Southeast Missouri State running backs excel behind strong offensive line at Saturday's scrimmage

Senior running back DeMichael Jackson danced his way down the sideline in rhythm to the music blaring from the speakers at Houck Stadium on Saturday morning.

Along the way he paused at each of the Redhawks' offensive linemen, shaking their hands and patting them on the back, a big smile across his face.

The No. 1 offense had just scored the first touchdown of the team's first scrimmage of fall camp on an 8-yard run by quarterback Tay Bender, and Jackson wanted to acknowledge the five guys up front that were responsible for creating the gap that allowed Bender to dart to the left and into the end zone.

"We lost some big-time linemen last year and just seeing how everybody's progressed and stepped up and did their job, that's big right there," Jackson said.

During the Redhawks' two-hour practice, the running backs -- primarily Jackson and junior college transfer Tremane McCullough -- made their presence known.

On the very first offensive drive of the day, Jackson caught a screen pass from Bender and made his way to the right sideline before being pushed out of bounds for a gain of 19 yards.

Coach Tom Matukewicz could be heard yelling, "That a way to block," to sophomore receiver Adrian Davis after the play.

"The run game was pretty solid, but those receivers was the reason why the run game was pretty solid -- the receivers and the O-line," Jackson said. "All week we've been working on perimeter blocking and the receivers, man, they were man-up on man and they just held their own."

Jackson finished with 27 yards rushing on nine carries and 23 yards on two receptions.

Southeast Missouri State's Tremane McCullough moves past Jamarl Holloway on a play during a scrimmage Saturday at Houck Stadium. (Glenn Landberg)

McCullough led the team with 82 rushing yards on 12 carries, including a 56-yard touchdown run. McCullough, who said he expected to get pushed out of bounds on the play, escaped between a couple of defenders to the right sideline and into the end zone.

"It's quite crazy because the ones you think you're supposed to score on you don't and the ones you don't think you're going to score on you end up scoring," McCullough said with a laugh. "I just hit the hole -- it was a big hole, it was a wide-open block -- so when I hit the hole I just bounced outside and I seen the safety and the corner and I just gave them a two-step and kept my speed going."

The offense had 159 yards rushing on 53 carries and 214 yards receiving on 18 catches in the modified scrimmage that featured several scenarios.

"We've just been working on the little things -- being patient, sticking to our assignments, staying in the hole, not trying to run outside of our blockers, you know, trusting our blockers," McCullough said. "That's what we did. We had faith in our blockers and they got the job done so we got the job done."

Matukewicz likes the depth and variety in style that the Redhawks have at running back right now, which includes sophomore Brendan Stewart, who practiced with the No. 3 offense. "It's lovely with Tremane and [Brendan] Stewart because those two guys take off a lot of pressure off my back because I know if I get tired or if I go down that those two guys are great and they'll step up and do their thing," Jackson said. Bender rushed for 13 yards on 10 carries and completed 11 of 22 passes for 90 yards. He threw one 3-yard touchdown pass to Lewis Washington.

Quarterback Alex Niznak completed 7 of 16 passes for 65 yards. He threw one 30-yard touchdown pass that was deflected off the hands of two defenders before freshman tight end Marquette Murdock snagged it and reached the end zone.

Senior receiver Paul McRoberts had 46 yards receiving on four catches.

Southeast Missouri State's Tay Bender gets a pass off to a receiver during a scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 at Houck Stadium. (Glenn Landberg)

"I was a little disappointed that we didn't get Paul going a little bit, but I thought we showed that we could be a big-play offense," Matukewicz said. "I think adding Tremane to that mix shows you that we could be a little bit more explosive this year than we were last year."

Matukewicz was disappointed that there were multiple snaps off the mark by the team's centers, including one from the third string that was fumbled by No. 4 quarterback Dante Vandeven and recovered by the defense.

After the team wrapped up practice Matukewicz had all the quarterbacks and centers remain to work on snaps.

"Well, that's one way to put it," Matukewicz said when asked if he wasn't pleased with the snaps. "It's borderline embarrassing. We're a Division I program and we failed at one of the most fundamental things in all of football. I'm glad it happened now so we can make an emphasis next week , and if I'm a betting man I think I'm going to get that fixed."

Vandeven, a graduate of Jackson, worked with the No. 3 offense because redshirt freshman quarterback Anthony Cooper was given the day off to rest an elbow injury. He's expected to return to practicing on Monday.

DEFENSE

Matukewicz knew that his defense had the more difficult task of the two sides of his team on Saturday since most situations were set up to focus on the offense.

He was pleased with the challenges that the defense presented, though.

"I think up front we're really good and the secondary we're down a couple guys and I'm still waiting on those guys to make a play," Matukewicz said. "They're in position, but they've got to be able to make a play on a ball or they've got to be able to get a ball carrier down."

Defensive tackle John Popovich and linebacker Chad Meredith each forced a safety and the defense also had three sacks and recovered a fumble.

Junior linebacker Roper Garrett recorded 10 tackles. Freshman linebacker Stephon Williams had eight, junior safety Eriq Moore had six and sophomore linebacker Rider Garrett had five.

"We just wanted to come out and play really fast and play really physical," Roper Garrett said. "We know that that's our style of football and we know that no matter what the offense does that we're going to come out and execute whatever we have to do."

RETURNERS

Junior transfer Markuice Savage, who came to Southeast as a defensive back and has since been transformed to a receiver, stood facing the east end zone of the stadium during a punt return drill. He looked up to receive the punt and dropped it for a fumble.

"We're a long ways away. We don't play at 11 o'clock," Matukewicz said, noting that the sun was an issue at that time. "I went one each way. If we'd have gone without the sun I think we would've been fine, but I kind of wanted that to happen. To be honest with you that's an open tryout and we've got to get that handled next week -- No. 1 goal."

Savage is one of a handful of players competing for the punt returning job along with senior receiver Peter Lloyd and junior receiver Tyler Manne.

Manne signaled for a fair catch during his turn while Lloyd caught a punt from junior kicker Ryan McCrum and returned it about 25 yards to the 40.

Lloyd, who is also practicing kickoff returns along with McCullough, Savage and Jackson, received a, 'That a baby, Lloyd,' after his return and got a pat on the back from special team's and running backs coach Matt Martin.