Snyder shines at Southeast Missouri State football spring game

At least for now, the Southeast Missouri State starting quarterback spot is up for grabs between Kyle Snyder and Blake Jackson.

During Saturday's spring football game they both got a chance to show first-year coach Tom Matukewicz their potential in a game-like setting, and Snyder stole the spotlight as he led the white team to a 28-0 victory over the red team at Houck Stadium.

"This is a game-like situation," Matukewicz said. "They were real, unscripted situations, which is everything. You don't have time to coach them up so you see how he handles third downs, see how he handles red zone. When it's not there, does he throw it and force a pick or does he take off and try to gain some yards? [Snyder] did a good job today, and I think Blake did a good job, too. He turned the ball over, but I think both quarterbacks came out of spring better than they started, and that's what we're looking for."

Scott Lathrop, who shared time with Snyder last season, was not dressed out for the game and is not being considered for the starting job, according to Matukewicz. The Redhawks have signed two high school quarterbacks, Anthony Cooper from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Mo., and Griffin Pickler from Coffeyville Heritage High school in Coffeyville, Texas, who will join the team this summer.

Jackson, who will be a redshirt sophomore next season, was 6 for 18 with an interception and was sacked twice on Saturday. He led the red team with 20 rushing yards on 11 carries.

Red Team quarterback Blake Jackson drops back to pass in the fourth quarter of Red's 28-0 loss to the WhiteTeam in the Southeast Missouri State University's 2014 Spring Game Saturday, April 26, at Houck Stadium. (Adam Vogler)

Snyder, who is entering his senior season, completed 7 of 10 passes for 108 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyler Manne with 44 seconds left in the first half to make it 21-0.

Snyder scored on a 2-yard run 3 minutes, 47 seconds into the second quarter and broke free for a 26-yard touchdown with 2:23 left in the game to seal the victory. He ran for 27 yards on five carries.

"I mean, I'm not really looking at that," Snyder said of the battle for the starting role. "Somebody actually came up to me after the game and asked how many touchdowns I had, and I didn't even remember. I'll have a short-term memory with this and just go back and watch all the negative things I had on film and correct those."

Fullback Ron Coleman scored the white team's first touchdown with 8:07 to play in the first quarter on a 1-yard run.

Lewis Washington led the white team with 51 yards rushing on seven carries.

"I feel like our discipline level is really good right now," Snyder said of the offense. "I feel like our coaches are critiquing every little thing they can, and it's really up-tempo. We're getting to the ball, snapping it fast, so it's going really well."

The white team had 204 yards of total offense while the red team was held to 97 yards.

"Really it came down more so it was the turnovers," Matukewicz said. "They were driving the ball and then all of a sudden you laid it on the ground. Not only physically you've put yourself in a bad situation but emotionally it just sucks the life out of you."

Josh Freeman and Wisler Ymonice each had five tackles for the white team while Selwyn Carrol had four. Carrol and Matt Starks each had a sack.

Terrance Hill led the red team with five tackles. Buck Wilson had four tackles and a sack.

The spring game concluded the Redhawks' five weeks of spring practices.

"Today we're a much closer team," Matukewicz said. "Like you've got guys that really, really care about each other. And I think we're a better football team. Our core values are attitude, effort, discipline and growth, and attitude and effort's a 10. I think the teachable thing is we've got to learn how to win games, and you win games by playing smart football, so we need to do a better job that way."

Southeast opens its season at home against Missouri Baptist on August 28.

"We've definitely improved from what we were doing last year, and it's not the end of the road," said cornerback Reggie Jennings, who had the only interception of the game. "We've got the summer to come in and just grind. Summer isn't a joke, so it's going to definitely prepare us for fall camp and then the first game here. Our summer's going to dictate what's going to happen throughout the season. We've just got to work real hard and just get out there and grind."