SEMO offense bounces back in final fall scrimmage, eyes strong start to 2024 Season

After getting dominated by the defense in the first scrimmage, the offense answered back in the second dress rehearsal as the Southeast Missouri State football team closed out fall camp on Saturday, Aug. 10, at Houck Field.

“It feels like they’ve closed the gap,” SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz said. “Defensively, they went +4 in the turnover margin so you got to give it to them.”

The 2024 season is only a week away for SEMO, and the Redhawks have already had to contend with the injury bug throughout camp.

“Everybody’s hurt where it’s been a revolving door on offense right now,” Matukewicz said. “It feels like our DNA is made of paper mache and chicken wire.”

One of the main objectives offensively in fall camp is finding a new No. 1 receiver for senior quarterback Paxton DeLaurent. Ryan Flournoy and Damoriea Vick departed after combining for a total of 1,345 yards on 108 receptions.

Junior Jack Clinkenbeard showed promise in being that reliable receiver after catching numerous passes including a touchdown pass in the scrimmage.

Saturday’s scrimmage was a special day for Clinkenbeard because it was the first action he’s seen since suffering an injury three practices into fall camp.

“It’s so much fun when you’re out here,” Clinkenbeard said. “You play carefree. I was a little timid about my hamstring when I was on the sideline every time I came off the field. But as soon as I stepped out there, it was like I was in my own world. It was just so much fun. There’s nothing better.”

Clinkenbeard is the Redhawks' top returning receiver with 27 catches for 315 yards and one touchdown. Fellow returnees Kyron Downing and Dorian Anderson are also expected to start in SEMO's primary receiver set, along with newcomer along with newcomer Tristan Smith.

“We all had our fair share of reps last year,” Clinkenbeard said. “It was really about bringing everybody along and getting on the same page with a new position coach as well.”

Clinkenbeard was initially a walk-on through his first two seasons, but he was awarded a full scholarship leading up to last year’s finale at Bryant. However, even as a fully-funded college athlete, nothing has changed for Clinkenbeard.

“At the end of the day, I’m a worker,” Clinkenbeard said. “I’m never gonna get comfortable where I’m at. I mean, you only get college football once so I’m trying to be the best person I can be while I’m still here at this university.”

Offensive line is always the focal point of building a team through camp. Matukewicz said earlier during the Redhawks luncheon that the offensive line “is really the key to all of it.”

It will be a veteran-laden group but two freshmen, Carter Guillaume and Yusef Sanogo-Kendrick, have emerged from fall camp and took reps with the top two groups on the depth chart.

“Those two guys have really done a good job,” Matukewicz said. “Obviously, it’s a concern if freshmen are repping in your two-deep, but they just seem to be that gifted, and so now we just got to get them skilled.”

The 2024 season starts early for the Redhawks, as they travel to Montgomery, Alabama, to take on North Alabama in the FCS Kickoff on Saturday, Aug. 24. Matukewicz is optimistic of his Redhawks having a solid season but feels that the process must back up that optimism.

“I think at the end of the day, the score will be what it is,” Matukewicz said. “My focus has got to be on the things that win games, which is if we can block people, that’s gonna give us a chance. If we could get off blocks, that’s going to give us a chance. So that’s got to be the focus that gives us the best chance to win at the end.”