Arkansas State sends Southeast tumbling to 0-3

JONESBORO, Ark. -- The frustrations mounted for Southeast Missouri State University's Indians Saturday night -- and not just because they remained winless.

After a slow start that saw them fall into an early 14-0 hole, the Indians took the fight to Arkansas State the rest of the way but missed opportunities --along with two dubious calls -- prevented an upset.

When it was all said and done, Division I-A ASU (2-1) had posted a 21-3 victory that left the host team breathing a sigh of relief and Southeast (0-3) wondering what might have been.

"You have to give a lot of credit to Southeast," ASU coach Steve Roberts said. "They've got an outstanding football. I've said this all week. They're ready to wake up and take hold."

Southeast coach Tim Billings wished the Indians would have taken hold Saturday, but he didn't fault their effort.

"I didn't think we played as hard as we should have last week," Billings said, referring to a 28-7 home loss to Southern Illinois. "But tonight we played our hearts out and fought the whole way.

"We accomplished some things tonight against a really good football team. But we still have a lot of things to work on."

In much the same manner as Southeast's season-opening 17-3 loss at Division I-A Ohio, the Indians failed to capitalize on several golden scoring opportunities.

Southeast, in fact, probably had more touchdown chances than did ASU. But drives that reached the ASU 8-, 22-, 2-, 31- and 28-yard lines resulted in a total of three points.

"That's the only frustrating thing -- we can't put the ball in the end zone," said Billings, whose squad has scored just 13 points in three games after having one of the nation's top offenses last year. "We have to figure that out."

Said tight end Ray Goodson, "We pulled together as a team, but we're still not finishing drives. We have to learn how to finish."

As disheartening as those failed chances were, the Indians were also upset by a sequence late in the third quarter that effectively sealed their fate.

With Southeast trailing 14-3, ASU quarterback Elliot Jacobs appeared to lose fumbles deep in his own territory on consecutive plays. But both times the officials ruled incomplete passes.

"Those were horrible calls," linebacker O.J. Turner said. "He fumbled both of those."

Still, despite all that happened, the Indians' performance offered hope for the remainder of the season and particularly Ohio Valley Conference play.

After being mauled by Southern Illinois last week, Southeast played ASU to a virtual statistical standoff, with 259 yards to 312 for the host squad. Take away a first quarter that saw ASU gain 78 yards to minus-7 for Southeast, and the visitors actually had the upper hand the rest of the way.

"It's encouraging, but we still have a long way to go," said cornerback Kellin White, who came up with a key second-half interception that gave the Indians a chance at coming back.

Early in the game, it looked like Southeast might be run out of Indian Stadium, which held an ASU homecoming crowd of 21,134.

Southeast's offense sputtered the entire first quarter and ASU took advantage of good field position to scored twice.

A 23-yard pass from Jacobs to Jerome Stegall with 4:56 left in the opening period capped a 44-yard drive and made it 7-0.

Less than 30 seconds into the second quarter, Clinton Roy's 1-yard run capped a 65-yard march and made it 14-0.

"They got up on us early, but after that we settled down," Turner said.

Southeast finally got its offense going and moved 74 yards to the ASU 8, but the drive stalled and Derek Kutz had a 25-yard field-goal attempt blocked.

Southeast returned the favor a short time later when Ryan Roth was credited with blocking ASU's 28-yard field-goal try.

In the closing moments of the opening half, Southeast drove to the ASU 22, but Jeromy McDowell's tipped pass was intercepted.

"We have to take advantage of chances like that," McDowell said.

Southeast, trailing 14-0 at halftime, came out in the third quarter and once again threatened to make things interesting as McDowell moved the Indians from his own 26 to the ASU 15. But he got banged up, had to leave the game and did not return.

Andrew Goodenough replaced McDowell, but the Indians, after reaching the 2, were pushed back on a procedure penalty and had to settle for a 24-yard Kutz field goal with 6:21 left in the period.

White's interception a short time later set up Southeast at its own 44, but after reaching the ASU 31, Jack Tomco was intercepted.

On the next ASU possession, Southeast appeared to twice recover fumbles by Jacobs deep in ASU territory --only to have both plays ruled incomplete passes.

"Those were key moments," White said, "but if things don't go our way, we still have to play through them."

Oren O'Neal's 1-yard plunge with 10:41 left in the game capped a 65-yard drive, making it 21-3 and all but sealing the outcome.

Roberts, who has propped up ASU's program considerably in just his second season in Jonesboro, was pleased to come away victorious but he also gave Southeast plenty of props.

"They've got a team that can challenge for the OVC title," Roberts said. "Their players have to look past 0-3 and unload on some people."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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