Southeast Missouri State opens season tonight

The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks open their fourth season under Head Coach Tony Samuel when they host Quincy at Houck Stadium with a 6pm kickoff.  The Redhawks were picked to finish seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll.

It has been a struggle since SEMO moved to Division I football, but the Redhawks have had success in season openers winning seven of their last 11.  Southeast will have two big holes to fill at the skilled positions this year. QB Houston Lillard, left the program ranked among the top-10 in several passing categories throwing for  3,417 yards and 22 touchdowns since the start of the 2006 campaign.

Sophomore Matt Scheible will take over as the starting quarterback this season. Scheible saw action in 10 games and made two starts, while showing excellent poise as a true freshman in 2008. He is an exciting dual-threat quarterback, who threw for 540 yards and five touchdowns, and rushed for 254 yards and two TDs.

Running back is another offensive area of concern with three year starter Timmy Holloman leaving. He ranks among the school’s top-five career leaders in yards (2,424), attempts (507) and touchdowns (36). Junior Henry Harris will move into that role. A transfer out of the University of Memphis, Harris was the Redhawks second-leading rusher with 318 yards and four touchdowns on 76 carries a year ago. He scored in each of his first three games of the season and ran for over 100 yards one time, as well.

To hear from head coach Tony Samuel on the upcoming season click here .