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SOUTHEAST MISSOURI NOTES | TENNESSEE TECH NOTES
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The last time Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri faced, the Golden Eagles stunned the high-flying Redhawks in Tucker Stadium as David Gist ran for two touchdowns, then Willie Miller threw touchdown strikes to Quinton Cross and Ashton Maples as the Tech squad emerged with a 28-17 victory.
That was last year and this is now. As the series continues this Saturday at the under-construction Houck Field, there's a lot of returning faces for both sides with some exciting newcomers to make this hotly contested series an interesting one as it resumes Saturday afternoon.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will handle the radio call on 98.5 KISS FM, while the game will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
The Golden Eagles (1-3, 0-1 Ohio Valley Conference) continue their tough slate as they take on the No. 21-ranked Redhawks. In its fifth game of the season, Saturday's contest is the fourth team Tech has faced out of six total on the schedule who have either been ranked or are currently ranked with Kansas, Samford, UT Martin, SEMO, Kennesaw State and North Carolina Central all gaining the attention of the Top 25 voters at some point this season.
The Redhawks (4-1, 1-0 OVC) have been putting up big numbers on offense and it starts with two big players – quarterback Paxton DeLaurent and running back Geno Hess. DeLaurent, a sophomore transfer from the NAIA's Central Methodist, has been tearing up opposing defenses, throwing for 1,427 yards and 11 touchdowns in just five games. He's averaging 285.4 yards through the air per game, and has run for another 176 yard on the ground with two more scores.
But DeLaurent doesn't have to be a threat on the ground when they have Geno running the rock. Hess has 542 yards and five touchdowns through five games, averaging 108.4 yards per night. He also has six catches for 82 yards and two more scores.
Hess currently ranks first in the OVC in rushing, just 41 yards ahead of UT Martin's Zak Wallace – who the Golden Eagles held to 71 yards on 17 carries last weekend. Hess' numbers are also bolstered by a 276-yard, four-touchdown effort last weekend at Lindenwood.
DeLaurent has only been held to under 300 passing yards once – SEMO's opener at Football Bowl Subdivision foe Iowa State. He currently ranks second in the conference in passing behind Lindenwood's Cade Brister, who is averaging 302.5 yards per game.
SEMO's top target this season has been Johnny King, averaging 89.4 yards per game for 447 total yards and four touchdowns on 38 catches. King also caught a touchdown in last season's contest against the Golden Eagles.
Defensively, SEMO ranks second in rush defense, allowing an average of 112.4 yards on the ground and 3.6 yards per carry. Conversely, the Redhawks also rank last in pass defense, allowing an average of 301.0 yards through the air and are tied for the second-most receiving touchdowns in the league – trailing only UT Martin, who has allowed 16. SEMO is allowing an average of 8.2 yards per catch.
Since losing to Iowa State, the Redhawks have rifled off four straight wins and currently have the OVC's longest winning streak and have won 18 of their last 23 games on their home turf. Last week, SEMO topped Lindenwood 49-28 in its conference opener.
Tech, meanwhile, dropped a 45-28 decision at No. 15 UT Martin. The Skyhawks used big plays to topple the Golden Eagles with two one-play scoring drives and five plays that went for 50-or-more yards.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles put together over 400 yards of offense, including 256 passing yards for Jeremiah Oatsvall for his third game this season of over 200 yards passing. The contest against the OVC leader was tight for much of the first half with the game square at 14-all at the 12-minute mark of the second quarter before the Skyhawks railed off 24 straight points.
As the Golden Eagles enter Saturday still in position for a run at its 11th OVC championship, Tech stands in fourth in total offense, fourth in rushing offense and fourth in passing offense, putting a balanced front against the Redhawks.
Gist, who has historically had great outings against Southeast Missouri, ranks fifth in the OVC in rushing, with 216 total yards and three touchdowns in one fewer game played than the league-leaders. Oatsvall ranks fourth in passing with 813 total yards and is tied for third for most passing scores. Hess and Gist are second and third respectively in the conference in scoring with SEMO's rusher collecting two more touchdowns to Gist's tally. UT Martin's Wallace is the league leader with eight total TDs.
Defensively, SEMO's Bryce Norman ranks fourth in tackles per game, averaging 8.0 stops with 40 total. Seth Carlisle (31 tackles) is tied for fifth with 7.8 tackles per game and Josh Reliford (30 tackles) is ninth with a 7.5-tackle average.
Following Saturday's contest in Cape Girardeau, the Golden Eagles return home next week to face Tennessee State. Tickets for that contest are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com to order.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
