Southeast Missouri State football team wraps up spring practices with scrimmage

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz got the best of both worlds at Friday night's spring game.

In the finale to the Redhawks spring practices, which featured the No. 1 offense against the No. 1 defense and the same for the second and third strings in specific on-field situations, Southeast's offense put points on the board, the defense held its ground on third down and forced turnovers, and no players left Houck Stadium with any significant new injuries.

"The thing about this, the Redhawks win," Matukewicz said with a smile. "The Redhawks win."

The Southeast offense scored three touchdowns on the night, but it was the defense that got on the board first.

Sophomore linebacker Rider Garrett brought No. 2 quarterback Alex Niznak down in the end zone for a safety. His brother, junior linebacker Roper Garrett, led the defense with six tackles.

"Fundamentally we were just out there executing, really running to the ball and giving effort," Rider Garrett said. "What we really need to improve on is just the extra stuff, like doing your job and then making the play afterwards. Just the little things that just takes a little time."

Matukewicz commended the defense for continuing to stop the offense in third-down situations like it had throughout the five weeks of spring practices.

"Man, our D-line are monsters. They are monsters," Markuice Savage, a junior cornerback transfer from Lincoln University, said. "For them to do what they did all spring -- not just tonight but all spring -- is just crazy. But overall I think we did well. I don't think we gave up any touchdowns through the air and then other than red zone I think we pretty much did our job and held them up."

The offense was 2 for 2 in designated red zone situations. Senior running back DeMichael Jackson, who finished with 46 yards rushing on 11 carries and 25 yards receiving on four catches, ran it in three yards for the first touchdown of the night. That came on the heels of a 17-yard run by No. 1 quarterback Tay Bender.

Senior running back Lewis Washington later had a 1-yard touchdown carry.

Southeast Missouri State's DeMichael Jackson carries during the spring game Friday, April 17, 2015 at Houck Stadium. (Fred Lynch)

Bender, a junior transfer from Iowa Western Community College, escaped the defense for a 66-yard rushing touchdown for the final score of the scrimmage.

He completed 9 of 14 passes for 62 yards with one sack and rushed for 89 yards on 10 carries for an average of 8.9 yards per carry.

The spring was a period of immense learning for the mid-year transfer along with several other junior college signees.

"If I came here in the summer with the season coming on I don't know if I'd be where I'm at right now," Bender said with a laugh. "It's tough. I think coming in early was a great step ahead for the newcomers, and it gives me an idea to get it all down now and then at summer it's getting better at what I already know."

Junior running back Tremane McCullough, a transfer from Arizona Western Community College, said his biggest adjustment was to the no-huddle system of the Redhawks.

"Messing up in practice, coach is yelling at you, so after awhile you've got to do the right thing," McCullough said of what it took to catch on. "You can't just keep getting yelled at. He told me, 'If you don't pick it up, you're not going to play. If you want to play, you've got to pick it up,' so we just sharpened our ax and practiced harder."

McCullough had seven carries for 27 yards. He had two catches for 68 yards, including a 49-yard reception from Niznak where he eluded several defenders.

"It was nice that we had McCullough that could break one," Matukewicz said. "You guys can see, he's not like most people, but what happened is we caught him. That's what I didn't know -- if we had someone fast enough to catch him, so that was good to see. Jamarl Holloway, who is a transfer corner, actually caught him. ... Last year we had to earn everything we could get. The longest run was 50 yards because we just didn't have enough team speed, and so I think we'll be a little more explosive on offense."

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Alex Niznak throws a pass during the spring game Friday, April 17, 2015 at Houck Stadium. (Fred Lynch)

The offense fumbled twice in the scrimmage and Niznak, who completed 2 of 4 passes for 68 yards with a sack and rushed for 1 yard on five carries, was picked off by Savage.

"Offense and defense -- we all got better. We all made improvements day by day and we got better," Savage said. "As an individual I think I improved tremendously from where I started to where I am now."

Southeast's returning all-conference senior receiver Paul McRoberts did not participate in the spring game.

He was sidelined and in a walking boot after bruising the top of his foot in Thursday night's practice when he was hit. His X-rays were negative and his MRIs were still being read.

"It was actually a blessing because then I didn't have to pray all night long he didn't get hurt today," Matukewicz said.

McRoberts was on the sidelines talking with and cheering his teammates, including Bender, who familiarized himself with his offensive counterparts over the 15 spring practices.

"Most definitely, and most importantly my linemen," Bender said. "They did a great job out there today, too. I couldn't have done anything without them. I think the chemistry with us is coming along great -- carry it on into the summer and the season."

The Redhawks begin the season against Missouri on Sept. 5 in Columbia, Missouri.

Southeast's spring game was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but was moved to Friday evening due to a threat of weather.

The Redhawks' free clinic for kids in first through eighth grade is still slated for 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday morning at Houck Stadium.

If there is inclement weather the event will be moved indoors to the Student Recreation Center-North and shuttles from the stadium will be provided for the participating children.