Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Football looking to add speed to offense

Monday, August 13, 2018
Football working on offensive game.
By Joshua Dodge ~ Photo Editor

The Southeast football team is gearing up for a resurgent season, with a new, up-tempo offense leading the way.

During the spring, the football team added new offensive coordinator Jeromy McDowell. McDowell played quarterback for Southeast from 2001 to 2003. During his freshman year, McDowell broke the school freshman passing record with 2,051 yards. He also established a single game passing record with 393 yards against Southern Illinois. After starting every game in 2001, McDowell suffered a knee injury in the season opener for the 2002 season, and would only play a total of five more games for the Redhawks over the next two years.

McDowell spent the last four seasons at Colorado Mesa University, leading the Mavericks to the second highest scoring mark in the nation at 46.4 points per game last season. McDowell is looking to bring some of that firepower to the Redhawks offense.

Wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson and running back Marquis Terry take a quick break.
By Joshua Dodge ~ Photo Editor

“We are a no-huddle [offense] and we are up-tempo, and the up-tempo piece is a little different from what [Southeast] has done in the past,” McDowell said.

Instead of having two running backs in the backfield or two tight ends on the field, the team likely will be running more sets with one running back or one tight end, according to McDowell.

“Essentially, we are going to try to make the defense defend the whole field, every single play. If they are trying to load the box on the run, we are going to try to get the ball on the perimeter, and vice versa. That is who we’ll be,” McDowell said.

The Redhawks averaged 20.5 points per game in last year’s 3-8 campaign, which saw the emergence of runnin back Marquis Terry in his first season with the Redhawks after transferring from Highland Community College.Terry, a senior, has been named the Ohio Valley Conference’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year, as well as dubbed a preseason All-American by Lindy’s Sports. He earned those accolades after rushing for an OVC best 1,076 yards, and nine touchdowns in his 11 starts. Terry is excited to see what the new offense will do for himself and the team.

“I feel like [coach McDowell] brings a good mentality,” Terry said. “We attack a lot, so I feel like he brings a good mentality to the group. When we go spread, we’ll have a lot of explosive plays, and that creates a good running game for me.”

If all goes as planned, McDowell’s offense will do that, and then some.

“‘Quis had a great year last year, and it’s not going to be any different, I don’t think,” McDowell said. “As far as his numbers and his production, it might even go up. But I think that some of the receivers might get a little bit more opportunities to catch the ball and show their skill set. Defenses are going to have to stop our running backs, and that will free up some opportunities for our receivers.”

Junior quarterback Daniel Santacaterina, a transfer from Northern Illinois University, is ready to hit the ground running with this offense.

“We’ve been hitting [the playbook] pretty good in the summer with the receivers and quarterbacks, so we feel comfortable,” said Santacaterina, one of the three candidates competing for the job of starting quarterback. “There’s nothing like getting back on the field and going live with the receivers and the full team.”

Head coach Tom Matukewicz is confident that the team will be able to get behind whoever is running the offense, whether it be Santacaterina or sophomore Joe Pyle or senior Anthony Cooper.

“The thing that a quarterback needs is the respect and confidence of the team, and you get that by working,” Matukewicz said. “Shut up and work and earn the respect of your teammates. And I think all of them have, to be honest.”

Several players said the mood in the locker room is different than in years past. Junior inside linebacker Zach Hall said that there is a confidence the team will experience it’s first winning season since 2010.

“It’s never felt like this before,” said junior inside linebacker Zach Hall. “I feel like we have a full complete team. Everybody’s in it for each other this year, so I’m excited to be back out here working hard and everybody working together.”

There will be four big holes to fill on the defensive side from last year’s team, which ranked third in the OVC in points allowed. Linebackers Kendall Donnerson and Chad Meredith, and cornerbacks Mike Ford and Rico McWilliams all went to an NFL team, with Donnerson being drafted and the others signing as free agents. Even with these losses, Hall believes the defense is better than ever.

“We have a really deep [defensive] line, and our linebackers are really deep too,” Hall said. “We lost a lot, but I don’t think we’re taking a step back at all. I feel like we got the guys where they need to be and we got the right people here.”

Last season the Redhawks were 3-8, with five of the losses by a touchdown or less.

“We want to win every game and we want to win the conference,” McDowell said. “We’re a different team [than last year]. We are going to scratch and claw and do whatever it takes to be successful and win football games. That’s not a goal, that’s what we’re going to do.”

The Southeast football team will open its season against Arkansas State at 6 p.m Sept. 1 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

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