Redhawk football has a 'dominant performance' in rout of Eastern Illinois

The Southeast Missouri State football players join Redhawk coach Tom Matukewicz prior to taking the field for a game at Houck Stadium during the 2019 season.

Southeast Missourian file

The perception of No. 21-ranked Southeast Missouri State football was pretty impressive even before its opening game of the spring schedule even kicked off on Sunday at Eastern Illinois.

Last October, the Redhawks, who had only practiced nine times leading up to the game, battled Southern Illinois on the road to the final gun before losing 20-17.

The Salukis opened their spring season on Saturday by throttling FCS-power North Dakota State 38-14 in Fargo.

To make sure there wasn’t any doubt about its potential, SEMO cold-cocked the Panthers in every way imaginable and evened its 2020-21 record at 1-1 by smoking EIU 47-7.

“It was fun,” seventh-year Redhawk coach Tom Matukewicz said afterward. “Winning is hard. We’ve been through a lot to get to (the game). It was fun to see the guys out there getting after it.”

If “winning is hard,” SEMO (1-1, 1-0 Ohio Valley Conference) didn’t make it appear so.

The Redhawks were excellent in a myriad of ways, beginning with its special teams.

After limiting the Panthers (0-1, 0-1) to punt on their fourth down for the second straight time, senior Zack Smith broke through the punt team and blocked EIU’s kick, which was recovered by junior Aaron Alston.

“Special teams affect the game,” Matukewicz said. “It is such a huge piece of the game.”

The play gave the Redhawks possession at the Panther 10-yard line, which became a recurring theme throughout the day.

SEMO started 11 offensive series on at least their own 40-yard line, including six in Panther territory.

Junior runner Zion Custis (52 yards rushing) scored the first of his two touchdowns at the 5:57 mark of the opening quarter, as the Redhawks took a 7-0 lead.

The offense was clicking behind the strong play of graduate quarterback Andrew Bunch, but he made a miscue early by trying to run through a tackle and fumbled the ball on the Eastern 19-yard line late in the first quarter.

“We don’t hit our quarterbacks in practice,” Matukewicz said. “So their first live hit is in a game. You won’t see him do that again. He learns pretty quickly.”

Redhawk FB Notes: Bunch earns passing grade in easy W

Tom Davis

After completing just 6 of 15 passes in his debut game last October at Southern Illinois, first-year Southeast Missouri State quarterback Andrew Bunch had a lot to prove to, well, everyone, as he took the field at Eastern Illinois on Sunday.

The Redhawk defense quickly bailed the offense out, as redshirt freshman Izeal Terrell picked off an Eastern pass on the following play.

That was one of four turnovers the SEMO defense generated.

“We got four takeaways, so that is an unbelievable day,” Matukewicz said.

Redhawk redshirt sophomore runner Geno Hess carried the ball twice, the first being for nine yards, before scoring on the second run to stretch the margin to 14-0.

Hess totaled 41 yards rushing and scored twice.

The Panthers had little chance of offensive success against the Redhawk defense.

EIU had 11 offensive series of four plays or less, as every level of the defense proved too much for the hosts.

The Panthers converted just 2 of 15 third downs and none of their five attempts on fourth down.

“They had a dominant performance,” Matukewicz said of his defense. “They did a really nice job and held up on the run game.”

Senior linebacker Bryant Pirtle was effective in those fourth-down situations and if you discount one 72-yard Eastern run in which SEMO “had a missed assignment,” the Panthers gained just 52 yards on the ground.

Custis added a short score early in the second quarter for a 21-0 lead before new kicker, Kenny Doak, made up for an early 38-yard miss by booting kicks of 32 and 35 yards.

New wide receiver Johnny King (seven catches, 115 yards) took the score to 34-0 on a 17-yard strike from Bunch late in the opening half.

Bunch ultimately completed 23 of 37 passes for 302 yards.

Hess added another score midway through the third quarter, while Cape Central alum Al Young grabbed a late pick-six in the game for the final tally.

Linebacker Mike Matthews added a third interception, while junior nose tackle James Sackie recovered a fumble.

“I was very pleased,” Matukewicz said. “I felt (the defense) put a full game together.”

The Redhawks will host Murray State (1-0) Sunday at Houck Stadium at 2 p.m.