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SEMO FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Southeast Missouri State football struggles without Santa against Arkansas State
Southeast Missouri State quarterback Daniel Santacaterina claps his hand as he leaves the field on the cart after getting injured against Arkansas State on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Santacaterina later returned to the sideline.
Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian
JONESBORO, Ark. — Daniel Santacaterina saw open field ahead and took off.
With about two minutes left in the first half, the Southeast Missouri State football team was down seven points and its starting quarterback saw a chance to get a first down with his legs.
When the first-down yardage was secured, Santacaterina began to slide to the turf. That's when Arkansas State free safety Demari Medley dove forward and hit the SEMO signal-caller in the head.
Southeast Missouri State quarterback Anthony Cooper (7) and running back Geno Hess (32) exit the field at halftime against Arkansas State on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian
Santacaterina crumbled to the turf and did not play again, as that seven-point deficit turned into a 48-21 loss to Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Arkansas State at Bank of Centennial Stadium on Saturday. Arkansas State out-scored SEMO 27-7 following the injury.
"It's tough to see one of your leaders go down, one of your brothers go down," SEMO linebacker Zach Hall said. "It took a little bit from everybody I feel like. We just have to respond better as a team."
The game was delayed for several minutes as Santacaterina was carted off the field. While he was strapped to a board, Santacaterina raised his arms and clapped, eliciting cheers from the SEMO fans.
He was taken to a local hospital and evaluated for precautionary reasons before returning to walk on sideline during the fourth quarter.
"Everybody felt a lot better when they saw him and he was talking," Southeast coach Tom Matukewicz said. "It was scary, and I'm glad that he's going to be okay."
Santacaterina, a Northern Illinois transfer who won the job by the end of fall camp, was scheduled for further evaluation Sunday, and that will help determine his status for upcoming games, including next week's home opener against Dayton.
Teaser
Medley was ejected for targeting, one of 12 penalties that cost Arkansas State 119 yards.
"I was concerned," Matukewicz said. "They were mad because it's a teammate and they thought it was a cheap shot. It's like life. You can't control that. You can only control how you're going to respond."
Matukewicz was pleased with his team's response. SEMO had six penalties for 55 yards.
"You can come out and get mad and get a bunch of penalties and tank it or you can respond and give this backup quarterback an opportunity to improve and lead the offense," Matukewicz said.
"And I think for the most part our guys really tried to do that."
Fifth-year senior Anthony Cooper replaced Santacaterina and completed 8 of 15 passes for 74 yards, adding 21 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Hall's career-day
While Arkansas State quarterback Justice Hansen set a school record with six touchdown passes, there were some positives for SEMO's defense.
Hall, one of five returning starters on defense, had a career-high 22 tackles.
"We just have our regular keys to the game," Hall said. "Run to the ball Everybody run to the ball and tackle. If you do those, it's going to work out in your favor."
Hansen, the Preseason Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, threw for 423 yards against a secondary that returned one of four starters from last season.
Arkansas State also found success on the ground, rushing for 197 yards and averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
"We just got to keep running to the ball," Hall said. "Tackling, making plays. We've just to keep working on that. Keep getting better at that each week."