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Can offensive line propel SEMO to historic victory over New Mexico State?
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Southeast Missouri State offensive lineman Jalen Nettles picks up running back Peyton Brown in celebration of a touchdown during an FCS Kickoff game against North Alabama on Saturday, August 24, in Montgomery, Alabama.
Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com
The Southeast Missouri State football team travels to Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Saturday, Aug. 31, to take on New Mexico State.
While it's the second game of the year for the Redhawks, it's the season opener for the Aggies.
"The issue is we have a game, so they know, and they didn't have a game, so we still don't know," SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz said. "The advantage we have is we played a game. You make the most improvement all year long from Game 1 to Game 2. So if we have a humble team, which we'll find out, we'll have a team that really gets better from Game 1 to Game 2.
"And if we don't, that will be a shame."
The Redhawks are coming off a 37-15 win over North Alabama in the FCS Kickoff on Aug. 24 in Montgomery, Alabama. With a trophy for the team and a smaller version for MVP Peyton Brown, the Redhawks started the season with the closest thing an FCS team will get to a bowl game.
"I'm really proud of the win, more how we won," Matukewicz said. "I am concerned. At the end of the day, that was a very emotional game. Sometimes you're really high, you have a tendency to dip, and Monday's practice was disgusting. So we got to get our focus back and get locked in because this is an unbelievable opportunity."
How they won against North Alabama is exactly how the Redhawks hope to win against New Mexico State, with their offensive line pushing through for their downhill freshman running back to plow his way to the end zone.
"All that success by those backs was a lot from our O-line," Matukewicz said. "Some of the best plays were those one-to-two-yard pickups for touchdowns or first downs."
Peyton Brown benefited from the offensive line's protection to the tune of 97 yards and three touchdowns against UNA.
"That offensive line was great," Brown said. "They may miss a few but, they were there whenever they needed it and made huge, big blocks. Carter (Guillaume), a freshman, the first play, I think he pancaked a dude. It was awesome."
The last time SEMO defeated an FBS was a 24-14 win over Middle Tennessee St. in 2002. The Redhawks (then known as the Indians) went 8-4 for their second winning season since moving to the FCS in 1991. If the Redhawks are going to do it again 22 years later, it would have to start in the trenches.
"If we can't win or at least be neutral in the line of scrimmage, we'll lose, we'll get blown out," Matukewicz said. "So we got to make sure that we hold up on the line of scrimmage."
New Mexico State is coming off back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 1959-60. The Aggies, who were in the Conference USA championship game last year, are seeking a third consecutive bowl berth for the first time in program history.
"It's a quality opponent," Matukewicz said. "It could be the second time in school history to beat an FBS program. But if we don't practice better and attention to detail, then we have no shot."
The Aggies are a mysterious team in their own right. NMSU went 10-5 last year, the most wins in school history since going 11-0 in 1960, but saw 37 players, including the head coach and quarterback, depart.
Diego Pavia, who threw for 2,915 yards and 26 touchdowns last year, transferred to Vanderbilt in January. Joining him is Jerry Kill, who stepped down after two seasons and is now the Chief Consultant to the Head Coach and Senior Offensive Advisor at Vanderbilt.
Matukewicz was on Kill's staff at Northern Illinois and was the interim coach during the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl after his departure. It was the only game Matukewicz served as head coach before joining SEMO, and he won.
Tony Sanchez was promoted to head coach after two years of coaching the wide receivers at his alma mater. Sanchez was previously the head coach at UNLV in 2015-19, going 20-40 record in five seasons.
Sanchez's new quarterback will be sophomore Parker Awad, a transfer from Golden West College. A duel-threat quarterback with a 6-0, 195-pound frame, Awad beat Kentucky transfer Deuce Hogan for the starting spot.
The Aggies are positioned for continued success, but like the Redhawks last year, are also vulnerable to suffering a letdown. The question is whether the Redhawks are the team to deliver the FCS's second win over an FBS team in 2024.
The Redhawks are prepared to go into the matchup with Carter Hensley at quarterback. Hensley came in for the injured Paxton DeLaurent last week and completed 10 of 14 passes for 100 yards, as well as broke off a 47-yard run and scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
"He may have been a little nervous at the beginning, but he stepped up," Brown said.
Matukewicz was impressed with the composure the redshirt freshman showed during his first game as a college football player.
"You appreciate his maturity," Matukewicz said. "People say he all of sudden came in, overnight sensation, but it was because of the preparation over the last year and a half."
The most important thing about Hensley's appearance on Week 0, is the offensive production did not suffer a dropoff despite the departure of the senior starting quarterback.
"He has the respect of his teammates," Matukewicz said. "I know they're pulling extra hard for him and trying to get their job done. The quarterback really depends on everybody else."
DeLaurent left the game after suffering a shoulder injury on a big hit from UNA's Jahbari Hill sent him flying. Fortunately, it wasn't his throwing shoulder, and Matukewicz said it would be a "game-time decision" regarding his possible return on Saturday.
"Which is good," Matukewicz said. "We thought he was out. He might still be out, but there's a chance."
DeLaurent was seen in practice with his padded pants and helmet on but no shoulder pads. Hensley took the majority of first-team reps in practices, which is ideal for the potential starter.
"They both got to prepare like they're the guy," Matukewicz said. "We got to make sure Carter gets the reps."
Should it be Hensley under center for the first time as a starter, his teammates will be just as confident with him as DeLaurent.
"We all believe in Carter, 'Big Red'", SEMO linebacker Jared Pedraza said. "He was able to come in poised like he's been there before, and we're excited. We think we have a shot."