SEMO keys to victory vs Western Illinois

The 8-2 SEMO Redhawks are aiming to rebound after a tough 24-12 rivalry loss to the Lindenwood Lions. With their explosive offense and resilient defense, the Redhawks are determined to shine on senior night against Western Illinois.

Meanwhile, the 3-7 Western Illinois Leathernecks, holding a 2-4 conference record, are eager to play spoiler and upset the Redhawks on their home turf.

Keys to victory-

Run the ball-

SEMO averages 91.1 rushing yards per game this season, powered by a deep and talented backfield featuring Payton Brown, Darell Smith, and Cole Ruble. However, the Redhawks struggled to establish their ground game in last week’s loss to Lindenwood, resulting in their first OVC defeat of the season. Western Illinois, on the other hand, allows an average of 250 rushing yards per game. With the Leathernecks’ porous run defense, this presents a prime opportunity for SEMO to exploit on the ground early and often.

Generate pressure-

SEMO has excelled at rushing the passer this season, and their defense is poised to continue that trend in this matchup. The Redhawks have recorded 26 sacks on the year, while Western Illinois has struggled to protect their quarterback, allowing 22 sacks this season. Leading the charge for SEMO is standout senior middle linebacker Bryce Norman. Norman has been a force on defense, tallying 5.5 sacks and an impressive 107 total tackles—40 more than the team’s second-leading tackler. His ability to generate pressure and anchor the defense will be key for the Redhawks in this game.

Take the momentum early-

Last week, SEMO’s opening drive ended with a costly fumble, setting the tone for a challenging game. This week, the Redhawks aim to start strong and seize early momentum. Western Illinois’ pass defense has been a weakness, allowing an average of 249.3 passing yards per game, while SEMO’s offense averages 301 passing yards per game. However, the Redhawks were held under 200 passing yards for the first time this season in their loss to Lindenwood. Quarterback Paxton DeLaurent will look to rebound and lead a consistent offensive effort to keep SEMO in control throughout the game.

Senior Day at SEMO begins at 1:00 PM at Houck Stadium, where the No. 13-ranked Redhawks aim to improve to 9-2 ahead of a crucial OVC showdown against Tennessee State next weekend.