From OVCSports.com
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (0-3, 0-0 OVC)
at Murray State Racers (0-3, 0-0 OVC)
Saturday, Sept. 24 - 6:00 p.m. CT
Roy Stewart Stadium (16,800) - Murray, Ky.
TV:...................................................................... ESPN3
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=139361
Series Record:........................ Murray State leads 39-10-1
Last Meeting:........ Southeast Missouri won 27-10 (10/3/15)
Tom Matukewicz at Southeast Missouri:......... 9-17 (3 yrs.)
Tom Matukewicz Overall:............................. 10-17 (4 yrs.)
Mitch Stewart at Murray State:....................... 3-11 (2 yrs.)
Mitch Stewart Overall:.............................................. same
Southeast Missouri Last Week:.. L, 27-24 vs. Indiana State
Murray State Last Week:......... L, 50-17 at Southern Illinois
GAME NOTES: The first OVC Game of the Week on ESPN3
will take place in Murray on Saturday night with a pair of teams
searching for its first victory of the season. The matchup is the 51st
all-time between the rivals with Murray State having won 39 of the
meetings. Southeast Missouri, however, has won two of the past three and
four of the past seven since 2009. The teams have had some competitive
games including multi-overtime games in each 2013 and 2014. Last year
the Redhawks outscored the Racers 17-3 in the second half to pull away
for a 27-10 victory. That contest saw the two teams combine for 1,030
yards of total offense. Tremane McCullough rushed for a game-high 220
yard and a touchdown while Paul McRoberts hauled in eight passes for 169
yards and two scores for Southeast. MSU was led by KD Humphries who
passed for 363 yards but did not have a touchdown pass.
SCOUTING SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: For the second-straight
week Southeast Missouri came up just short against a Missouri Valley
Conference foe, falling 27-24 to Indiana State as the Sycamores scored
the game-winning touchdown with 10 seconds remaining. It marked the
second-straight year the Redhawks and Sycamores have played a contest
that game down to the final seconds. After losing its two FCS
non-conference games by a combined 11 points, Southeast finished winless
in the non-conference for the first time since 2005. The Redhawks
rushed for 166 yards with Cameron Sanders leading the way with 59 yards
on eight carries (7.4 ypc) while Tremane McCullough added 54 yards on
nine carries (6.0 ypc); both individuals had a 35-yard run during the
game. Newcomer quarterback Jesse Hosket passed for 214 yards with C.J.
Curry hauling in a team-high five catches and McCullough adding four
receptions. The Southeast Missouri offense is currently perfect in the
red zone this season (8-for-8). Junior Kendall Donnerson had a
career-high nine tackles while adding 3.0 tackles-for-loss, a sack and
forced fumble; he ranks third in the OVC in sacks (0.83/game). Roper
Garrett added nine tackles and recovered a fumble while Chad Meredith
made 10 stops.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE: Playing without All-American
quarterback KD Humphries who missed the game due to injury, the Racers
turned to redshirt junior Cameron Birse to call signals. Birse, who
transferred from Arkansas State, completed 15-of-29 passes for 210 yards
and a touchdown in his first major action. MSU finished the game with
319 yards of total offense but Southern Illinois finished the night with
558 yards on its way to the 50-17 victory. Murray State currently ranks
112th out of 122 FCS schools in total defense (allowing 514.0
yards/game). Junior Jordon Gandy caught three passes for 106 yards and a
touchdown against the Salukis; he currently ranks 12th nationally in
receiving touchdowns (3) and 33rd in total receiving yards (246) after
three games. Mareio McGraw had a 68-yard touchdown run in the fourth
quarter marking the longest rush in the OVC this season; he finished the
game with 78 yards on five carries. Punter Landon Stratton punted eight
times for a 49.4 yards/punt average including a career-long boot of 78
yards, the longest punt in Division I (FBS or FCS) this season. Stratton
ranks 25th nationally in punting (41.5 yards/game) at this point of the
season. As a team the Racers rank 17th nationally in net punting (40.0
yards/punt). Entering this week Murray State has the top passing offense
in the OVC (246.7 yards/game), a mark that ranks 25th nationally.
