Coach me, coach." Really as a coach that's all you can ask for and they're doing that."

The Redhawks concluded their third week of spring practices with Saturday's scrimmage. They will practice at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

"Really I want to go back and clean up," Matukewicz said. "We're going to start over, to be honest. Tuesday will be our Day 1 install. We put everything in, and now we're going to put it all back in again so they get a second time to hear it. Because sometimes when you install you only get 75 percent of it really, so we're reinstalling it again so hopefully we'll get 95 percent of it."