Southeast Missouri senior Kyle Snyder has six rushing touchdowns this season, tallying the second most among Ohio Valley Conference players this season.

Snyder is coming off a 75-yard rushing performance against Murray State, where he scored his sixth rushing touchdown of the season on Saturday. He has the seventh most rushing yards in the OVC at 368. He has the most carries for the Redhawks, with 110, ahead of running back Lennies McFerren, who has 104 rushing attempts this season.

Snyder leads the Redhawks with his six rushing touchdowns.

He’s also the starting quarterback for Southeast Missouri.

Snyder, who only played in six games last season, making four starts, leads the OVC in total offense, averaging 260.6 yards per game. He is No. 2 in the conference, averaging 208 passing yards per game, tacking on nearly 53 rushing yards each game as well.

After transferring from Ohio in 2012 and then missing that year with a torn ACL in his right knee, Snyder has played well under first-year coach Tom Matukewicz.

After a physical game against Murray State, where Snyder ran the ball 21 times, Matukewicz said there isn’t a player tougher than his quarterback.
“We got him packed in bubble wrap right now, he’s on life support, but they don’t make them tougher,” Matukewicz said. “What we ask him to do is almost embarrassing and he wants even more.”

Along with his six rushing touchdowns this season, Snyder has also thrown 13 touchdown passes, which is the most in the OVC.

“You know, you run like a QB-iso and then the next play you throw a fade with him,” Matukewicz said. “We’re asking a lot of him. He’s up to the challenge. I look for him to be fine this weekend.”

For Matukewicz, Snyder is the best quarterback in the conference.

“There’s some really good quarterbacks in this league, but I’d challenge you to say there’s one hands down better than Kyle Snyder,’ he said.

Eastern’s defense also goes up against McFerren, who is No. 4 in the OVC, averaging 70.7 rushing yards per game. The senior running back has three rushing touchdowns and has the second most rushing yards in the conference, with 495.

As a team, Southeast Missouri is tied with Eastern Kentucky for the most rushing touchdowns at 16. The Redhawks also rank No. 4 in total rushing yards with 196.9 per game. The Panthers’ running game is ranked No. 3 in the conference, helped by quarterback Jalen Whitlow, who averages 80.5 rushing yards per game.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu.