Record-setting run ends for Southeast Missouri State quarterback Matt Scheible

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tony Samuel recalls fondly the time he first met Matt Scheible while Scheible was a student at Washington (Mo.) High School.

"We tend to trust our instincts in recruiting," Samuel said. "When I met him at his high school principal's office, I thought we had a special person.

"There's a certain 'it' some people have. I thought he had that. I was convinced."

Instincts don't always work out in recruiting. But Samuel and the Redhawks got it just right in the case of Scheible.

Scheible, Southeast's senior quarterback, will end his record-setting college career Saturday when the Redhawks host Murray State on senior day.

"I don't know if it's really hit me yet," Scheible said about his final collegiate contest that likely will mark his last competitive football game. "I know it's coming to an end. I'm not really sad about it."

Southeast will honor 14 seniors before the 1 p.m. kickoff. Samuel said he has strong feelings for the entire group, none more than Scheible.

"You always miss all your seniors. Some get more accolades than others, but they all contribute," Samuel said. "It's always tough to see your seniors go. ... You have to start with Scheible.

"That's a very special individual. What else do you say about that guy? He's the most special guy I've been around. He's a great student. I don't think he's ever been late for a [team] meeting. If you want to pick the perfect type of guy, you don't ever have to worry about. This is it."

Playing right away

Scheible made an immediate impact at Southeast, earning the No. 2 quarterback job during fall camp as a true freshman in 2008.

Scheible started twice that year and came off the bench in eight other contests. His signature play came when he scored his first career touchdown, a 5-yard game-winner in overtime against Tennessee State as he dived just inside the pylon to reach the end zone. It was his only play that day.

"Some guys on the team who were around then still give me crap about it. They call me one-play touchdown guy," Scheible said with a laugh.

Scheible started the final game that season, leading the Redhawks to a win at Austin Peay to finish the season 4-8. He has started every game since, a streak that will extend to 35 consecutive contests Saturday.

Southeast Missouri State players congratulate Matt Scheible, center, on scoring a touchdown during the second quarter Saturday at Houck Stadium. Scheible has rushed for six touchdowns this season. (Kristin Eberts)

"I was just trying to get some experience, doing whatever I could to help the team," Scheible said about his rookie campaign.

Scheible had something of an up-and-down sophomore season when Southeast went 2-9. But he finished strong after the Redhawks tweaked their offense to take better advantage of his running ability.

That led to last year, one of the best in program history, when Scheible became the first Southeast quarterback to earn first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference honors.

Historic season

Henry Harris, Southeast's explosive All-American tailback, earned the OVC's offensive player of the year award last season. It was a deserved honor, but opposing coaches invariably pointed to Scheible as the player that made the Redhawks' attack click.

Scheible directed Southeast's offense like a magician, seemingly always making the right decision on the option. He rushed for 887 yards and seven touchdowns while passing for 1,246 yards and eight touchdowns with just three interceptions.

"He really had a great year," Samuel said. "The way he ran the offense, the decisions he made ... he's a real general on the field. Just a great leader.

"A lot of people played key roles, but he put us on the map nationally. I don't know if you get it done without him."

The 2010 Redhawks went 9-3, won the program's first OVC championship and earned the program's first playoff berth on any level. Southeast was ranked among the nation's top 10 much of the campaign.

"Last year was just one heck of a ride. It was pretty special. I'll remember it my whole life," Scheible said. "It was a great group of guys. Every year has been.

"When I came here, it really wasn't a winning situation. My goal was to make it a winning tradition here."

Not a repeat

Scheible's senior season hasn't gone like he wanted from a team standpoint. The Redhawks are 3-7.

But you can't blame Scheible. He again has been impressive, leading the Redhawks with 862 yards rushing -- nearly three times the total of any other Southeast player -- and six touchdowns while passing for 1,316 yards and 10 scores.

The Redhawks' most recent game, a 22-21 loss to Jacksonville State, featured a career-high 209 yards rushing by Scheible, the most ever by a Southeast quarterback.

Scheible passed for a career-high 243 yards and three touchdowns while adding 112 yards rushing in Southeast's previous contest, a 55-44 win over Central Methodist.

"He threw for all those yards and then he comes back with all those yards rushing," Samuel said. "He's having another very good year. He's doing all he can for us. He just competes and competes."

Bundle of records

The net result of Scheible's work has him ranked among Southeast's career and single-season leaders in a bushel of categories.

Scheible most notably holds the school's career record for total offense with 7,188 yards (4,698 yards passing to rank fifth, 2,490 yards rushing to rank fourth). No other Southeast player ever had 6,000 yards of total offense.

Scheible also notably is the first OVC quarterback to pass for at least 4,000 yards and run for at least 2,000 yards. He ranks seventh in OVC history in total offense.

Scheible has 34 career touchdown passes, third-most at Southeast, and 19 career rushing touchdowns, which ranks sixth.

"He's had a great career," Samuel said. "He's been the heart and soul of this team."

Scheible, personable but always humble, never has felt comfortable taking credit during his Southeast career. He said what he's accomplished is more than he ever imagined when he set foot on campus.

"When I got here, my dad told me just listen to the coaches, go as hard as you can," said the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Scheible, who is extremely quick but not exceptionally fast. "I'm really fortunate I've been able to do what I did."

Future plans

Scheible, an accounting major who also excels in the classroom -- he carries a 3.7 grade-point average and has been a multiple Southeast scholar athlete -- has a little more than a year to go before he graduates in December of 2012.

Scheible, who later plans on attending graduate school, hasn't ruled out a career coaching football.

"I'm getting a good degree, but I don't know if I'm going to miss football too much," he said. "I've played since I was little. If I miss it too much, I'm going to be a coach."

Scheible plans to continue his involvement with the Southeast program, perhaps as a student coach, for the next year while he finishes his degree. He'll also keep following the Redhawks no matter where he winds up living and will try to attend as many games as possible.

"I'll be around here. I'm going to be at all the games, helping out around here, for the next year, and after that I'm going to keep track for sure," he said. "Coach Samuel and his staff have been good to me. I know this year has been disappointing, but we have a lot of young guys. I think the program is in good shape and headed in the right direction."

Scheible will take the Houck Stadium field for the last time Saturday.

"I think this is a kid that will be remembered years down the road," Samuel said.