Holloman returns from one-year suspension

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tony Samuel knows that senior tailback Timmy Holloman is eager to finally get back on the field.

Holloman's opportunity will come this week — and he won't be eased into the fray.

Samuel said during his weekly media briefing Monday that Holloman will start Saturday when the Redhawks play at nationally ranked Jacksonville (Ala.) State, the Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorite.

"Timmy's champing at the bit," Samuel said.

Holloman, among the premier runners in Southeast history, missed the final six games of last season and the first five games of this year due to an NCAA suspension for undisclosed reasons.

Through the first five games of 2007, the speedy Holloman ranked second in the OVC and eighth nationally with an average of 131 yards per game. Holloman had 655 yards, a 5.7-yard average and six touchdowns before heading to the sidelines.

Holloman, Southeast's leading rusher in each of his first three seasons, ranks fourth on the school's career rushing list with 1,996 yards.

Samuel said Holloman, who was allowed to practice with the Redhawks during his time away from competition, is "in great shape."

Samuel said his worry is that Holloman will be overly excited when he hits the field Saturday.

"The biggest thing ... just focus on the game, not try to hit a home run all the time," Samuel said. "Just make sure you're not too excited. Just read your keys."

Holloman garnered enough respect from the rest of the OVC that he was voted preseason all-conference even though it was known he only would be eligible for the final seven games.

"I think everybody has to agree Holloman ... has the best history of a runner in this league," Jacksonville State coach Jack Crowe told the Anniston (Ala.) Star. "There's some uncertainty of how him being there affects who they are, but I think SEMO without him and SEMO with him are two different teams.

"I think Tony will feel a lot more comfortable with their offensive approach with Tim Holloman there."

With Holloman's return and the emergence of sophomore Henry Harris, the Redhawks have the makings of a nice one-two punch from the tailback position.

"That's what we're counting on," Samuel said.

Southeast (2-3, 0-1 OVC) probably will need all the firepower it can muster against Jacksonville State (3-1, 1-0), which climbed into the national rankings Monday at No. 22.

Led by touted LSU transfer quarterback Ryan Perrilloux and a stingy defense, the Gamecocks have outscored their last three opponents 99-31 following a season-opening loss at Division I-A Georgia Tech.

Perrilloux was named the OVC offensive player of week after completing 20 of 25 passes for 281 yards during Saturday's 23-10 win at perennial league power Eastern Illinois. Perrilloux threw for one touchdown and ran for two more.

The Gamecocks outgained Eastern Illinois 482-226 in total yardage.

"They handled Eastern Illinois very well. We all know Eastern Illinois has a really good football team," Samuel said. "I think he's [Perrilloux] taken them to another level."

Harris honored again

For the second time in three weeks, Harris is the OVC newcomer of the week.

Harris registered his first 100-yard rushing performance and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard plunge with 42 seconds left Saturday as Southeast rallied past host Indiana State 24-21.

Harris finished with 100 yards on 24 carries, including a 32-yard run that is the Redhawks' longest this year.

A transfer from Memphis, where he saw limited action for the Division I-A Tigers last season, Harris is Southeast's leading rusher with 216 yards.

After missing the first two games with a knee injury, Harris has scored a touchdown in all three of his games at Southeast.

"We knew he was going to be good," Samuel said. "And he's not operating at 100 percent."

History vs. JSU

Southeast notched its only OVC win last year against Jacksonville State, upsetting the Gamecocks 32-25 in the season finale at Houck Stadium.

That stands as Southeast's lone victory in five tries against the Gamecocks since they joined the OVC in 2003.

Southeast's two trips to Jacksonville State since 2003 have resulted in lopsided losses, 38-7 in 2006 and 47-9 in 2004.

Noteworthy

* Southeast junior Doug Spada is second nationally in punting with a 46.4-yard average, which leads the OVC.

* Southeast senior linebacker Nick Stauffer is second nationally in tackles with 11.2 per game, which is second in the conference.

* Sunday's NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama has caused a shortage of motel availability in the Jacksonville area, so Southeast will be forced to spend Friday night about 90 minutes from Jacksonville.