Quarterback battle continues at Southeast Missouri State football team's scrimmage

As the Southeast Missouri State football team went through its final scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday at Houck Stadium, one question loomed larger than the others -- who would stand out enough to earn the title of starting quarterback for Game 1 at Memphis in two weeks?

The candidates are sophomore Dante Vandeven -- a Jackson product who started the final eight games as a freshman, completing 62 percent of his passes for 1,568 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions -- and newcomer Jesse Hosket -- a junior college transfer from East Central Community College in Mississippi. The pair rotated throughout the scrimmage as the coaching staff continued to evaluate who is the best fit for the job.

After one last opportunity to make a statement, who will be Southeast's starting QB?

"I'd ask you the same question," Matukewicz said. "It's tough. Having not watched the film yet, I'd say they both played well, but I think once you get to the film, you'll be able to see other things that maybe pull up. It's going to be tough because I really feel like both bring a lot of things to the table."

"This is a little unique for me. Since I've been here, it seems like one [quarterback] has rose to the top. I think they've both gotten a lot better, but they haven't separated."

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Dante Vandeven throws a pass during a scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 8, 2016 at Houck Stadium.Fred Lynch

The play on the field backed that up. The offense operated in fits and starts, with every big play followed by a few that went nowhere.

"We're a rhythm offense, we really are," Vandeven said. "We have to be in a rhythm to do good. If one bad play happens, then the next one is bad and the next one. That's how it's been. We need to figure out how to stay composed when stuff like that happens and then move on."

Two of the longer drives of the day came under Hosket's watch, as he pushed the offense across midfield with a long pass to Tyler McLemore and eventually capped the drive with a 15-yard scoring connection to Tyler Manne.

That was about as prolific as the offense got.

Hosket orchestrated a solid drive on the ensuing possession, getting a 40-yard gain on a throw to C.J. Curry, but the window of opportunity shut when running back Chase Abbington fumbled the ball away -- for a second time -- at the 5-yard line.

Although Vandeven has the advantage of being in the program for a year already -- and starting games -- Hosket said he feels the two were learning right alongside each other after the introduction of new offensive coordinator Jon Wiemers.

Hosket offers more of a steady down-field arm and pocket presence, while Vandeven has the edge in athleticism and a built-in rapport with his teammates as a leader.

Southeast Missouri State coach Tom Matukewicz expresses himself during a scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 8, 2016 at Houck Stadium.Fred Lynch

"Dante's a great athlete," Hosket said. "He can make a lot of things happen, he's quick on his feet and he's a smart person as well. He does a really good job when he creates stuff. I might not be able to run around as much, but I'm good delivering the ball in the pocket and I'm going to be consistent for the team.

"We do a little more option here [than at ECCC], a little more quarterback run. I like that stuff. I don't have the perfect skill set for that stuff, but I like doing the inside runs. And we also try to take shots down field off the play action, and that's what I'm good at."

Vandeven takes the high road when it comes to selling himself as the best candidate, saying he'll leave that to his coaches. He says his No. 1 priority is his team, even if he knows how great it feels to lead his team out of the huddle and onto the field on gameday.

"It would be great. It's why I'm here to play," Vandeven said. "At the same time, if I'm not good enough, then I'm not good enough if there's someone who's better for the team. I'd love to be the quarterback, but at the same time, there are other things that go on.

"All us quarterbacks, we all come to an agreement that it doesn't matter who's in, we're going to trust and help out whoever's going to be in there and slinging that rock. I have total faith that Jesse can take us to that OVC championship, just like he thinks I can. I think it comes with a lot of faith and time together.

"We live this life of two-a-days and things like that, and you kind of get over wanting to be No. 1, you just want to do things good as a team."

Hosket didn't leave Mississippi -- the only place he's ever played football -- to simply accept sitting on the bench, but he, too, is saying all the right things when it comes to teamwork and camaraderie.

"We're great friends," Hosket said of Vandeven. "We know about quarterback competitiveness. If you can't be a friendly rival, then why should offense and defense even like each other?

"We've got to be role models for all the other guys. We might be competing against each other, but we're still friends."

Vandeven said the coaches have mentioned the idea of playing both quarterbacks, whether in rotation or on a situational basis, but doesn't believe it's anything more than a passing thought. He again emphasized the importance of continuity and rhythm for the offense, something that would be difficult to maintain with different guys playing the position.

"They want the offense to get in a groove, so that's kind of hard when you have two quarterbacks going in," Vandeven said. "Ultimately, at the end of the day, there's going to be a quarterback who's well-enough prepared to win the job."

With the Redhawks on the verge of making a decision and finalizing a Week 1 two-deep, likely by the end of today according to Matukewicz, the head coach seems to echo those sentiments -- there will soon be one.

"The main thing is that not everybody can be the head coach, not everybody can be the starting quarterback, but everybody does have a role," Matukewicz said. "No matter what you do, you have a role on this football team to help us win. That's what I'm going to do -- start asking guys to buy into their role, whatever role that is. That can change from week to week, so everybody's just got to show up, find out what we need you to do and sell out for that role."