Southeast Missouri State football team looks for better defensive start against Tennessee State

Southeast Missouri State defensive coordinator Bryce Saia was thrilled that a week after the offense had marched down the field against then-No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana and won the game for the Redhawks in the final seconds, the defense got the chance to do the same.

After Southeast scored with 9 minutes, 4 seconds remaining Saturday against UT Martin to take a 31-27 lead, the Redhawks defense held the Skyhawks scoreless. It twice stopped UTM on fourth down and once on the Southeast 5-yard line to secure the victory in the Redhawks' conference opener.

"Besides the first quarter against Kansas, that's about as bad as we've played defensively to start the game," Saia said after Tuesday's practice. "But it's about as good a finish I've been around. I mean, they kind of saved the day. It's just character and poise, and that's what they're all about."

The win marked the first time Southeast had defeated UT Martin since the Redhawks' conference championship season in 2010 as well as the first time they'd defeated the Skyhawks in Martin, Tennessee, since 2003.

The Redhawks improved to 3-2, which matches their win total from each of the past three seasons, and own a winning streak for the first time since 2010.

The defense recovered a UTM fumble at the Southeast 1 on the game's opening drive, but later yielded a 23-yard touchdown reception.

UTM scored on a 24-yard reception in the second quarter and on a 35-yard reception in the third. The Skyhawks made a field goal in the first and third quarters and led 27-24 going into the fourth quarter when Southeast's defense kept them scoreless.

Defensive end Jon Slania and Saia agreed the defense started out slow. Slania thought it might have been the result of a less-than-great practice Thursday, while Saia didn't have an explanation.

"I wish I knew," Saia said with a laugh. "All I know is we're in OVC play and you can't start like that again. It's a consistency thing, which I mentioned in preseason. We're getting a lot better now, but we're not quite consistent enough right now."

Coach Tom Matukewicz spent time working with the outside linebackers at Tuesday's practice because it's a "point of emphasis."

"Just me being there people are on point," Matukewicz said. "We've got to play the run better at that spot."

Pressure on the quarterback was something else Matukewicz noted following Saturday's win.

UTM quarterback Jarod Neal completed 20 of 37 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns. Thirteen of his completions were for 10 yards or more. He was sacked once in the fourth quarter.

"I think the lack of [outside linebacker] Chad Meredith [to injury] is an issue there because we prepared him, and that's a guy that does it really well," Matukewicz said. "When he couldn't go we lost some production on that end of things. We've just got to get a really good plan this week to try and pressure the quarterback."

Meredith has a labrum injury, and his status for Saturday's game against Tennessee State hasn't been determined.

The defense also remains without defensive end Travis Sanders, who's been dealing with back spasms, and his replacement, Selwyn Carrol, fractured his foot against Southeastern Louisiana. Austin Black, who missed time early in the season due to back problems, is now starting.

Equally as important as the starters are the players that can be seen running onto the field during third-down plays in what Saia likened to a hockey shift. Freshman outside linebacker Kendall Donnerson is one of those players, and he combined with senior linebacker Wisler Ymonice to sack Neal late in the fourth quarter.

"Third down is what defense is all about and we make a huge deal about third-downs, so we try to get our best pass rushers in," Saia said.

"Our kids that are on that nickel package, they're celebrating. If we can stop them on first and second [down], those kids are like pulling our shirts, 'Let us in. Let us in.' It's exciting, and it's about the fresh bodies we can get on the field."

Southeast's defense will be critical in Saturday's game against the Tigers, who are 4-1 and ranked No. 21 in the FCS. Points will be at a premium when the Redhawks face the top defensive team in the conference.

"We definitely need to step up," Slania said. "I mean, we can't do what we did [Saturday] and beat ourselves. If we come out there and play our defense like we think we can, then we think we're just as good as their defense."