College Sports

It took a little bit of fine-tuning, but Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz likes what he’s seen so far from his front seven on defense. The Redhawks had eight players combine for 11 tackles for loss in last week’s 17-16 win over Murray State, as seven of those players were either linebackers or defensive linemen...

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team dropped its first Ohio Valley Conference game of the season in a 2-0 loss against SIU Edwardsville on Sunday in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Redhawks were outshot 10-9. They finished with three shots on goal, while the Cougars had six...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri shattered its school scoring record Saturday, dismantling Delaware State 79-0. The previous record of 69 points had occurred three times, most recently on Sept. 17, 2011, when the Tigers shut out Western Illinois. "There's a lot of smiles out there," Missouri coach Barry Odom said. "I think we cleared the roster today and played everybody that is not a redshirt candidate at this time, so I was excited for those guys."...

MURRAY, Ky. -- Behind a stagnant offense that had produced only one touchdown, the Southeast Missouri State football team looked like it was about to let another close game fall from its grasp. But with one final chance, the Redhawks did just enough to get the job done...

MURRAY, Ky. — Big plays. They are difference makers. And on Saturday night at Murray State, the Southeast Missouri State football couldn’t find them. The Redhawks began the game by driving 75 yards on 14 plays on a sustained drive that put them up 7-0, but they quickly found out how little that means without big plays...

The Southeast Missouri State women’s soccer team opened the Ohio Valley Conference portion of its schedule with a 1-0 win over Eastern Illinois on Friday in Charleston, Illinois. Senior Natasha Minor scored the lone goal just before halftime in the 43rd minute on an assist from freshman Esmeralda Gonzales and sophomore Brooke Merseal. It was Minor’s 23rd career goal, which puts her in a tie for third on the Redhawks’ all-time list...

The Southeast Missouri State women’s soccer team opened the Ohio Valley Conference portion of its schedule with a 1-0 win over Eastern Illinois on Friday in Charleston, Illinois. Senior Natasha Minor scored the lone goal just before halftime in the 43rd minute on an assist from freshman Esmeralda Gonzales and sophomore Brooke Merseal. It was Minor’s 23rd career goal, which puts her in a tie for third on the Redhawks’ all-time list...

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz knows nothing can be done to change the outcome of his team's 0-3 record to start the season. All that can be done is to learn from the past and focus on the future. And a clean slate should help...

Each defensive back on the Southeast Missouri State football team appeared to have a distinct focus during practice Tuesday at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex. After yielding a season-high 302 yards passing in a stunning 27-24 defeat in Saturday's home opener against Indiana State, the Redhawks appeared to be all business. ...

Sandwiched between a busted game-opening play and a final, heartbreaking Indiana State drive, the Southeast Missouri State football team played some pretty good defense Saturday. A lot of that had to do with the play of linebackers Kendall Donnerson and Terrance Hill...

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team wrapped up its non-conference schedule Sunday but was handed its second straight loss in a 1-0 decision against Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri. Brooke Zimmerman netted her second goal of the year in the 67th minue to give MSU (3-4-2) all it needed for the victory...

For 58 minutes, most everything was coming up roses for the Southeast Missouri State football team. The defense had not given up a touchdown to Indiana State since the first play of the game -- 57 minutes earlier -- the offense was imperfect but moving the ball and the Redhawks took a lead into the fourth quarter for the first time this season. Into the final 1 minute, 33 seconds, for that matter...

In front of its home crowd on Family Weekend, the Southeast Missouri State football team had a hard time trying to fathom how an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead went away so quickly. With 10.4 seconds remaining on the clock, redshirt junior wide receiver Miles Thompson hauled in a game-winning, 15-yard touchdown pass from redshirt sophomore quarterback Isaac Harker, and the Redhawks were left heartbroken with a 27-24 loss in Saturday's home opener against Indiana State at Houck Stadium...

The Southeast Missouri State men's and women's cross country teams took part in the Commodore Classic on Saturday at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, as the women finished 13th out of 25 teams. Kaitlyn Shea paced the squad, placing 34th with a time of 17 minutes, 53.4 seconds. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Jacob Eason threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah McKenzie on fourth down with 1:31 seconds to play to give No. 16 Georgia a 28-27 victory over Missouri on Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. After splitting time with senior Greyson Lambert in the Bulldogs' first two games, Eason made his first collegiate start and played every snap, completing 29 of 55 passes for 308 yards, three touchdowns and one interception...

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball dropped a pair of matches in Friday action of the Leatherneck Invitational at Western Illinois, falling to Drake and Weber State. The Redhawks were swept by the former, 25-19, 25-19 and 25-20, while it managed to steal the second set against the latter but ultimately went down 25-13, 16-25, 25-23 and 25-13...

The feeling of being home probably hasn't felt this good in a long time for Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz. The Redhawks opened the season in front of two raucous crowds -- at Memphis in Week 1 and at Southern Illinois in Week 2 -- and Matukewicz knows his players are ready to take the field in front of their own crowd...

Southeast soccer The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team suffered its first defeat of the season Wednesday night, falling 3-2 on the road at Kentucky. Southeast (6-1-1) erased a 1-0 halftime deficit and twice tied the game in the second half, but Kentucky (4-3-1) scored the game winner on a header by Tanya Samarzich, her sixth goal of the season...

With two weeks in the books, Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz has been pleased with the growth he's seen from starting quarterback Jesse Hosket. The Redhawks' offense looked exceptional in 7-on-7s during Tuesday's practice at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex, and as the team prepares for its home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday against Indiana State, Matukewicz is fully confident in person he has under center...

Southern Illinois jumped out to an early lead in the first set before cruising to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-23) win over Southeast Missouri State in volleyball action Tuesday at Houck Field House. The Redhawks posted their best effort in the third set, during which junior Krissa Gearring tallied seven of her team-high 11 kills. Southeast led 23-22 during the set before the Salukis secured the final three points to close out the match...

It was a performance that would have made Meg Herndon proud. On a day that was all about remembrance -- honoring former Redhawks defender Herndon on September 11 -- the Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team gritted out a 1-0 victory over Florida Atlantic...

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team dropped three straight matches at the Popcorn Classic on Friday and Saturday in Valparaiso, Indiana. Valparaiso defeated the Redhawks 3-0 (25-19, 25-19 and 25-19) on Friday before Duquesne won 3-2 (16-25, 25-22, 16-25, 25-23, 15-12) and Central Michigan won 3-1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-16, 25-21) over Southeast on Saturday...

It's my job to write. It's Tom Matukewicz's job to coach football. But after Southeast Missouri State's 30-22 loss to Southern Illinois on Saturday night, we could agree on vocabulary. I asked him if "sloppy" was the right adjective for his team's penalty-filled performance...

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Even after all the mistakes and miscues that Southern Illinois had taken advantage of, the Southeast Missouri State football team still managed to give itself a chance in the final minutes of Saturday’s game at Saluki Stadium. The Redhawks, who trailed by as many as 18 late in the third quarter, were staring at fourth-and-3 with less than a minute remaining in the game following a 17-yard completion from Jesse Hosket to junior wide receiver Adrian Davis...

It's been longer than a decade since the Southeast Missouri State football team was able to string together back-to-back wins over its regional rival from across the Mississippi River. At the end of Wednesday's practice at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex, Redhawks coach Tom Matukewicz challenged his players to reflect on that span while understanding that history is in their hands...

Southeast soccer Southeast Missouri State senior Natasha Minor scored three goals as the Redhawks remained unbeaten with a 4-1 victory over Union University on Wednesday at Houck Stadium. Minor directed five of her eight shots on goal, and three got past Union goalkeeper Kristen Francis...

It’s an instinctive philosophy, but Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz thought it was worth repeating. “The key to offense is executing,” Matukewicz told his team as it came together at the end of Tuesday’s practice at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex...

Junior Kindra Lierz represents the Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team for the second time this season as the adidas Ohio Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. Lierz picked up her fourth shutout of the year Sunday when she played all 110 minutes in a 0-0 draw against host Evansville. Lierz finished with five saves, as the Redhawks moved to 4-0-1 on the season...

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team rallied but was overtaken by Evansville 3-2 (20-25, 31-29, 25-21, 10-25, 15-9) on Monday in Evansville, Indiana. The Redhawks (1-6) won the first set before the Purple Aces (1-5) won the next two, including a thrilling win in the second set...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- In Will Young's first year with the Southeast Missouri State football team after transferring from Highland (Kan.) Community College in 2015, the running back appeared in just five games. He carried the ball in only two of those and garnered positive yardage in only one -- a three-carry, 23-yard effort against Austin Peay that also included a touchdown...

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team remained unbeaten but didn't come away with a victory, as Evansville drew a 0-0 tie on Sunday in Evansville, Indiana. Southeast (4-0-1) was outshot 15-14 but finished with a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal. Junior Paige Blankenheim and junior Maddy Cornell each had three shots to lead the Redhawks...

Southeast Missouri State punter Alex Knight claimed the season's first adidas Ohio Valley Conference Specialist of the Week honor on Sunday following his performance in the Redhawks' Week 1 loss against Memphis. The senior, who's a native of Boca Raton, Florida, averaged 51.4 yards per punt in Southeast's 35-17 loss to the Tigers on Saturday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. ...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Southeast Missouri State football team eventually found its footing in Saturday's season opener against Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Memphis at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The only problem was it was a quarter too late...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The first play of the game was a 17-yard pass from Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson to Anthony Miller. The first drive of the game went 75 yards on eight plays and saw the host Tigers in the end zone. There were five passing plays of 13 yards or longer in the series...

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Backup running back Justin Crawford rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown filling in for the injured Rushel Shell, and Skyler Howard overcame a first-half injury to lead West Virginia to a 26-11 win over Missouri on Saturday. "We'll take it," said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen. "We've got a lot of work to do."...

The Southeast Missouri State cross country teams began their 2016 campaign at the Washington University Gabby Reuveni Early Bird on Friday, with the men finishing tied for first place and the women landing in second. The men's team finished deadlocked with Southern Indiana, giving Southeast a second consecutive team victory in the event...

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team went winless in the first day of action at the UAB/Samford Challenge at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, on Friday. The Redhawks (1-4) went down at the hands of Northwestern Sate, 3-1, and Alabama-Birmingham, 3-0...

It was never going to be an easy decision, but now that it's been made, Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz likes what he's been seeing from his new signal caller. Junior Jesse Hosket, a transfer from East Central Community College, got the nod at starting quarterback over sophomore Dante Vandeven on Aug. 22 and will lead the Redhawks when they take the field at 6 p.m. Saturday against Memphis in both teams' season opener at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee...

There's a brief pause as Tom Matukewicz ponders the question. What is his team's identity? Pause. It's not something he really thinks about, the Southeast Missouri State football coach says. Instead he's "looking at what we need to do to improve." Turns out that they're practically one and the same...

It's almost unfair to call the defensive line on the Southeast Missouri State football team an inexperienced unit, but in comparison to the rest of the defense, it's not untrue. With all the experience returning in the Redhawks' linebacking corps and secondary, the offseason has been a process for those in the trenches -- one that's had its fair share of setbacks...

There's never been another like Tremane McCullough, according to Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz. McCullough was at Arizona Western Community College two years ago when he answered the phone and greeted the man who'd recruited him in high school with, "What's up, Coach Tuke?"...

There's no question that the departure of Southeast's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns will have an effect on the offense this year, but the Redhawks are confident in the skill players who will pick up where Paul McRoberts left off. Tremane McCullough figures to be the centerpiece of the offense -- whether as a receiver or rusher -- after exploding onto the scene en route to being a first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference and All-Newcomer player...

Southeast soccer Southeast Missouri State's Jasmin Hilliard has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Redhawks to back-to-back shutouts. Hilliard, a freshman out of Medina High School in Medina, Ohio, not only played all 190 minutes on defense last week but also contributed an assist on Maggie Pike's game-winning goal in the opening minutes against Wisconsin-Milwaukee in what turned out to be a 1-0 road victory...

Ask Roper Garrett what he'd tell people who knew nothing about him -- except maybe that he is an exceptional inside linebacker at Southeast Missouri State -- and his answer tells you a lot. He doesn't take but a few seconds to answer, and while the response is poised, it doesn't sound rehearsed...

The words never really sank in for Alex Knight. The Southeast Missouri State punter had heard coach Tom Matukewicz offer daily reminders that the players should live every day like it's their last. It wasn't until tragedy struck his family in the midst of last season -- a plane crash that killed his cousin, whom he had a brotherly relationship with -- that he grasped the concept...

Southeast track and field The University of Memphis track and field program announced the hiring of former Southeast Missouri State track star and assistant coach Miles Smith on Monday. Smith joins Tigers coach Kevin Robinson after serving two years as an assistant for the Redhawks...

September 17, 6 p.m. Last year's record: 5-6 Last year, a failed two-point conversion with no time left on the clock allowed the Sycamores to hold on for a 29-28 victory over the Redhawks, who will have a chance for revenge in their home opener on Family Weekend...