Rivalry game means everything to SEMO seniors

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Paxton DeLaurent throws a pass against Southern Illinois last year at Houck Field.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

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.

"You don't have to mentally and emotionally get ready for this game," SEMO senior quarterback Paxon DeLaurent said. "This is one that you wake up, you roll over, and you'd be ready to play any single day, if it was Monday, Wednesday, guys are ready to go. We don't like SIU. They don't like us. It means a lot, and the team that wins this game normally makes the playoffs and has a great season, and the team that loses it normally goes home before Thanksgiving. So we know what's at stake here, and guys can be ready to go."

Since 2016, if the Redhawks defeat the Salukis, they are destined to make the FCS Playoffs, but if they lose, they're doomed to a miserable .500.

"The rivalry is always one of those games that you have to win," SEMO senior defensive tackle Steven Lewis said. "You feel like if you don't win those, then the season might not be good but when we beat them, it's just like you beat your enemy and it's great to do because when you do that, the season changed."

Like most SEMO seniors, grad student center Zack Gieg has been on both sides of the rivalry and has seen the course of the two seasons go in complete opposite directions.

"That game has nothing to do with our conference standings or where our season can be but it's probably the most anticipated game of the season," Gieg said.

SEMO lost to SIU at home in 2021, Gieg's first game as a Redhawk, and finished 4-7. He said it was a game he would never forget and that loss "kind of built a little fire in me."

The Redhawks went to Carbondale in 2022, took back the wheel, and went on to claim a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title and playoff berth.

"I think the momentum is real, but also they're a great team," SEMO linebacker Bryce Norman said. "If you can go get a win off of them then you have a great team. So it kind of builds confidence because they're always going to show up and be solid in every position."

However the next year, SEMO lost at home by a one-score margin that they led for most of the game. Much like 2021, the Redhawks finished 4-7 in 2023. Which leads to the question why does this game have that much power over this team?

"I feel like our team runs on momentum," Gieg said. "I feel like when we went down there and beat them it's like, 'Alright, we're a legit squad. Let's go! Let's Roll.' And when you lose early on, it may make you question and lose confidence in yourself sometimes."

Regardless of the result, Gieg is convinced the team is built well enough to break the streak.

"I think we put in a lot of work last year to make sure that no matter the outcome of that game," Gieg said, "we're going to be just fine."

The Redhawks are 2-1 entering the big game and both wins came in which they were trailing at a key point.

"This has been a pretty resilient team," SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz said. "We've faced quite a bit of adversity. Each and every game, there's been some significant adversity, and every time, our team has responded the way you should and the way champions do respond."

While one would think playing at home is advantageous, the road team has won the last three matchups and the visiting Redhawks thrive in hostile territory.

"I love going there," Gieg said. "Their fans are throwing pizza and bottles at us and stuff. They waste good pizza. They're just yelling at you. It's a great environment. I thrive in environments like that. I love having a home crowd but I love having people rooting against me."

"I love when we go under pressure because we're gonna be the underdogs," Lewis said. "It's just great when you can go into someone's territory and you just take back what's yours."