Analysis: SEMO's strides were visible in lopsided loss to top-ranked Sam Houston

SEMO defensive lineman Bryson Donnell (93) and the Redhawks couldn't catch top-ranked Sam Houston on Saturday night in Huntsville, Texas, falling 52-14 to the defending national champions.

Courtesy of Sam Houston Athletics

As Southeast Missouri State kicker Kenny Doak lined up for a 47-yard field goal late in the second quarter Saturday, top-ranked Sam Houston was on its heels.

The Redhawks — playing a cleaner, more assertive brand of football than they did in a season-opening blowout loss to rival Southern Illinois — were moving the football on a defense stocked with All-Americans.

SEMO's young, injury-riddled defense appeared to have matured, giving the big-play Bearkats fits.

The Ohio Valley Conference squad's confidence was palpable tied at 14 with a chance to take the lead 3 1/2 minutes before halftime.

That's when the defending national champions flipped the switch.

Doak's field-goal attempt was blocked and, a play later, Sam Houston running back Ramon Jefferson bolted for a 70-yard touchdown run.

SEMO was intercepted on its subsequent possession, a 49-yard scoring return.

It was the beginning of the end for the Redhawks, which surrendered 38 straight points in a 52-14 loss to Sam Houston at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas.

After yielding 563 yards in a 41-21 loss to No. 7 Southern Ilinois, SEMO gave up 561 yards to Sam Houston, which dominated the Redhawks after a taut first half.

SEMO manufactured just 90 second-half yards.

Despite the lopsided score, SEMO coach Tom Matukewicz saw substantial progress.

"Ultimately, (Sam Houston) made a bunch more plays and are pretty good," Matukewicz told SEMO ESPN Radio's Erik Sean after the game.  "But we leave feeling like we played better (than last week)."

Ogbonna improvement

Junior college transfer quarterback CJ Ogbonna wasn't intimidated by a Football Championship Subdivision power that claimed a rare spring national championship in May.

Ogbonna completed four of his first five passes for 93 yards, including a 43-yard scoring connection to Aaron Alston on the Redhawks' second drive.

He completed 13 of 27 passes for 168 yards and an interception that was tipped in the air by a running back on a swing pass. Seven of the incompletions were drops.

"I feel like (he) had good progress from Week 1 to Week 2," Matukewicz said about Ogbonna, who completed 9 of 19 passes last week. "I like what I've seen so far."

Shutting down the run

Sam Houston players said earlier in the week that they planned on stopping SEMO's run game and to force the Redhawks into the air.

That's what the Bearkats did, surrendering just 103 rushing yards on 35 attempts. 

All-American running back Geno Hess who broke 100 yards a week ago, scored on a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter but was held to 42 yards on 15 carries.

One step forward, one step back

Between Jacob Morissey's two sacks, Keandre Booker's interception return that set up Hess' touchdown run and Lawrence Johnson's fumble recovery, SEMO's defense was a problem for proven Sam Houston quarterback Eric Schmid in the first half.

Then the wheels fell off.

Sam Houston's balanced offense had more than 400 of its total yards in the last 33 minutes of play.

"This is a great example that everyone is going to give you their best shot," Sam Houston coach KC Keeler said in a postgame press conference. "I thought (SEMO) made some great players early on to keep themselves in the game. We didn't play clean early."

Third-down woes

In SEMO's losses to SIU and Sam Houston, the Redhawks' offense has converted on eight of its 34 combined third-down attempts.

Missing pieces

After Saturday's loss Matukewicz said he was missing five total starters.

SEMO released an injury report before kickoff that listed standout cornerback Shabari Davis (ankle), Zach Smith (receiver) and linebacker Brandon Mincey.

Stormin' Norman

With SEMO's recent injuries, former Jackson High standout and true freshman linebacker Bryce Norman is making the most of his opportunity.

Norman had a team-high eight tackles on Saturday, including two for a loss.

"For a freshman to be thrown in there, that's tough but he responded well," Matukewicz said.

Tough sledding 

SEMO likely boasts the toughest nonconference schedule in the FCS.

Back-to-back dates with No. 7 Southern Illinois — which nearly clipped Kansas State in a 31-23 loss on Saturday — and No. 1 Sam Houston State are a precursor for the Redhawks' toughest nonconference tilt of them all.

SEMO now travels to Columbia, Missouri to face the Missouri Tigers (1-1) for an 11 a.m. kickoff, which will be televised on the SEC Network.

"When you grow up as a kid, you want to play against the SEC," Matukewicz said. "Now we get that opportunity."

The morning kickoff is a welcome change of pace for the eighth-year SEMO coach.

"I'd rather get up and get it on than wait all day for a game," he said.