BILLINGS IS COUNTING ON AREA TALENT TO HELP

There are five players from Cape Girardeau Central and Jackson high schools on the Southeast Missouri State University football roster. None are projected as starters entering the 2000 season, but first-year Indian coach Tim Billings expects solid contributions from all five.

"We're happy with all of them and I think they'll all be able to help us out," said Billings.

Four of the locals are listed No. 2 at their positions on the current depth chart: Cape Central products Bobby Brune at quarterback and Andy Dunaway at wide receiver, along with Jackson graduates Kent Langston at defensive end and Mike Gross at wide receiver.

The fifth, Cape Central's Tatum Kitchen, is battling for a backup spot at defensive end.

Brune, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior, has already put up some impressive numbers during his Southeast career, completing 177 of 303 passes (58.4 percent) for 2,052 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

As a redshirt freshman in 1998, Brune started the final six games of the season and completed 97 of 156 passes (62.2 percent) for 1,167 yards, with six touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Then last year, Brune began the campaign as the No. 1 signal caller and started five games, completing 80 of 147 passes (54.4 percent) for 885 yards, with five touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Even though Rashad West started the last four games of the 1999 season and is solidly established as the Indians' top quarterback entering the 2000 campaign, Billings said he has been extremely impressed with Brune and would feel comfortable with him behind center if something happened to West.

"Bobby has had a great camp. He's worked hard and he's really doing a great job," Billings said. "I think he's a very good quarterback and it would not bother me at all to play him."

Dunaway, a 5-11, 190-pound junior, had a solid season as a backup last year, catching 17 passes for 193 yards. He had eight receptions for 68 yards as a redshirt freshman in 1998.

Wide receiver appears to be one of the Indians' deepest positions and quite a few are needed in Southeast's new offense. The sure-handed Dunaway figures to be a big part of the regular rotation, even though he missed most of spring practice with a broken leg and is still probably not quite 100 percent.

"Andy is still only about 85 percent, but he should be 100 percent by the first game," said Billings. "He's got great hands and should be a real asset for us."

Gross, a 5-11, 195-pound junior, was recently moved to wide receiver from quarterback, where he started one game last season and saw action in several others. He completed 29 of 55 passes (52.7 percent) for 270 yards, with four touchdowns and five interceptions, and he also rushed for 168 yards on 29 carries, scoring a TD.

With the Indians apparently set at quarterback -- behind West and Brune is talented freshman Jeromy McDowell -- Billings thought it would be best to utilize the talents of Gross at another position in addition to the special teams he has played the last two years and figures to participate in again.

"He's a good player," Billings said. "We run a lot of wide receivers and we'll really be able to use him there."

The 6-3, 230-pound Langston and 6-foot, 235-pound Kitchen -- both sophomores -- should provide depth along the defensive line, where the Indians appear to be a bit thin in numbers.

Langston played on special teams and was a backup defensive end as a redshirt freshman last season, recording six tackles and three quarterback sacks late in the campaign. Kitchen, who was moved from linebacker during the spring, played primarily on special teams last year as a redshirt freshman, recording four tackles.

"Tatum is still learning the position, but both those guys should be able to help us," said Billings. "They can both run, which is what we look for in our defensive linemen. And we need depth up front."

* The Indians will have their second and final scrimmage of two-a-days tonight under the lights at Houck Stadium. Action is scheduled to begin at 7 o'clock and the public is invited to attend.