CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- A year ago Southeast Missouri State finished dead last among Ohio Valley Conference teams eligible for the title. At 1-7 in the OVC and 2-9 overall, the Redhawks program seemingly had hit rock bottom.
However, towards season's end a glimmer of promise. The Redhawks gained their only conference victory in Week 10 by hammering Murray State before playing Southern Illinois, No. 1 in FCS at the time, to closer score (42-24) that most thought in the season finale. The Redhawks carried over that momentum into 2010.
Unfazed by preseason predictions that had SEMO near the OVC bottom with the Governors-they were picked to finish in a seventh-place tie-the Redhawks gave FBS member Ball State all it could handle in the opener, before bowing. SEMO since has ripped off five straight victories, including four OVC verdicts. Although the league victories have been good enough to get elevate SEMO's profile, nothing helped more than going on the road to defeat Southern Illinois, 24-21 in Week 3.
Still it took impressive road win at old nemesis and perennial OVC power Eastern Illinois to finally get the Redhawks ranked. After defeating Tennessee State, 19-17, a week ago SEMO is now ranked No. 18 in the The Sports Network/Fathead.com poll while No. 20 in the FCS Coaches Poll entering Saturday's 6 p.m., contest against the Governors in Governors Stadium.
The people in Cape Girardeau have taken notice. The Redhawks drew more than 8,000 fans when defeating Tennessee Tech late last month in their home opener and 10,316-the third largest crowd in school history-watched them gain their fifth straight win last weekend. The five straight wins are the most as a Division I-AA/FCS program and the most by a SEMO team since 1989 when the Redhawks were still the Indians...and a Division II program.
SEMO is doing it with a strong running attack and a suffocating defense. Fifth-year senior Henry Harris has rushed for 100 or more yard in each of the last five games, including 188 against Tennessee State-he ranks fourth nationally in FCS rushing at 144.67 yards/game.
Harris, in fact, is now ranked first nationally in all-purpose yards (227.0), a spot that the Governors' Terrence Holt held a year ago.
Quarterback Matt Scheible rushed for 118 yards against Tennessee State, although he suffered his first interception since late last October in the game.
Defensively, the Redhawks are linebacker oriented, led by Justin Woodlief and outside Darrick Borum while safety Tylor Brock is tied for the league lead in interceptions.
The Governors, meanwhile, will attempt to bounce back from a homecoming loss to Tennessee Tech that saw them commit three turnovers (two lost fumbles and one interception). The Governors, despite falling behind 21-0, still were in a position to win during the fourth quarter, but the turnovers proved costly.
On the other hand, the Governors defense was unable to force a turnover for a third straight game. Sophomore linebacker Zac Burkhart, who had been out since the opener with a torn elbow ligament, returned to make eight tackles while defensive tackle Antonio Faulkner continued to enjoy a strong senior season with eight tackles, including two for loss.
In addition, punter Ryan Key averaged more than 40 yards per punt for a fifth consecutive game against Tennessee Tech when he averaged 47.0 yards per punt on three boots.
The Governors come into the game ranked 114th out of 117 teams against the rush while SEMO is ranked third in the nation in rushing offense (277.33 yards/game).
The game will be telecast by Wazoo, with Bob Belvin and Jim Tirey on the call. It will be available in the Clarksviille/Nashville area on MyTV30 (WUXP) and ESPN.3.
-AP-
