Defense steps up, puts Indians in the end zone

With Southeast Missouri State University's offense having to settle for short field goals in the first half, it took a defensive play to finally get the Indians into the end zone.

And that touchdown early in the second half against Eastern Illinois Saturday was part of a stout Southeast defensive effort that helped pave the way for the Indians' first win of the season, a 30-17 triumph that broke a three-year losing streak to the Panthers.

"Our defense really rose to the occasion today," Southeast coach Tim Billings said.

Southeast's first defensive touchdown of the season came courtesy of Jackson High School graduate Caleb Daniel, who had never before scored a TD -- on any level.

Early in the second half, with Southeast trailing 10-9, EIU quarterback Andrew Harris fumbled deep in his own territory under pressure from cornerback Dimitri Patterson.

Daniel picked up the football near the goal line and calmly moved into the end zone apparently untouched. He was credited with a 2-yard fumble return, which gave the Indians a 16-10 lead. They fell back behind a short while later but ultimately took control.

"I just grabbed it and ran into the end zone," Daniel said. "I thought it was dead, but then the official put his hands up. It's the best feeling in the world."

Daniel, a junior defensive tackle, only started playing football in high school, so he never had the luxury of scoring a touchdown in youth leagues.

"It's my first one ever," Daniel said, smiling.

In addition to scoring a touchdown, Southeast's defense also came up with two first-half turnovers that led to field goals following short drives. Safety Chaun Tate set up one field goal with a 15-yard interception return and linebacker Ricky Farmer set up the other with a 21-yard fumble return.

And Southeast's defense, which shut out the Panthers for the game's final 21 minutes, came up with two crucial fourth-quarter plays to help end EIU's comeback hopes.

Early in the final period, EIU recovered a fumble at Southeast's 41-yard line but end Adam Jones sacked Harris on third down at the 20, and the Panthers missed a 37-yard field goal attempt to keep the Indians ahead 23-17.

The Panthers' final chance was snuffed out by linebacker Michael Irving. EIU faced fourth-and-1 at its 29, but Irving knifed in and hit Andre Raymond for a 4-yard loss with 2:59 left. Southeast went on to score an insurance touchdown.

"We saw that play on film," Irving said. "They got us a couple of times on it, but I just drove low and got in there."

The Indians' defense limited the Panthers to 278 total yards.

Kicker, punter shine

Southeast's Derek Kutz converted all three of his field-goal attempts -- connecting from 23, 37 and 19 yards -- and was impressive on kickoffs.

The slender Kutz, a junior from St. Vincent High School who is listed at 5-feet-10 and 170 pounds although he appears lighter than that -- also made a crunching tackle on a kickoff.

"That was like going back to my high school days," said a grinning Kutz, who is seven of nine on field goals this year.

Said Billings, "Derek played a wonderful game. He made every field goal and had great kickoffs."

True freshman punter David Simonhoff, who has struggled with consistency, had his best performance as an Indian. His 83-yard punt with just under five minutes left got Southeast out of a big hole when it looked like EIU would get excellent field position. The ball went about 65 yards in the air from scrimmage and wound up bouncing into the end zone for a touchback. Simonhoff averaged 55.7 yards on three punts.

"That punt was a big key in the game for us," Billings said.

Statistical leaders

Southeast had 324 total yards, including 224 passing as Jack Tomco completed 19 of 32 attempts. He was intercepted once.

The Indians rushed for 100 yards after having just 19 yards in the first half. Jamel Oliver gained 79 yards on 20 carries and scored on a 31-yard run, although he lost two fumbles. Redshirt freshman Bobby Dorsainvil added 31 yards on eight attempts and his first collegiate touchdown, a 2-yarder in the final minute that sealed the victory.

Junior tight end Ray Goodson from Jackson, the Indians' leading receiver on the season, caught eight passes for 108 yards. Chris NesSmith added five receptions for 52 yards.

Defensively, Farmer was credited with nine tackles, followed by junior linebacker O.J. Turner from Central High School with 8.5 and Patterson with eight. Patterson had two tackles for loss. Safety Anthony Lumpkin also recovered a fumble as the Indians came up with four turnovers. Jones and Patterson each had sacks after Southeast recorded just one sack in its first five games.

mmishow@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 132