Southeast Missouri State football team faces UTM in OVC opener

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz learns something new about his team each week.

He learned his players were resilient when the Redhawks nearly came back to beat Kansas in Week 2.

In the team's error-filled loss to Southern Illinois in Week 3, he learned the players needed to be more disciplined and the changes were going to have to start with his leadership.

Saturday's 24-23 upset of then-No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana presented another lesson for the first-year coach.

"I've learned that they really, really have a lot of heart, and I think that comes from caring so much about each other that they don't want to let their teammates down," Matukewicz said. "Because there were plenty of times that normal teams, they sink, and we found a way to rise, and I think that's kind of what it comes down to. You attribute that to leadership and it's coming around."

This week Matukewicz will learn what it's like to play in the Ohio Valley Conference when the Redhawks (2-2) face UT-Martin on Saturday.

Kick-off is set for 6 p.m. from Graham Stadium in Martin, Tennessee.

"It's new because I've never played Martin, don't know a lot about them," Matukewicz said. "We've got some new things on our team, so I'm kind of like a kid at Christmas, just excited about what Saturday looks like and we'll try to find a way to go 1-0."

One of the "new things" Matukewcicz referred to is the loss of standout junior receiver Paul McRoberts, who suffered a foot fracture in the SLU game. Sophomore defensive end Selwyn Carrol suffered the same injury in the first half, and both players are out indefinitely.

McRoberts leads the team and the Football Championship Subdivision with six receiving touchdowns. Matukewicz is optimistic, looking at McRoberts injury as an opportunity for another player to shine in the role.

"We'll see what [UT-Martin's] plan is," Matukewicz said. "Our plan is pretty consistent just because what I believe in what it takes to win games week in and week out is the same. We'll try to get some of the guys into the mix early and see what they have, but we've got to start with the run game, and it starts with [quarterback] Kyle [Snyder] managing the offense, distributing the football. We'll go to work and see if we can't find some playmakers in the game."

Snyder, a senior, leads the conference in total offense with 256 yards per game and eight passing touchdowns, and is second in passing with 203 yards per game.

Skyhawks junior quarterback Jarod Neal is first in the OVC in passing, averaging 206.8 yards per game. He's completed 71.6 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and has thrown three interceptions. He's second in total offense behind Snyder with 220 yards per game.

UTM implements a two-quarterback system. Neal shares time with senior Dylan Favre, the nephew of former NFL quarterback Brett Favre. Neal has been the primary signal-caller for the Skyhawks. He's compiled 53 yards rushing on 14 carries, while Favre's got 27 yards on 16 carries.

"He's obviously a really good player," Matukewicz said about Neal. "They must think a lot of the other guy to insert him. They're both similar styles, so we kind of treat it the same."

The Skyhawks' top receiving targets are Kyle Kerrick and Corey Jordan. Kerrick has 255 yards and two touchdowns on 20 catches, while Jordan has 218 yards and three touchdowns on 14 catches.

UTM's Abou Toure is the second-leading rusher in the conference with 321 yards and two touchdowns on 65 carries.

"If they consistently run the ball -- they've got the second-leading rusher in the conference, so if he gets off to a good day and we're third-and-3 we're going to be in trouble," Matukewicz said. "We need to be on third-and-8s, so that starts with the run game. Take that from them [and] make them one-dimensional, and if everybody in the stands knows he's going to throw it, then you've got to get a good pass rush just like most quarterbacks."

The Skyhawks (1-3, 0-1 OVC) lost their conference opener 49-24 to Eastern Kentucky, ranked No. 23 at the time.

The undefeated Colonels led 28-24 at halftime before shutting out UTM in the second half. The Skyhawks lost one fumble, had a field goal blocked and threw three interceptions in the loss.

"That's been their issue," Matukewicz said. "They're minus-2.75 turnovers a game. You can say whatever you want, but that's the thing that's kept them from turning the corner because I certainly feel like they've got good players. When you turn the ball over -- as we know -- it's hard to win football games."

Southeast committed two turnovers in its win over the nationally-ranked Lions.

It was the Redhawks' highest-ranked opponent they've ever defeated and marked the first time since 1990 that an OVC team defeated a non-conference opponent ranked in the top three.

Southeast lost to the Skyhawks 17-7 in last year's meeting. UTM has won eight of the last nine meetings between the two teams.

"Mixed emotions," UTM coach Jason Simpson said about his reaction to Southeast's upset. "One: you're excited for the league, you're excited for the regional and national exposure for what we all think is an outstanding conference, so it was great for our league. Then you say, 'Well, we've got to play them the next week.' Coach Tuke and his staff, I'm very impressed with their football team. They play hard, they execute, they're physical. Great energy and passionate on the sideline. I mean, everything that you want your team to be about I saw his team doing in that Southeastern Louisiana game.

"They're much improved. Much, much improved, and they're going to win a lot of games this year."