SEMO FB ready for 'big game' against new rival

There is no shortage of reasons to be excited about the 2023 home-opening football game on Saturday for the Southeast Missouri State program.

The Redhawks (0-1) are ranked No. 14 in the country (FCS) and have been projected to be the champions of the newly-formed Big South/OVC Football Association this season.

Saturday’s game will be the first football game held at the renovated Houck Field, which should make for a much, much, much, much more fan-friendly environment.

As well, the Redhawks’ opponent is an attractive foe to compete against, and for the fans to watch.

SEMO will host new rival Lindenwood (1-0) at 6 p.m. (ESPN+) and 10th-year SEMO coach Tom Matukewicz is excited about all of those things.

“This is definitely a positive,” Matukewicz said of facing the Lions annually. “Especially for each of the communities. Last year, our community enjoyed going (to St. Charles). There are a lot of (SEMO fans) from St. Louis, so it is by far a positive thing.”

The two teams met for the first time a year ago at Lindenwood following that institution joining the OVC. The Redhawks were victorious and were awarded the rivalry trophy for winning the inaugural “MRV Banks Game Ball Brawl.”

“We have to compete and win to make this a rivalry,” seventh-year Lindenwood coach Jed Stugart said. “That is on our shoulders now.”

SEMO has time on its side in this rivalry as far as having been an FCS program (since 1991). However, Matukewicz noted the advantages that the Lions already possess in this series, despite having moved to the FCS level less than 18 months ago.

“Their resources compared to ours,” Matukewicz said, “their facilities and all of that, at the end of the day, I’m a Division I football coach, so I’m going to play good teams week in and week out.”

When Lindenwood joined the OVC, it was Matukewicz’s idea to enhance the series by playing for a trophy. With the two in-state programs battling on the field, as well as off of it for recruits, adding a tangible honor to play for made sense.

“I want to make this a big game,” Matukewicz said. “The fans, they think that we are going to win. They think ‘Hey, (Lindenwood) has only been Division I for one year. But they beat Central Arkansas last year. They are a good team. They are coached very, very well.

“We have to make sure that we understand that we are going to get Lindenwood’s best, and their best is really good.”

Redhawk star ‘doubtful’

Midway through the second quarter of Saturday’s road loss at Kansas State, SEMO’s most productive defensive player, junior linebacker Bryce Norman, went to the sidelines with a shoulder injury and never returned.

As far as this week goes, Matukewicz said on Tuesday that the former Jackson High School standout was “doubtful.”

At Tuesday’s practice, Norman was fully dressed but did not participate in any drills. What he did do was run. A lot.

Throughout the drills and scrimmages, Norman would run sideline to sideline over and over.

Against Kansas State, Norman, who has led the Redhawks in tackles each of the past two seasons, notched just two tackles. That total was his lowest since registering two tackles in two of his first three games as a true freshman in 2021.

Norman is listed as a projected starter on this week’s depth chart, however.