Redhawks stun nationally ranked Jacksonville State to take control of OVC

Southeast (5-2, 3-1) upset nationally ranked Jacksonville State (5-2, 4-1), ending the visitors 36-game Ohio Valley Conference win streak with a resounding score of 37-14 victory on Saturday, Oct. 20, at Houck Field.

After the stunning victory over the Gamecocks, ranked No. 4 in the nation among FCS schools, head coach Tom Matukewicz said that he feels like his squad is playing like a team of “destiny.”

“This is a brickyard victory where we will hang this win in the locker room forever, and so classes to come will stand on the shoulders of everybody who had a piece in this,” Matukewicz said. This win marked Southeast’s fourth win over a nationally ranked FCS team under Matukewicz.

From the outset, Southeast appeared to be destined to end the OVC winning streak of the Gamecocks, which stretched back to the 2013 season. Wide receiver Zack Smith returned the opening kick to the JSU 49 yard line. However, he fumbled the ball on SEMO’s 25 yard line then picked it back up for 24 more yards as he capitalized on the fortunate break.

Southeast wasted no time after that, charging downfield , with a Marquis Terry’s 32 yard run up the middle to set up a 14 yard touchdown pass to Smith from junior transfer quarterback Daniel Santacaterina 90 seconds into the game..

In the second quarter of the game. With the score deadlocked at 7-7 and JSU attempting a field goal from the Southeast 8 yard line, the defining play of the game, if not the play of the season would be made by a pair of Redhawks having a breakout season.

Junior Zach Hall, who entered the game ranked third nationally in tackles (92), charged through the middle of the JSU line and blocked the field goal attempt.

“I got a finger on the extra point [after JSU’s touchdown],” Hall said. “So I knew it was time to make the play.”

After a scrum to pick up the loose ball ensued, sophomore Bydarrius “B-Day” Knighten pounced on the loose ball and returned it 85 yards to put the Redhawks back up by a touchdown.

“I just took advantage and scooped it,” Knighten said.“I think it changed the momentum of the game, it gave us a good chance to win from then on.”

The play came with 5:09 to play in second quarter. “It was huge, the defense was just huge today. Our defense just lit ‘em up, it was awesome,” Santacaterina said of the play.

Zach Hall’s day, however, was nowhere near done. With just a few minutes left in the half, following a 45-yard punt by Jake Reynolds that pinned the Gamecocks up against their own goal line with Southeast still on top 14-7, Hall met JSU star quarterback Zerrick Cooper at the 1-yard line and did not lose that battle, driving him back into the end zone for a safety to put the Redhawks up 16-7 going into the break.

Cooper was on the wrong end of another pivotal play on the first snap of the second half, when, junior linebacker Justin Swift sacked Cooper and caused a fumble, recovered by Redhawks.

“That was a huge turnover,” Matukewicz said. “That was what we talked about at halftime, like, ‘Hey, there going to respond right,?’ I mean that was just a huge turnover at a big point in the game.”

The Redhawks , taking over at the JSU 14- yard line wasted no time again putting the ball into the end zone on a 13-yard pass from Santacaterina to junior receiver Kristian Wilkerson to put the Redhawks on top 23-7 with 12:27 to go in the third quarter.

Cooper took the Gamecocks deep into SEMO territory later in the third quarter ,but the drive was ended when junior cornerback Taj Jenkins intercepted a pass, one of three interceptions on the day by the Redhawks defense. The Redhawks scored 14 points off turnovers. Southeast used some strong running from sophomore running back Mark Robinson to drive down the field and take a commanding 30-7 lead.

JSU cut the lead to 30-14 late in the game, but Terry scored on a 39-yard run to put the Redhawks up 37-14 with 1:58 to go in the quarter, putting the game out of reach and starting the celebration on the Redhawks sideline.

Hall, Knighten and Santacaterina all agreed that this was one of the biggest wins they have ever been involved in. “It was a big win for the school,” Hall said. “We’re going to enjoy this one.”

Santacaterina finished the game 13-of-21 passing 104 yards and two touchdowns. Terry ran for 102 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. Defensively, Hall led the way with 15 tackles, including six solo.

Justin Swift, who Zach Hall called a “big playmaker” after the game, turned in two sacks a forced fumble and an interception.

“Defensively, man, that was as good of a performance since I’ve probably been here,” Matukewicz said.

The Redhawks all wore pink jerseys on the day in honor of breast cancer awareness, as every member of the team wore the name of breast-cancer survivors and current fighters on the backs of the jerseys, instead of wearing their own name.

Junior linebacker Nick Thompson wore the name of Tom Michael on his jersey, for coach Matukewicz. Michael was a cancer survivor and coach Tuke’s high school football coach.

“He had a huge impact on my life, I mean without him I wouldn’t even probably have a college degree,” said Matukewicz.

The Redhawks are back in action at 2 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 27, as they travel east to face conference opponent UT-Martin.