Key players to watch in SEMO vs. Western Illinois OVC showdown

After last week’s tough loss to Lindenwood in the Game Ball Brawl, the Redhawks have fallen from #6 to #12 in the FCS national rankings. Now tied with UT Martin at 5-1 in conference play, SEMO aims to rebound with a strong showing against the Western Illinois Leathernecks. A win this week could boost their conference standing and help them climb back up the national rankings, with key performances from standout players being crucial to their success.

Paxton DeLaurent

Senior quarterback Paxton DeLaurent heads into Senior Day as the Redhawks' all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. He currently leads the Ohio Valley Conference with 2,912 passing yards and 23 passing touchdowns. After a tough outing in last week's rainy loss to Lindenwood, where the offense managed just 12 points and DeLaurent completed only 43% of his passes, he’ll be looking to bounce back in a big way. Facing a Western Illinois defense that has allowed a staggering 43.9 points per game and surrendered 60 touchdowns across 10 contests, DeLaurent has a prime opportunity to lead the Redhawks to victory and end his regular season home career on a high note.

Payton Brown

True freshman Payton Brown had a standout start to the season, highlighted by a three-touchdown performance against North Alabama and a dominant outing against Southern Illinois, where he tallied 124 rushing yards on 18 carries with a touchdown. However, an ankle injury sidelined him for four games, limiting his impact. Brown made his return last week but saw limited action, recording just three carries for six yards. This week, he could see an increased workload against a vulnerable Western Illinois run defense, which has been allowing an average of 250.5 rushing yards and 3.4 rushing touchdowns per game. Brown’s return to form could be key to the Redhawks’ success.

Bryce Norman

Senior linebacker Bryce Norman heads into Senior Day on a high note after a dominant performance against Lindenwood, where he recorded a career-high 19 tackles, including nine solo stops, two sacks, and three tackles for loss. The heart of SEMO's defense, Norman surpassed 100 tackles for the season for the second time in his career and continues to lead the Big South-OVC in tackles per game with 10.7, ranking fifth nationally in the FCS. His 19 tackles against Lindenwood are the most by a Big South-OVC player this season and the fifth-highest in the nation. As he takes the field for his final regular-season home game, Norman's leadership and ability to make game-changing plays will be critical against a Western Illinois offense eager to capitalize on SEMO’s mistakes.