Harris churns out career high rushing yards

Southeast Missouri State senior tailback Henry Harris had another monster game.

Harris was quick to credit an offensive line that has been playing lights out so far this season.

Harris set a new career-high rushing total for the second straight week, piling up 196 yards on 32 carries during Saturday's 23-21 win over visiting Tennessee Tech.

That came after Harris had 142 yards the previous week -- including a late game-winning 67-yard touchdown -- as the Redhawks stunned nationally ranked Southern Illinois for one of the program's biggest wins.

"Most definitely," Harris said when asked if the offensive line deserves a lot of credit for his success. "They've been a unit the whole season. I feel they're one of the hardest working groups."

Harris, Southeast's leading rusher with 720 yards last year, is the Ohio Valley Conference's second-leading rusher with 501 yards through four games.

Senior right guard Bryan Curry said the offensive line takes pride in the numbers Harris is putting up. He is the first Southeast back to rush for at least 100 yards in three straight games since Timmy Holloman did it in 2007.

"We definitely do," Curry said. "Obviously having a back like that, we feel real good. It makes us feel appreciated."

Southeast's line has been opening nice holes for not only Harris but all the Redhawks backs, including junior quarterback Matt Scheible.

The senior-dominated unit of Curry, left tackle Evan Conrad, left guard Frank Knights, center Sean Middleton and right tackle Brandon Harris -- Conrad, a sophomore, is the only non-senior -- also has allowed just two sacks.

"They're awesome," Scheible said. "As a unit, five as one, they're doing it."

Southeast entered Saturday leading the OVC in rushing offense with just more than 214 yards per game. The Redhawks increased that by piling up 353 yards on the ground against the Eagles.

"All season, from [fall] camp and spring ball, our goal was to lead the OVC in rushing," Curry said.

Southeast coach Tony Samuel, while praising Henry Harris and the other backs, said it all starts up front.

Southeast's Miles Edwards crosses into the end zone surrounded multiple Tennessee Tech players to score SEMO's first touchdown during the first quarter of Southeast Missouri State University's home-opener against Tennessee Tech at Houck Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. SEMO won 23-21. (Kristin Eberts)

"The line's playing well," Samuel said. "That's still the bottom line."

Grass gets first TD

Senior fullback Nathan Grass, a graduate of Valle Catholic High School in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., primarily has played on special teams during his college career.

Grass had a strong fall camp and Samuel planned to get him more involved in the offense this year after he entered the season with three career carries for six yards, all as a sophomore.

Grass had not gotten any carries in the first three games this year, but his chance finally came Saturday.

The bruising 6-foot-1, 235-pound Grass made the most of his opportunity. He rushed four times for 15 yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 4-yard pass from Scheible.

"It felt great," Grass said.

Said Samuel of Grass: "He's starting to show up more and more."

Noteworthy

* Tech sophomore quarterback Tre Lamb had a strong game, completing 13 of 21 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Tim Benford nabbed eight receptions for 177 yards and both TDs.

"He's shifty. He threw the ball well," Samuel said.

* Southeast, which has had just one home date, will play its fourth road game of the season Saturday, visiting defending OVC champion Eastern Illinois.

The Panthers are 0-4 for the first time since 1977. They are 0-2 in OVC play.