Southeast Football

SEMO offensive coordinator Jeromy McDowell's journey from Redhawks quarterback to a top FCS play-caller is marked by patience and adaptability. Flash forward to today and he now has the top-ranked OVC offense on the cusp of an outright conference championship.

The SEMO Redhawks secured a 54-45 win against Western Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 16, setting the stage for a conference title bid at Tennessee State next weekend.

The SEMO Redhawks aim to bounce back against Western Illinois this Saturday following their first FCS loss. Can Coach Matukewicz's squad inch closer to securing a playoff spot and conference title?

The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks host a Western Illinois team that is trying to emulate the example set by head coach Tom Matukewicz. The Leathernecks, under first-year head coach Joe Davis, are 3-7, 2-4 in their first season in the Big South-OVC. It's an improvement over the past two winless seasons during their final years in the Missouri Valley Football Conference...

Senior outside linebacker Sam Cook has shined in recent weeks for SEMO, which is aiming to rebound against Western Illinois this Saturday. After a tough loss at Lindenwood, Cook's standout defense offers hope as the Redhawks continue to chase their FCS Playoff dream.

The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks host the Leathernecks of Western Illinois in the final home game of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 16. SEMO (8-2, 5-1 Big South-OVC) dropped to No. 12 in the nation after the 24-12 upset loss at Lindenwood a week ago. The Redhawks still sit atop the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference while Western Illinois (3-7, 2-4 Big South-OVC) is seventh in the conference standings...

Third time was the charm for Lindenwood. The Lions saluted their seniors and shocked the FCS world with a shocking upset win over No. 6 Southeast Missouri State 24-12 on a soaked Saturday afternoon in St. Charles. It was the first time the Lions took home the Gameball Brawl trophy since moving to Division I and establishing the Big South-OVC rivalry with SEMO. The Redhawks have won the past two meetings by double-digits...

The Southeast Missouri State football team emerges from their second bye week of the season undefeated in FCS play, leading the Big South-OVC and riding a seven-game winning streak. The bye week came at an opportune time for the Redhawks, who have piled up injuries right next to their stack of victories. SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz said he took the opportunity to give his players the week off to rest before returning to preparation for their next game...

In a game in which No. 6 Southeast Missouri State defeated Gardner-Webb 30-24 on homecoming Saturday, the turnovers can be the difference between winning and losing. SEMO defensive back Ty Leonard swooped in and intercepted Gardner-Webb quarterback Tyler Ridell not once but twice, evening him with the number of picks Paxton DeLaurent threw...

Injuries are a part of the nature of football. All great teams win the battle of attrition on their way to the top. However, there's nothing common about the No. 6 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks continuing to soar despite how many times their wings get clipped...

SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz grinned broadly as he acknowledged the Redhawks student section and walked off the field. The sweet roar of the crowd’s energy showered the field, and the players greeted them in celebration. Paxton DeLaurent threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns, running back Cole Ruble had a career day, and defensive back Ty Leonard had two clutch interceptions to defeat the visiting Runnin’ Bulldogs 30-24 on homecoming Saturday...

HILLSBORO — Brothers Preston and Payton Brown have become synonymous with excellence during their careers on the football field. Both Browns helped the Hillsboro football Hawks reach the Class 4 state championship game last fall — and that success has continued in 2024...

Back to friendly confines. After a long flight trip to Charleston, S.C. this past weekend, the SEMO football team will return to its home turf on Saturday for another Big South-OVC clash against Gardner-Webb on homecoming. No. 6 SEMO (7-1, 4-0 OVC), who climbed to sixth in the FCS polls for its highest ranking in program history, hosts the Runnin' Bulldogs (2-5, 1-2) at 2 p.m. ...

This season has been another breakout year for SEMO offensive lineman Kobe Sixkiller. The 6-foot-1, 300-pound senior has 30 career starts and counting, and is proving to be a rock-solid force in the heart of a Redhawks offensive line that has only surrendered 11 sacks all season...

CHARLESTON, S.C. – In its fourth straight conference game, No. 8 SEMO took care of business with a 26-13 road win against Charleston Southern on Saturday afternoon. Quarterback Paxton DeLaurent threw for 335 yards and a touchdown behind a 58.2 completion rate against a Buccaneers team that entered the game with the top pass defense in the conference...

There was plenty to like about eighth-ranked SEMO football's performance this past weekend, as head coach Tom Matukewicz’s squad hammered Tennessee Tech 34-3 in another conference game that found them as heavy favorites. Quarterback Paxton DeLaurent became the program’s all-time leading passer, the defense held an opponent to under 300 total yards of offense for the third time this season, and the Redhawks won their fifth in a row...

In recent years, the running game was the backbone of the Southeast Missouri State offense during Geno Hess' time in the backfield. This year, it has taken a village to move the ball through the ground for the Redhawks, in more ways than one. Freshman Peyton Brown first established himself with 97 rushing yards and three touchdowns in SEMO’s 37-15 win over North Alabama. He also rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown during the Redhawks’ rivalry win at Southern Illinois...

Tristan Smith's path from junior college product to SEMO standout is marked by a pivotal play against Tennessee Tech and a unique path of perseverance and growth, making him a key player in SEMO's 6-1 season.

Paxton DeLaurent's journey to becoming Southeast Missouri State's all-time leading passer in yards (6,563) and touchdowns (50), both records set on Saturday, Oct. 12, during a 34-3 win over Tennessee Tech, has resembled the original Star Wars trilogy...

The Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks overcame a turnover-laced first half to rout the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech 34-3 in Cape Girardeau on Saturday, Oct. 12. Quarterback Paxton DeLaurent threw for more than 400 yards and tallied four touchdown passes, becoming SEMO's career touchdown passing leader...

Entering a crucial Big South-OVC matchup against Tennessee Tech on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Houck Field, Southeast Missouri State (5-1) operates like a reptile shedding its skin while maintaining dominance over the terrain. Week after week, the No. 9 Redhawks have suffered key losses while still winning games and maintaining a perfect record against fellow FCS competition...

The SEMO Redhawk football team aims to extend their five-game winning streak with a home matchup against Tennessee Tech tomorrow afternoon. Read the four biggest storylines heading into Saturday's conference showdown.

Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, Jaylon Stone grew up wanting to wear the red and black on the football field at the college level. Eventually, he got his wish — sort of. “I lived up the street from the school (University of Georgia),” Stone said. “Of course, that was my dream and stuff, but eventually I got an opportunity out here...

Southeast Missouri State defeated Big South-OVC rival Eastern Illinois 38-27 on the road to remain undefeated in FCS play on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Charleston, Ill. The Redhawks established a 17-0 first quarter lead on kicker DC Pippin’s only field goal of the game, and two touchdown passes from quarterback Paxton DeLaurent to receivers Dorian Anderson and Mitchell Sellers...

CHARLESTON, Ill. — There aren’t a ton of questions for head coach Tom Matukewicz and his No. 13 SEMO Redhawks following their 38-27 triumph over Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon. While Eastern Illinois began to mount a comeback in the second half, SEMO bounced back from a low-scoring win over Northwestern State last weekend and took care of business to leave little doubt about the team’s mental state as they continue to dive into conference play...

The thirteenth-ranked SEMO football program’s 2024 journey continues this Saturday when the Redhawks travel to Charleston, Illinois for a date with conference rival Eastern Illinois. This is not the type of matchup many expected when the schedule was released. No. 13 SEMO (4-1) has a road test that suddenly features an Eastern Illinois (1-4) team that has struggled and appears to be a shell of its 8-3 self a year ago...

The path of transitioning from a successful high school football player to achieving at a high level in college can take many paths. For some, the process takes years, often involving transfers between schools and between NCAA divisions. Constantly waiting for an opportunity to showcase one’s talent can be a frustrating process — one that requires much patience and optimism...

Slowly but surely, the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks were going to exercise the Demons of Northwestern State on Saturday, Sept. 28. One field goal at a time, a 19-0 defensive shutout, and Houck Field is now clear. This was a significant game for the defense, who held a Division I opponent scoreless for the first time in 30 years, a 10-0 win over UT Martin on Sept. ...

No. 13 SEMO found out that its offense can be slowed down. Carried by stifling defensive play and kicker DC Pippin’s four field goals, the Redhawks did just enough to get by Northwestern State 19-0 on Saturday afternoon at Houck Stadium. Coming off an away victory at then-top 10 ranked Southern Illinois was dramatic, and a potential “let down” spot against an inferior opponent was looming. ...

A year ago, linebacker Jared Pedraza and offensive lineman Tyler McMillan were rocking their blue and orange helmets on the Northwestern State football practice field at Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Fast forward to today and the new pair of SEMO starters will be wearing two different colors – red and black – while competing against their former team at Houck Field on Saturday, Sept. 28...

Sometimes the most challenging thing for a program is not climbing to the top, but rather staying at the top. Over the first four games of the 2024 season, the SEMO Redhawks have gone from “hunter” to “hunted” after sprinting to a 3-1 start, knocking off then-ranked rivals UT Martin and Southern Illinois and climbing to No. 13 in the FCS poll – their highest ranking since September of 2023...

Mali Walton patiently waited his turn to become the starting linebacker at SEMO. “Ever since I’ve been here, we've had a really good group of guys, so it's sort of a ‘next man up’ mindset,” Walton said. “Through the previous years, I've had opportunities to come and be the next guy up. When someone goes down or needs a breather or anything, just being always ready...

As the rivalry with Southern Illinois has shifted, so has Southeast Missouri's fortunes. Nine and four, two numbers that have become synonymous with SEMO and this game since 2018. When SEMO wins this game, they go on to finish the season with nine wins but finish with four if they lose...

Throughout the long history of Southeast Missouri State football, there are very few games as monumental as this one. SEMO's 38-21 victory over No. 7 Southern Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 21, on the road at Carbondale, Illinois, was the Redhawks' fourth victory over an opponent ranked in the top 10 and third highest-ranked victory in program history ...

Dorian Anderson After Ryan Flournoy had a season worthy of the National Football League a year ago, one of the biggest question marks concerning Southeast Missouri State's offense entering this season was would step up to replace him. Four weeks in, the answer is clear. All No. 21 SEMO needed was one of their receivers to get an upgrade...

There's no such thing as a meaningless rivalry game. Every game between rivals decides the mood of the season in the eyes of the fan base. In the case of Southeast Missouri State against Southern Illinois, "The War of the Wheel" has the magnitude to decide the fate of the Redhawks season...

After a much-needed bye week, the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks are rested and ready to travel to Carbondale, Ill., and take on the rival Salukis of Southern Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 21. SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz is bringing the entire team on the bus so that even the redshirt freshmen can experience the rivalry atmosphere...

Few Division I-FCS wide receivers have made as much noise this season as SEMO senior Dorian Anderson. A towering 6-foot-7, 200-pounder, Anderson had a quiet debut year at SEMO in 2023, catching just 14 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown in 10 games. But Redhawk fans only saw bits and pieces of what he could do last season...

I have lived all over America and have been around a handful of college towns and universities, from those I attended, the football games I covered, or those my family has been involved in. I had never seen a university president so beloved by the students before I started covering Southeast Missouri State athletics...

Every week this season, a new offensive hero emerges for Southeast Missouri State. First, it was freshman running back Peyton Brown, and then it was senior wide receiver Dorian Anderson. Most recently, it was Mitchell Sellers, who hauled in 60 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-42 double overtime win over UT Martin after being held without a reception through the first three quarters...

In case of emergency, break glass and call 33. Facing a two-score deficit in the fourth quarter, Southeast Missouri State called on receiver Mitchell Sellers and threw him the ball six times for 60 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs, to lead the Redhawks to a 45-42 double-overtime win over UT Martin on Saturday, Sept. 7, at Houck Field...

SEMO quarterback Paxton DeLaurent has played in 37 games at the collegiate level – none compared to what he experienced at Houck Stadium on Saturday night. When asked in a postgame interview if it was the craziest game he has ever been a part of, the senior nodded his head and gave the most assuring “yes” one could imagine...

The television ratings for the FCS Kickoff matchup between Southeast Missouri State and North Alabama were recently released by Sports Media Watch, showing that 672,000 people viewed the Redhawks' debut on the "Mothership". The last time the Redhawks were on national television was their 2022 FCS Playoffs appearance at Montana on ESPN2...

As a cornerback for Murray State, Justus Johnson went two full seasons without an interception. In his first two games at Southeast Missouri State, he has two. Each one is crucial in maintaining defensive momentum at North Alabama and keeping the game close at New Mexico State...

It's a long-standing tradition in college football. Really all college sports, but football especially. The big power conference programs fit their preseason into their regular season by paying smaller schools from the lower FBS conferences or even the FCS, a lower subdivision of Division I football, to come to their stadium and get sacrificed at the altar of the Big House in front of thousands of fans...

It took two weeks for the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks receivers to establish themselves as reliable targets for quarterback Paxton DeLaurent. Dorian Anderson has been the leading receiver for the Redhawks in each of the first two games. He hauled in 71 yards against North Alabama and 115 yards with a touchdown against New Mexico State. He said his breakout game showed that the hard work he put in from the spring to summer and fall camps has paid off...

Under no circumstances should a team in the FBS lose to a team in the FCS. The FBS schools are bigger, more talented, and have so much money that they pay these small schools to come to their stadiums and get sacrificed at the altar of the Big House in front of hundreds of fans...

LAS CRUCES – SEMO and New Mexico State was billed as a defensive slugfest and those two units delivered on Saturday night at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico. But after leading the entire game, a late gamble gutted the Redhawks’ chances of knocking off their FBS foe and the Aggies capitalized off the misfortunes to sneak away with a 23-16 victory...

Not many football players at Southeast Missouri State get to make their Redhawk debut on a bigger stage than the FCS Kickoff on ESPN. Linebacker Jared Pedraza came in after starting middle linebacker Mali Walton was ejected due to a targeting penalty. He played a key role defensively in the Redhawks shutting down North Alabama in the second half and ultimately winning 37-14 on Aug. 24, in Montgomery, Alabama...

When Southeast Missouri State alum Ryan Flournoy was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on April 27, he received a phone call from owner Jerry Jones himself, telling the Redhawk, "I’m proud to call you a Dallas Cowboy.”...