COLLEGE: INDIANS' 'D' LOOKS TO GROUND EAGLES

Western Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky each pounded Southeast Missouri State University's rushing defense for more than 350 yards the past two weeks.

It's likely that Tennessee Tech will try to use a similar offensive strategy today when the Eagles play host to the Indians in a 2 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference game at Tucker Stadium in Cookeville, Tenn.

"I'm sure they're going to start out trying to run it right at us," said Southeast coach Tim Billings. "I think everybody's going to do that until we prove we can stop it."

The Indians have had plenty of problems stopping the run all season, allowing an average of just over 303 yards per game on the ground. But teams have really feasted the past two weeks as Western Kentucky rushed for 354 yards and Eastern Kentucky piled up 399 yards.

"We have to find a way to stop the run," said Billings.

If that doesn't happen, then Billings realizes it could be a third straight long day for the Indians, who have lost their last two games by an average of 24 points as they have gotten off to an 0-2 OVC start. Southeast is 2-3 overall.

In Tech's Golden Eagles, the Indians will be facing a team that features one of the OVC's best defenses and is riding high with a 2-0 league record. The Eagles, 3-1 overall, posted one of the more impressive victories of the conference season to date when they stunned preseason OVC favorite Eastern Kentucky 9-3 on the road two weeks ago.

"They are an excellent football team, very well coached. I think they're one of the best coached teams I've seen," Billings said. "They've got some very good players on both sides of the ball. It's going to be another really big challenge for us."

Tech coach Mike Hennigan said his team's season actually got off to a shaky start. In the opener, the Eagles needed a late rally to barely beat Division II Harding. Then came a loss to Division I-A Ohio.

But then came the win over Eastern Kentucky, followed by last Saturday's 46-6 romp past Tennessee-Martin in which Tech's vaunted defense allowed just six first downs and 53 total yards.

"Our first two (games) were a little disappointing, but we feel like we've had two real good outings and we have to build on that," said Hennigan. "Against Eastern Kentucky, we had as good a team effort as we've had since I've been here."

Tech had one of the nation's top Division I-AA defenses last year, but several standouts off that squad used up their eligibility. That's one reason why Hennigan believes the Eagles' defense got off to something of a slow start this season.

"We lost some great players (last year) and we thought it would be a few games until we got some continuity," he said. "We have had two good (defensive) outings the last two weeks and that's what we'd hoped for."

The Eagles rank third in the OVC in total defense, allowing an average of just under 291 yards per game. Middle linebacker Chad Evitts, a first-team all-OVC pick last year, spearheads the unit. He has 47 tackles so far this season, with 11 for loss.

"They have an excellent defense, one of the top in the country. That's why they win football games," said Billings. "They will be one of the best defensive teams we've played."

Tech traditionally does not feature an overwhelming offense and that appears to be the case again this year as the Eagles average 324 total yards per game. But Tech returned plenty of offensive experience from last year, which Hennigan said has made a difference.

"For the first time in a long while the offense has controlled the tempo in our scrimmages," he said. "A lot of that has to do with the experience we had coming back, but we still have to make plays when we have the opportunities."

Quarterback Grant Swallows has been solid, completing 42 of 77 passes for 422 yards. A balanced ground attack is led by Nick Solomon (214 yards, 5.8 average) and Jason Ballard (177, 4.1).

"They mix it up and do a lot of things offensively," Billings said.

Even though Southeast has been struggling lately and is allowing 475 yards per game while gaining only 239 a contest, Hennigan said he is certainly not expecting a cakewalk.

"Over the years, SEMO and Tech have been a good battle. We always seem to have a nice, tight ballgame," Hennigan said. "We think this is going to be a full-out battle, a 60-minute ballgame."

* Billings said that Bobby Brune would likely start at quarterback today for the second straight game. The coach said that Rashad West, who has been bothered by a bruised sternum, was still ailing some during the week, although he could see action.