SEMO FB loses star QB for the rest of 2023

In a season that has frustrated the fans of Southeast Missouri State football, and one in which veteran Redhawk coach Tom Matukewicz referred to as “crazy” on Tuesday, just got a whole lot worse.

SEMO junior quarterback Paxton DeLaurent suffered a right shoulder injury in a 28-3 rout of Tennessee Tech on Saturday, and after seeing the Redhawks’ medical staff, will have season-ending surgery next week.

“The best part of that victory is how we did it,” Matukewicz said of overcoming challenges all day long against the Golden Eagles, “but, the biggest negative is we did get banged up.”

Not only did SEMO lose DeLaurent when he was sacked on the opening play of the second quarter, but it also lost the most productive wide receiver in the Big South/OVC Football Alliance in senior Damoriea Vick (shoulder injury), as well as senior All-American center Zack Gieg to a laceration in the second quarter.

As for DeLaurent, this is the second consecutive season in which he has suffered a major injury.

Last year, he missed two-plus games after injuring his foot, before returning to play, though limited in his mobility, in the FCS Playoff loss to Montana.

“A season-ending injury is terrible,” Matukewicz said. “There have been a lot of tears this weekend. On Monday, I was down, because I’m talking to the kids and that is not what the dream was for this year. When they woke up on Saturday, that is not what they were thinking about.

“On Sunday, their life looks totally different.”

The final memory of this fall for Redhawk fans, as it relates to DeLaurent, will be his hooking up with senior wide receiver Ryan Flournoy on a beautiful 89-yard touchdown early in Saturday’s win. It was one of several great moments this fall for DeLaurent, who was leading the Big South/OVC Football Association in total offense coming into last week’s game.

“Now,” Matukewicz said, “even as a coach, you are trying to process this, care for them, and give them what they need to process it and move forward.”

DeLaurent had completed 64.4 percent of his throws this season for 1,792 yards. He had thrown 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions in 247 passing attempts.

Matukewicz said that DeLaurent will have additional medical evaluations this week just to be sure of the initial prognosis.

Like last season, DeLaurent was replaced by Patrick Heitert, who played well in a reserve role in 2022, as well as Saturday.

“(Heitert) is similar (to DeLaurent) as far as what he does,” Matukewicz said. “He’s mobile enough to extend plays, and I think he throws a good ball.”

The Redhawks have been besieged by injuries this fall.

Vick will miss “two or three weeks,” according to Matukewicz, who had to gameplan for a couple of weeks without the Redhawk’s op receiver, senior Ryan Flournoy, who broke his left hand and missed a couple of games.

All-American linebacker Bryce Norman also missed a game with a shoulder injury earlier this season, defensive linemen Sam Keeper and Lunden Manuel, wide receiver Dayln McDonald, offensive lineman Marshakie Applewhite, defensive end Nasim Cairo, punter Adam Heston, defensive back Zi’kief Johnson, offensive lineman AJ Laux, tight end Mitchell Sellers, defensive back Antonio Taylor, defensive end Latrevion Thompson, and offensive lineman Clive Truschel have each missed time this season.

“This season has just been crazy,” Matukewicz said. “One thing about everything that has gone on, is it has been interesting. At the end of the day, if you are focusing on (the negative things), then you’re probably not focusing on the right things.”