Southeast Missouri State football team aiming high in season opener against Kansas

Southeast Missouri State coach Tom Matukewicz directs his players during a scrimmage on Aug. 12 at Houck Stadium.

Fred Lynch

Heading into his fourth season opener as coach, Tom Matukewicz sees a lot of what he's been trying to instill in the football program at Southeast Missouri State.

Now he's hoping his team can reap the benefits.

The Redhawks will get the 2017 campaign officially underway at 6 p.m. Saturday when they travel to face Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Kansas at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.

"I just think this team understands what we're trying to accomplish. We're trying to do something no team has ever done at SEMO, and that's beat a Power 5 team," Matukewicz said. "We've got to do the work on Monday and do the work on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday before we can do the work on Saturday, so I think they get it. I think they understand it from a preparation standpoint."

The Redhawks have yet to win a road opener under Matukewicz, but they came closest in his rookie season (2014) when they dropped a 34-28 decision against the Jayhawks after trailing 24-0 at halftime.

Southeast Missouri State offensive tackle Alex Snyder takes part in Wednesday’s practice at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

Laura Simon

The game also serves as a homecoming of sorts for Matukewicz and assistant coaches Ricky Coon, Bryce Saia, Jon Wiemers and Matt Martin, all of whom have ties to the state.

"You should've seen the coaches' pass lists because we've got everybody coming, and it's good to come home," Matukewicz said. "Everybody wants to go to Kansas, and we want to do harm in Kansas. Everybody I've met, whether they're Mizzou fans or whatever, they don't have a lot of love for Kansas.

"I have love for Kansas, but not for the Jayhawks."

Southeast is coming off a 3-8 season in 2016 and returns four starters on offense, including senior quarterback Jesse Hosket. An Ohio Valley Conference all-newcomer pick last season, Hosket completed 50 percent of his 356 passes for 2,332 yards, finishing with 11 touchdowns to seven interceptions.

Hosket is the first QB in six years to start consecutive seasons at Southeast, leaving SEMO's quarterback situation entirely different from its Week 1 opponent. Jayhawks coach David Beaty plans to wait until game time to name his starting quarterback. His options are junior Peyton Bender and sophomore Carter Stanley, and Matukewicz isn't taking any chances by assuming one will get the start over the other.

"We'll probably see both guys," Matukewicz said. "The good thing, it doesn't feel like it's completely different. I think they're going to run what they're going to run no matter who's in, but we could be wrong. That's the wild card -- you don't really know. But I'd rather have it our way. I know what the hell Jesse's going to do, so I'm glad we bring ours back. We'll have to just adjust from what we see there."

The Redhawks have had two weeks since the end of fall camp to prepare for the Jayhawks, who finished 2-10 last season. Matukewicz said the game plan has been implemented and revised in order to try and hone a "fine-tuned pace."

"You just worry about the first game from an execution standpoint -- stupid penalties, (illegal) procedure type of stuff," Matukewicz said. "Hopefully we play a clean game."

It's hard to tell what can be expected of a Kansas offense that's heading into its first game under the direction of new offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, who previously served three years as co-offensive coordinator at TCU.

"We've watched all the TCU film and are just really impressed," Matukewicz said. "It's kind of an air-raid deal with a lot of tempo. We've got to, No. 1, handle the conditioning that it takes because we might have to play a lot of plays. We've got to play a lot of players. Then, we've just got to be able to play in space. They get you out there with those athletes, and they throw it 5 yards and it goes for 80. That's what can't happen. We can't have any run after catch. We've got to have great pursuit angles, and then we've got to finish when we get to the ball carrier."

The Redhawks had the worst scoring offense in the conference last season, averaging only 20.8 points per game. Top wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson, a 6-foot sophomore, reprises his role after leading the team with 743 yards receiving and four TDs. Southeast lost running back Will Young, a second-team All-OVC selection, to graduation, but the emergence of junior college transfer Marquis Terry offers a chance to improve on last year's rushing attack.

And the challenge awaiting the Redhawks' offense in Week 1 doesn't appear to be an easy one by any means.

Jayhawks junior Dorance Armstrong Jr. is the Big 12 Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after recording 56 total tackles a year ago, including 20 for loss. The 6-4, 246-pound defensive end also had three forced fumbles and 10 sacks.

"Their D-line is one of the best we'll probably see. They're really big up front," said senior offensive tackle Alex Snyder, who's one of two returning starters on the Redhawks' offensive line. "They have good hands. The defensive ends, especially, are good pass rushers, so if we take care of the first level, we can do a lot of things in this game."

While Kansas' defensive front is keyed by Armstrong, Matukewicz knows there are other players up front who can cause problems.

"Their D-line is really good," Matukewicz said. "Even in the Big 12, I'd say they have one of the best units at defensive line. It'll be a great challenge. If our O-line can open up holes for our running game and protect Jesse, I'll feel great about our season."

On the injury front, the Redhawks don't appear to have any glaring concerns. Redshirt freshman Zack Smith (ankle) will be a game-time decision.

Regardless of Saturday's outcome, Matukewicz wants his team to remain focused on execution.

"What I told them is, 'I want it to be about us,'" Matukewicz said. "We've really locked in on our culture about who we are and what we are, and I want to see that play out on film, with things as simple as not jumping offsides to finishing in the fourth quarter or how we can show that we care about each other in how we interact.

"That's the thing -- let's make this all about the Redhawks and what we've been trying to accomplish these last four weeks."

Series history

Kansas leads 1-0

Previous meeting

Kansas won 34-28 on Sept. 6, 2014, in Lawrence, Kansas

1 -- The number of all-time victories the Redhawks have against FBS schools. That win came against host Middle Tennessee State, 24-14, on Sept. 28, 2002. In contrast, the program has dropped 21 games against FBS competition. The Redhawks have scheduled at least one FBS opponent for 17 straight years.

176 -- The career number of total tackles by Redhawks senior outside linebacker Chad Meredith, who has started 22 games in a row and is tied for seventh all-time in career tackles for loss (24). Meredith ranked second on last year’s team with 86 stops, including 10 1/2 for loss. He also had four sacks on the season.

113 -- The number of seasons in the history of SEMO’s football program. The 2017 campaign will be the Redhawks’ 27th at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. Southeast joined the Division I ranks in 1991 and has amassed a 101-192 record since, winning an OVC championship in 2010.

Kansas

Passing: Carter Stanley 959 yards

Rushing: Taylor Martin 324 yards, Khalil Herbert 189 yards, Stanley 124 yards

Receiving: Steven Sims Jr. 859 yards, Bobby Hartzog Jr. 132 yards, Tyler Patrick 127 yards

Tackles: Mike Lee 77, Dorance Armstrong Jr 56, Keith Loneker Jr. 43

Southeast

Passing: Jesse Hosket 2,332 yards

Rushing: Cameron Sanders 172 yards, Jesse Hosket: 16 yards

Receiving: Kristian Wilkerson 743 yards, Tyler McLemore 210 yards, Jacquan Fuller 15 yards

Tackles: Chad Meredith 86, Kendall Donnerson 50, Joshua Wilson 41

2016 returning leaders

Kansas coach David Beaty

Kansas Athletics

Opposing coach's view

“All of our energy, all of our focus, has been placed completely and totally on a very, very talented, capable team that is a lot like us, in terms of developing in that conference. They continue to get good players there. They’re very well coached, very aggressive on defense, a team that can cause some problems for you if you’re not prepared.”

-- Kansas coach David Beaty

Scouting the opponent

Kansas’ Dorance Armstrong Jr. is coming off a 2016 season in which he amassed 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

Kansas Athletics

The Jayhawks won just two of their 24 games in Beaty's first two seasons at the helm, but things are steadily heading in the right direction, according to Jayhawk Slant publisher Jon Kirby.

Beaty likely has his coaching staff in place with the addition of Meacham, while scholarship numbers in the program are quickly on the rise.

"When he inherited the program there were close to 50 scholarship players on the roster," Beaty said in an email. "He and his staff had a plan and have been creative in getting the numbers back up faster than what was expected."

Armstrong leads the Jayhawks' defense, which is based in a 4-2-5 alignment. Kirby said adding muscle has been the biggest area of growth for Armstrong, who is widely considered to be a first-round pick in next year's NFL draft.

"He has an NFL body and, in the past, was more lean," Kirby said about Armstrong. "He has added weight in the offseason, which should help him in run support."

Junior nose tackle Daniel Wise (6-3, 290 pounds) is another key defensive lineman. Wise had 38 stops last season and was second on the team with 10 TFLs.

"He always gets the second mention after Armstrong, but he has NFL potential as a defensive tackle," Kirby said. "He moves well for a 290-pounder and was disruptive last year."

Sophomore safety Mike Lee is the team's top returning tackler (77 tackles), a player Kirby calls "a fan favorite."

"He had some of the biggest hits on the team last year and isn't afraid to lower his head," Kirby said. "He had several highlight-reel hits last year."

Kirby said Kansas defensive coordinator Clint Bowen plans to use his nickel back as more of a cover player, competing in a conference that features so many high-powered offenses.

On offense, wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. might be the difference maker after leading the Jayhawks with 859 yards receiving in 2016. The 5-10 Sims, a junior, hauled in 72 catches and seven TDs.

Hakeem Adeniji is the team's starting left tackle. He arrived at Kansas last summer after discovering he had a peanut allergy, which kept him from enrolling at Air Force. Adeniji went on to start last season and was an honorable-mention All-Big 12 pick.

Beyond that, many questions still linger in regards to the Jayhawks' offense.

"The latest depth chart showed competition ongoing at quarterback, running back and two spots on the offensive line," Kirby said. "There are key position battles that will determine the main contributors that could go into kickoff."

Sophomore Khalil Herbert (5-9, 200 pounds) and junior Taylor Martin (5-10, 200 pounds) are listed as the top options at running back, while starting spots at right guard and right tackle are still up for grabs.

Stanley is the returning contributor at quarterback. He was 93-of-156 passing (59.6 percent) for 959 yards with six TDs and six interceptions last season. Bender is the newcomer but was stellar last year at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi, where he threw for 2,733 yards with 21 touchdowns and just four picks.

"The philosophy is the air-raid offense," Kirby said. "You are going to see the ball in the air and the snaps from center going fast. They play an up-tempo style and will have five players out in pass patterns at times."

The Jayhawks appear to be most vulnerable on the offensive line and in the secondary but are steadied by an impressive defensive line.

"Along with Armstrong and Wise, there are a lot of bodies they will rotate," Kirby said. "Watch for J.J. Holmes, a junior college transfer from Hutchinson (Community College). He won the nose tackle job in a heated battle. He is in the 320-pound range and can move for a player that size."

Despite the lack of success in Beaty's first two years, Kirby said the program was rejuvenated by ending the season on a positive note, which included a 24-21 come-from-behind win over Texas in overtime. Since then, the program has gotten off to a fast start for its 2018 recruiting class and has announced plans for $300 million in renovations for Memorial Stadium.

"The realistic expectation is to show progress," Kirby said. "In Beaty's first year, they didn't win a game. Last year, they won two. If they can double that total again and be competitive in several conference games, it will show the fan base the program is trending in the right direction."

OVC schedule

Thursday

* Eastern Illinois 22, Indiana State 20

* Murray State 67, Kentucky Wesleyan 7

* Tennessee State 17, Georgia State 10

* Cincinnati 26, Austin Peay 14

* Western Illinois 41, Tennessee Tech 14

* UT Martin 36, Clarion 0

Saturday

* Southeast at Kansas, 7 p.m.

* Eastern Kentucky at Western Kentucky, 6 p.m.

The two programs gather for their 85th all-time meeting. The cross-state schools competed every season between 1946 and 2000 and six straight times from 2003-08. The 2008 season marked a break in the series, as WKU moved to the FBS. EKU’s last victory against the Hilltoppers came in 2006 in a 26-21 decision in Richmond, Kentucky. WKU won the last meeting between the two programs, a 37-13 decision in 2008.

WKU is coming off back-to-back Conference USA championships and is in its first season under coach Mike Sanford, who was last the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame. The Hilltoppers return 12 starters from last year’s squad, which won its final eight games of the season.

EKU enters its second season under coach Mark Elder. The Colonels return five starters on offense and seven on defense while welcoming 63 new players to the program.