Southeast Missouri State's Tay Bender moves to top of depth chart at QB

Eleven practices into the Southeast Missouri State football team's spring session and Iowa Western Community College transfer Tay Bender has become the wearer of the No. 1 quarterback jersey.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior's outperformed returning backup Alex Niznak in a scrimmage Friday leading to the switch. The pair, which are in competition to replace Kyle Snyder for the starting job, has just three practices and a spring game remaining.

The competition, which currently has no definite end date, remains tight, according to offensive coordinator Sherard Poteete.

"We want to see how each guy's going to react to that situation as well and so it's just putting them in a different situation, different mindset to see how they're going to react," Poteete said about the jersey switch. "You want to see the most pressure in practice so when it's time for games to roll around it's easy."

The pressure mounts each series on the field, according to Poteete, and Thursday afternoon's practice at Houck Stadium was no exception.

Niznak, a 6-2, 240 pound senior, broke free up the left sideline for about a 40-yard touchdown during a two-minute situation.

Bender followed with a 10-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Paul McRoberts.

Bender brought his hands to his helmet in frustration after he was nearly picked off earlier in the drive, and shook his head in disappointment after he was sacked. But Poteete and McRoberts could both be seen instructing him during timeouts before the score.

"The competitor's coming out in him because he wants to be successful," Poteete said about the outward signs of emotion.

Poteete noted Bender's still trying to familiarize himself with the plays, his teammates and coaches, and both he and coach Tom Matukewicz said Bender's got to "flush it" when something doesn't work.

"It's real important that he does well, to him, so sometimes when a mistake's made that'll lead to a second play," Matukewicz said.

Meanwhile Niznak is missing a "quick process," according to the second-year head coach.

"He knows it, he sees it, but he's just a little late on his processor," Matukewicz said. "When he's on the run, his accuracy goes down. He's more of a pocket guy right now. Up until today I would've said I wanted him to figure out how to run the ball, but today I thought it was pretty good."

Niznak said he embraces the challenges of competition, but it's not his sole focus. Bender cannot currently speak to the media as a newcomer because of a team rule.

"It's a good thing because it pulls out the best in you, but as a competitor and as an athlete I'm not really focused on the guys around me," Niznak said. "Obviously I'd like to learn from mistakes Tay and Griff and those guys make, but ultimately when I sit down and I watch film or I try to plan out what I'm going to do, I'm competing against who I was yesterday and who I think I can be tomorrow."

Poteete called Niznak "a smart kid" while Bender makes things happen on the field with his speed and agility.

"He sees everything unfold in the video room and the board room, and he can see everything kind of happen there and unfold, so he translates that well," Poteete said. "Tay's got a little quick twitch to him where he can tuck it and run it and move the ball on third down whenever they're in man coverage. He's got a little explosiveness to him.

"It's good to see those two kids come out and play to their strengths, and we'll see how the competition continues as the spring goes on and into summer."

The Redhawks will hold a scrimmage from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Houck Stadium and are scheduled to practice at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

The spring game is at 1 p.m. April 18 at Houck, preceded by a free youth camp from 10 a.m. to noon.

"When I look at it and we were playing tomorrow, I'd have to have medication," Matukewicz said of the quarterbacks' progress. "But at the same time, when you look at them you see a lot of potential and you like a lot of plays. I think that's just a normal progression first-year starters take."