Venue & Kickoff
Location: Houck Field, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM CT / 7:00 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
Capacity: 8,000
Theme: “Black Out” — SEMO fans encouraged to wear black
Weather Forecast (Cape Girardeau, MO – Kickoff)
Conditions: Clear skies, mild evening
Temperature: ~73°F at kickoff
Wind: Light WNW at 4–6 mph
Precipitation: 0%
Impact: Ideal football weather; no environmental advantage
Injury Report
North Alabama
No major injuries reported after Week 1 loss at Western Kentucky
Southeast Missouri State
No significant injuries reported after Week 1 loss at Arkansas State
Team Records & Recent Form
UNA: QB Ari Patu 11/20, 86 yds vs. WKU; RB Desmond Wade 34 rush yds; WR Jaylen Pegues 5 rec, 52 yds. Defense allowed 517 total yds.
SEMO: QB Jared Leatherwood 26/36, 272 yds, 2 TD vs. Ark. State; RB Brandon Epton Jr. 61 rush yds, 1 TD; WR Damoriea Cheers 4 rec, 96 yds, 1 TD.
Key Player Matchups
QB Ari Patu (UNA) vs. SEMO Secondary
Patu: Needs improved efficiency; SEMO allowed 272 pass yds in opener.
RB Desmond Wade (UNA) vs. LB Jayden Davis (SEMO)
Wade: Physical runner; Davis: Defensive leader, strong in run fits.
WR Jaylen Pegues (UNA) vs. CB JaQori Williams (SEMO)
Pegues: Reliable target; Williams: Veteran cover corner.
QB Jared Leatherwood (SEMO) vs. UNA Pass Rush
Leatherwood: Accurate passer; UNA had 0 sacks vs. WKU.
RB Brandon Epton Jr. (SEMO) vs. UNA Front Seven
Epton: 4.4 YPC in opener; UNA allowed 5.8 YPC vs. WKU.
Series History
All-Time: Tied 1–1
First Meeting: 1956 — UNA 61–13
Last Meeting: SEMO 37–15 (2024, Montgomery, AL – FCS Kickoff)
Note: First-ever meeting in Cape Girardeau
Betting Trends
North Alabama: 0–5 SU in last 5; 1–4 ATS; OVER in 3 of last 5 road games
SEMO: 2–3 SU in last 5; 3–2 ATS; 7–4 in home openers under Tom Matukewicz
SEMO has averaged 44 PPG in last three home-opening wins
Game Outlook
This is a rematch of last year’s FCS Kickoff, now with SEMO hosting for the first time. Expect the Redhawks to lean on Leatherwood’s passing and Epton’s ground game to control tempo, while UNA will need explosive plays from Patu and Pegues to keep it competitive.
Game Odds
North Alabama Lions 55.5
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks – 20.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
