Redhawks get break at midpoint of schedule

Southeast Missouri State has an open date this week, exactly halfway through its 12-game football schedule.

Coach Tony Samuel believes the break from competition comes at a good time for the Redhawks.

"Right now it's good, coming off that long trip [to Jacksonville State], and there are a few guys nicked up we need to get healed up," Samuel said during his weekly media conference Monday.

The Redhawks traveled more than 400 miles to Jacksonville, Ala., and came away with a 38-17 loss to the nationally ranked Gamecocks on Saturday.

Big plays particularly hurt the Redhawks, who fell to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Jacksonville State scored touchdowns on a 59-yard run, a 41-yard pass and a 99-yard kickoff return to open the second half that put Southeast in a 28-3 hole.

"We have to address that," Samuel said. "We need to get this kickoff coverage cleaned up."

The Redhawks have allowed two kickoff returns for touchdowns and are giving up 30.4 yards per kickoff return.

Samuel said a good portion of practice this week will be spent on special teams and cleaning up other areas of the Redhawks' play, along with getting some work in on Southeast's next opponent. The Redhawks visit Eastern Illinois on Oct. 18.

"We need to get some things ironed out," Samuel said.

Samuel said the Redhawks still have plenty they can accomplish during the last six games of the season.

"I think the kids are playing extremely hard and practicing hard," Samuel said. "If we continue to do that. ... we've got a six-game run, we'll have our chances."

Senior defensive end Ben Gugler, tied for the OVC lead with four quarterback sacks, said following the Jacksonville State game that the Redhawks believe they can still have a solid season.

"This will be a good week to be off, give us a chance to review everything and get better," Gugler said. "We'll come back with a good push for the last half of the year."

National rankings

Three Southeast players rank among the top 15 nationally in the latest Division I-AA statistics.

Junior punter Doug Spada leads the nation with a 45.6-yard average.

Junior cornerback Eddie Calvin is ninth with four interceptions, while senior linebacker Nick Stauffer is 15th with 63 tackles.

Spada leads the OVC, while Calvin is second and Stauffer third. Calvin tops the league in passes defended with 10, including six broken up.

In addition to Gugler being tied for the OVC lead in sacks, junior wide receiver Walter Peoples is tied for first with 35 catches and senior quarterback Houston Lillard is first with 1,469 yards passing.