Injury bug reaches Southeast quarterback Kyle Snyder, others in loss at Murray State

MURRAY, Ky. -- The Southeast Missouri State football team has been plagued with injuries this season.

Redhawks starting running back DeMichael Jackson suffered a broken hand in the second game of the season.

Star receiver Paul McRoberts and defensive end Selwyn Carrol both suffered a Lisfranc foot fracture in Southeast's win over then-No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana.

Defensive ends Austin Black and Travis Sanders have struggled with back problems.

Offensive lineman Garret Baker didn't play in the Murray State game because a bursa in his knee has caused severe swelling and bruising.

Linebacker Chad Meredith is having season-ending surgery on his labrum while linebacker Wisler Ymonice was sidelined Saturday with a plantar faschia ligament injury.

Defensive end John Popovich and linebacker Terrance Hill were assisted off the field during the Redhawks' 44-41 loss to Murray State on Saturday, and starting quarterback Kyle Snyder left the game twice with two different ailments.

"We had 11 out there, so it doesn't matter because no one cares," Southeast coach Tom Matukewicz said following Saturday's loss. "We're not going to have a sympathy party. We're going to try to put the best 11 out there next week again and see if we can do a little bit better job."

Snyder, whose ankle had been bothering him prior to Saturday's game, rushed two yards for a first down on third-and-1 midway through the third quarter before trying several times to walk off ankle pain. Eventually, he couldn't stay upright any longer and sat down on the ground.

He was assisted off the field by trainers and replaced by junior transfer quarterback Alex Niznak for one play before returning.

"It kind of sucked because I'm not used to doing that at all," Snyder said of leaving the game. "I've just got to keep getting healthy and get ready for next week."

He ran for five yards near the end of regulation before heading to the sideline with shoulder pain. After a trainer assessed him while he threw passes on the sideline, he returned and played both overtime periods.

"The guy's on life support," Matukewicz said of Snyder. "We're asking a lot of him. There's no concussions or anything that was significant, it was just a pain tolerance, and he's one of the toughest guys I've been around. I'm so proud of the way he played, and I want my whole football team to play like that."

Snyder was quick to shrug the ailments off after the game.

"I'll be alright," Snyder said, declining to talk about specifics.

His ankle injury altered some of the Redhawks' play-calling on offense Saturday, but he still rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and completed 18 of 31 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns.

"We didn't run him as much until the game was on the line," Matukewicz said. "We just (said), 'Take one for the team here, buddy. We need you.' He stood up and about willed us to a victory."

Sanders, who had missed the last four games with back spasms, played Saturday and finished with four tackles.

Jackson made his return for the Redhawks after breaking his hand in the Redhawks' loss at Kansas on Sept. 6.

"I was proud of the way he played," Matukewicz said of Jackson. "He was really physical and he protected the ball. I'll look at the film on protections and stuff like that, but I thought he had a really good night."

Jackson led Southeast with 104 yards rushing on 21 carries in his first game back.

"I started a little slow, just getting the first-game back jitters out," Jackson said, "but as the game kept going we progressed as a team."