SEMO football defeats UT Martin in high scoring overtime thriller

SEMO Football defeated UT Martin for their first home game of the season by a score of 45-42 in a razor close overtime thriller on Saturday, Sept. 7.

The Redhawks opened the scoring of the game with four minutes left in the first quarter, as senior quarterback Paxton DeLaurent threw a 17 yard pass to junior wide receiver Tristan Smith, who brought it down and fought his way into the end zone. This was Smith’s first game and first touchdown for the Redhawks.

The Skyhawks quickly answered however, scoring two back-to-back touchdowns to bring the score to 14-7.

The Redhawks composed themselves after this and drove down the field, ending in DeLaurent throwing an 18 yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Dorian Anderson, leveling the scores before halftime.

The Redhawks started with the ball in the second half and made good use of it, as DeLaurent connected with Anderson once again for a 20 yard pass leading to a touchdown.

The Skyhawks then found their groove, and scored three unanswered touchdowns bringing the score to 35-21 at the start of the fourth quarter.

The Redhawks needing two touchdowns got the ball back on offense and scored with eight minutes left on the clock, as DeLaurent connected with senior wide receiver Mitchell Sellers with a 5 yard pass into the end zone.

The Skyhawks were then stopped by the Redhawks defense, and forced to punt, giving the Redhawks the opportunity to tie the game. Despite gaining the ball, the Redhawks were unable to score and also forced to punt with only a few minutes on the clock.

Although the odds did not seem to be in their favor, the Redhawks rallied together, encouraging one another on the sideline, not giving up hope for the victory.

“Everyone was bought into believing. No one wanted to let the other one down. Now I'm looking around down the sideline, I think for a split second I was like, damn, might have been my last chance, then everyone came over to me like, you're our leader, we're not gonna let you down, You're not gonna let us down,” Delaurent said.

The Redhawk defense was able to make a stop, giving the offense just enough time for one more chance at tying the game.

The Redhawks offense marched down the field, and DeLaurent again connected with Sellers, on a 10 yard touchdown tying the game at 35 apiece, and ultimately sending it to overtime.

The Redhawks got the ball first in overtime, and made good use of it, as after four plays DeLaurent connected with Sellers yet again for his third touchdown of the night on an 11 yard pass, putting the Redhawks up 42-35.

On the Skyhawks’ drive the Redhawks defense thought they had ended the game, as an interception was called on the field that was later reversed by review, giving the skyhawks the opportunity they needed to score a touchdown, and tie the game at 42 apiece.

Despite the turn of events, the team responded well, moving on and focusing on the play in front of them.

“That's what you just harped on. It's Be Where Your Feet are. You can't be in that last play. You got to be in the next play. This is a pretty resilient, coachable group. They're excited, and they might make a mistake or two, but they bounce back pretty quick,” Head Coach Tom Matukewicz said.

The Skyhawks had possession next due to the overtime rules, but were stopped by the Redhawks defense from scoring a touchdown, and missed a field goal to take the lead.

The Redhawks then took back possession, and senior kicker DC Pippin kicked a 37 yard field goal to grant the Redhawks the victory.

The Redhawks offense shone bright tonight, with DeLaurent throwing for 376 yards and six touchdowns, Anderson having 8 receptions for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Cam Pedro having 9 receptions for 126 yards.

DeLaurent credits the success of the team to the unity and mentality of the team, saying that each player was united as a family, and willing to play for one another.

“I think it (what made the offense so productive tonight) was togetherness… It was just a family, that was a secret. Like, guys wanting to win, for guys, like no one wanted to let anybody down.” DeLaurent said.

Matukewicz attributes the recent success of the Redhawks to a mindset of being coachable, and learning from previous mistakes.

“A talented, coachable team is hard to beat, because if you're coachable you're always getting better, it's hard to just say one thing (about what makes the team successful), but I think this team's pretty coachable. It's not like we were mistake free, but you don't see the same kind of mistakes happening,” Matukewicz said.

With this win the Redhawks move to 1-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference, and begin their hunt for their fourth OVC title

The Redhawks next game is September 21 at 6 p.m. in Carbondale, Illinois, Against Southern Illinois University, for the War for the Wheel game.