“It’s kind of like coming to an end”: SEMO football seniors prepare for final game at Houck Field

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Zach Gieg will start his 31st game at center for Southeast Missouri State on Saturday, and for seniors like Gieg and running back Geno Hess, it will be their last at Houck Field. 

The two share what this final home game means to them.  

“We all just came in knowing that we had a mission together and we made a bond that will never be broken, like knowing that we’ll always be here for each other even when football’s over, for everybody,” Hess said.

“It’s kind of like coming to an end,” Gieg said. “Just kind of remembering that we built this and just got to be proud of what we’ve done so far and what we’re going to finish doing.”

And what the Redhawks could potentially finish doing is repeat as conference champions. They currently sit at 3-0 in Big South/OVC Association play, but with four teams right behind them with just one loss, every game for the rest of the season carries quite the significance and has a must-win feel, which Gieg said is fitting of a group whose mantra has been “just find a way.” 

“Probably the coolest part about it is that we have to win out, so it just makes the story a lot better,” Gieg said.

Head coach Tom Matukewicz said balancing the urgency of winning a football game with remembering what these seniors have meant to the program makes for an interesting dynamic on Senior Day. 

“There have been a lot of plays made by these guys who will probably never play in Houck again, so we’re trying to focus on the game at hand but also appreciate those guys and how long we’ve had them,” Matukewicz said.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is at 1 pm.