Focus on red zone defense paying off for Southeast Missouri State football team

Southeast Missouri State defensive end John Popovich runs a drill with a blocking pad during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

Trent Singer

A concerted effort to excel in red zone defense is working for the Southeast Missouri State football team.

The Redhawks' opponents have come away with points only 67 percent of the time in the red zone this season, which ranks atop the Ohio Valley Conference and ninth in all of the Football Championship Subdivision.

It's something Southeast coach Tom Matukewicz and his staff place a specific emphasis on each week, and it's beginning to show favorable results heading into another key OVC matchup against Eastern Kentucky at 5 p.m. Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond, Kentucky.

"We work on it all the time," Matukewicz said after Tuesday's practice at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex. "Wednesday is our big situational day for us. We talk about it and show film on how to be good in the red zone. Obviously you've got to make them kick field goals, but we've been able to get some turnovers."

Southeast Missouri State offensive tackle Gabe Phillips, left, works against defensive tackle Joshua Wilson during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

Trent Singer

Southeast (2-3, 2-0 OVC) got one of those turnovers in the second quarter of last week's 21-14 win over 13th-ranked Eastern Illinois. Almost midway through the period, the Panthers faced a third-and-2 at the Redhawks' 10-yard line. A bad snap on the handoff was pounced on by junior defensive tackle Josh Wilson, allowing the Redhawks to hang on to their 14-7 lead at the time.

"That was a big swing," Matukewicz said. "Momentum flipped way over to our sideline where it could've been on their sideline. That was huge."

Matukewicz believes the primary focus for red zone defense comes down to stopping the run, something Southeast has excelled at this season.

Through five games, the Redhawks have given up a total of 532 yards on the ground. They're yielding 106.4 yards per game, which ranks third in the OVC and 18th nationally, and are limiting opposing runners to 2.9 yards per rush, which ranks 11th in the nation and second in the conference.

"If you don't stop the run, you're not going to be a good red zone defense," Matukewicz said. "If you can get people in passing situations, generally you can get off the field because the field shrinks. There's a lot less space and all that, and then you end up making them kick field goals."

In the red zone, SEMO's opponents have scored 12 of 18 times. Eight have been scored via touchdown -- four rushing and four passing. Murray State is the lone team in the conference that has equaled the Redhawks' defensive success in the red zone, but the Racers have allowed 11 TDs on their 12 chances.

"All we have to do is make them kick field goals," Wilson said. "It helps our offense, so they can drive down the field and take the lead for us.

"I feel like we're believing in the process that the coaches give to us."

Southeast Missouri State outside linebacker Kendall Donnerson runs a drill with a blocking pad during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

Trent Singer

Wilson has been a stalwart on a three-man front that possesses tremendous size, averaging 313 pounds as a starting unit. Because of size and experience, Matukewicz said he thought the unit would be good before the start of the season but believes staying healthy has played a significant role in staying consistent.

"In the past, we've been good to start the year but always fall off because of injuries, and so it's hard to be consistent when you don't have a consistent lineup," Matukewicz said. "Right now, we've been able to keep people healthy, and those guys are jamming the run up and making plays."

The 323-pound Wilson has 21 tackles to lead the defensive line, including 3 1/2 for loss. He also has a sack on the season.

"He's pound-for-pound our strongest guy on the team," Matukewicz said about Wilson. "He's got great technique. ... He just makes plays. We played him as a true freshman, so he's been here a while making plays for us. It seems like he's having a great junior year."

The Redhawks also continue to receive impressive outings from their edge rushers in juniors Chad Meredith and Kendall Donnerson.

Meredith had a game-high 12 tackles against EIU and earned OVC Defensive Player of the Week honors, while Donnerson contributed a game-high two TFLs and is now tied for the league lead in that category with 8 1/2.

"We think we've got good ones, and they keep proving to us that we do -- that's the biggest thing," Matukewicz said. "In a 3-4 defense, those guys have got to make plays for you, and they are right now."

Big-play Davis

Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Adrian Davis runs a route during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

Trent Singer

In back-to-back weeks, junior wide receiver Adrian Davis has given Southeast the big play it's needed.

Davis scored the game-winning TD late in the fourth quarter against the Racers when he hauled in a 20-yard pass from Jesse Hosket, and he tacked on the Redhawks' longest play of the season the following week against EIU -- a 62-yard touchdown pass from Hosket in the first half.

Davis believes the coaching staff has developed more trust in the offense, thus allowing big plays to become more prevalent.

"Before the Murray State game, they said they needed to trust us more," Davis said. "In practice, we've proven they can trust us more. ... If we keep doing what we do on the field and off the field to allow them to trust us, that'll allow them to call on us at certain positions in the game."

The 6-foot-3 wideout has three TDs and leads Southeast in receiving with 283 yards on 15 catches. Davis' 18.9 yards per reception is third in the OVC among players with 10 receptions or more, and he's currently ranked eighth in the conference in receiving yards per game with 56.6.

"He's great at reception point," Matukewicz said. "He's fast. He's big. He's what we want out there on the edge, and he's been able to make big plays for us."