Football team competes in spring game

The Southeast Missouri State football team wrapped up its spring practices with a scrimmage on Friday night. The fans and coaches got its first glimpse into what this team can possibly do come August.

"The thing about this, the Redhawks win," Southeast coach Tom Matukewicz said. "The Redhawks win."

The scrimmage was set up to have the No. 1 offense go up against the No. 1 defense and the same with the second and third teams. The coaches also put the players in designed on-field situations.

"I just wanted to put the team in different situations and see how they would respond and overall, I thought we did well," Matukewicz said.

The offense was able to reach the end zone three times on the night, but it was the defense that struck first with a safety. Sophomore outside linebacker Rider Garrett sacked No. 2 quarterback, senior Alex Niznak in the endzone.

Matukewicz was impressed with the way the defense was able to pressure the quarterbacks all night and especially on third down like it had all spring in practice.

"Our D-line are monsters. They are monsters," cornerback Markuice Savage, a junior college transfer from Lincoln University said. "For them to do what they did all spring, is just crazy. But overall I think we did well. We didn't give up any touchdowns through the air and other than in the red zone, we pretty much did our job and held them up."

Savage aided in the passing defense with an interception of Niznak late in the scrimmage.

The offense was 2-2 in red zone possessions, thanks to a 3-yard touchdown run by senior running back DeMichael Jackson, who ended the night with 11 carries for 46 yards and also caught four passes out of the backfield for 25 yards. Senior running back Lewis Washington added the second touchdown in the red zone possessions with a 1-yard run after a 17-yard rush by junior college transfer and No. 1 quarterback Tay Bender.

Bender, from Iowa Western Community College, broke through the Redhawk defense for a 66-yard touchdown run only a minute into the team's designated four minute offense scenario. He complete 9 of 14 passes for 62 yards and rushed 10 times for 89 yards.

The spring has presented a steep learning curve for Bender, but says his teammates have helped slow down the game a little.

"I started out a little slow, but with the help of my teammates and coaches it has made the process go smoother," Bender said. "It's nice to know a little about what I'm doing out there."

He also said that coming in as a mid-semester transfer has helped him get ahead of the other signees that will come in the summer.

"If I came here in the summer with the season coming on I don't know if I'd be where I'm at right now," Bender said. "It's tough. I think coming in early was a great step ahead for the newcomers, and it gives me an idea to get it all down now and then at summer it's getting better at what I already know."

Matukewicz said that the team is looking to add more offensive firepower in junior running back Tremane McCullough, a transfer from Arizona Western Community, who had seven carries for 27 yards. He had two catches for 68 yards, including a 49-yard reception on a screen pass from Niznak.

"It was nice that we had McCullough that could break one," Matukewicz said. "You guys can see, he's not like most people, but what happened is we caught him. That's what I didn't know -- if we had someone fast enough to catch him, so that was good to see. Jamarl Holloway, who is a transfer corner, actually caught him. Last year we had to earn everything we could get. The longest run was 50 yards because we just didn't have enough team speed, and so I think we'll be a little more explosive on offense."

Along with McCollough, Bender had to familiarize himself with his teammates, especially those who will be protecting him all year: the offensive line.

"Most definitely, and most importantly my linemen," Bender said. "They did a great job out there today, too. I couldn't have done anything without them. I think the chemistry with us is coming along great -- carry it on into the summer and the season."