Heat no factor in Southeast's meltdown

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- Southeast Missouri State's first two football games this season featured 6 p.m. kickoffs and mild temperatures.

Saturday, Alabama's heat and humidity greeted the Redhawks when they opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff against Jacksonville State.

The game-time temperature was announced as 87 degrees, but the heat index on the artificial Field Turf surface at Paul Snow Stadium was much higher.

"It was pretty hot out there," Southeast cornerback Romae Rucker said.

Despite the heat, Southeast appeared to hold up well in it physically as there were no reports of cramping.

"We knew it was going to be hot and we were prepared," defensive end Kyle Hunt said. "We made sure we really hydrated a lot this week."

Holding up physically against the talented Gamecocks, however, was another story. The Redhawks were outgained in total yardage by a staggering 473 to 163 as they were crushed 38-7.

"We hydrated. You didn't see us cramping," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "But we were tired physically, with all their downhill running."

Rushing game stymied

After being the OVC's best rushing team through two contests -- although against relatively cushy opposition -- Southeast's running game was shut down by JSU's stout defense Saturday.

The Redhawks averaged 240.5 yards rushing in their first two games, including 303 against Missouri-Rolla last week.

Against JSU, Southeast rushed for just 98 yards -- but only 16 yards through three quarters, after which backups littered the field.

Sophomore tailback Tim Holloman, the OVC's leading rusher with 246 yards prior to Saturday, gained 17 yards on 10 carries.

Redshirt freshman tailback Tony Anderson actually wound up as Southeast's leading rusher with 54 yards on 10 attempts, virtually all of that coming late in the game.

"He showed good heart," Samuel said.

Quarterback Kevin Ballatore completed 10 of 22 passes for 61 yards.

Backup quarterback Markus Mosley saw his first action of the season in the final minutes and completed his only pass for four yards.

Southeast's longest play from scrimmage was 22 yards, that coming on a pass from Ballatore to Oge Oge.

Noteworthy

• Senior All-American punter David Simonhoff, second nationally in Division I-AA through two games with a 45.7-yard average, was busy Saturday as he punted eight times and averaged 51.2 yards, with a long of 66 yards.

* According to unofficial statistics, linebacker Adam Casper led Southeast in tackles with 12 while safety Anthony Lumpkin had 11.

Defensive end Edgar Jones, first nationally with five sacks before Saturday, had the Redhawks' lone sack against JSU.

* Southeast still has not committed a turnover this season after avoiding that kind of miscue again Saturday. JSU had two turnovers, an interception by Rucker and a fumble recovery by Matt Boyack. The Redhawks have a 9-0 turnover advantage this year.

* Junior offensive tackle Francisco Perez did not play due to a broken foot. Sophomore Joe Goff, from Farmington High School, started in place of Perez.

* Senior linebacker Seth Harrell, a Jackson High School product, did not play in the second half after apparently injuring a shoulder in the first half.