INDIAN EFFORT FAILS TO PRODUCE WINS

Frustrating is the word Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford uses to sum up the Indians' season.

Speaking at his weekly media conference Monday morning, Mumford said he has no complaints with the kind of effort the Indians have put forth all season and he loves the attitude of his squad.

But the Indians have simply not made enough key plays to put together a successful season. The Indians are 3-6 overall and 2-4 in Ohio Valley Conference play with two games remaining, starting Saturday at Eastern Kentucky.

"It's frustrating," said Mumford. "We've played some good football but we don't have the wins to show for it.

"We cannot have a winning season and that hurts us deeply. We're not in the OVC hunt (the Indians are tied for sixth in the eight-team league) and that hurts us deeply."

Added Mumford, "This is an enjoyable group of young men who have been playing through a lot of adversity. I've been pleased with the leadership of our seniors. We're not where we want to be, but we just have to go on."

Mumford, whose team is coming off a 21-19 loss to Middle Tennessee in its final home game of the season, believes the Indians have a legitimate chance to do something that no Southeast squad has ever done -- defeat Eastern Kentucky.

The Colonels, under legendary coach Roy Kidd -- EKU's stadium is named after him -- have won 18 OVC titles and were heavily favored to make it 19 this year.

But the Colonels recently lost three straight conference games and will likely finish with their worst OVC standing ever. EKU is 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the OVC, which puts them in fifth place.

"They've still got a lot of talent but it's been an unusual season for them," Mumford said. "I'd say injuries and the parity in the league this year have probably been the biggest factors why they haven't done better.

"I think it's a great opportunity for our football team. Until this year, they had been almost impossible to beat at home but they've lost some home games this year. Even though we can't have a winning season, we can go to Richmond and beat Eastern Kentucky, which we have never done."

The Colonels have won all eight meetings with the Indians. Some have been competitive -- like last season's 20-10 outcome in Cape Girardeau -- while others have been lopsided -- like a 45-0 EKU romp two years ago in Richmond.

EKU boasts the OVC's top-rated passer in transfer Jon Denton, who set numerous NCAA records at Nevada-Las Vegas before running into problems there. Denton has completed nearly 58 percent of his passes (97 of 168) for 1,465 yards and 16 touchdowns, with just three interceptions.

Rondel Menendez -- one of the OVC's fastest players with a 40-yard dash time of close to 4.2 seconds -- leads the league in receiving yards per game and is second in receptions per game. Menendez has caught 36 passes for 669 yards and seven touchdowns in just six games.

* The Indians continue to have leaders in two of the OVC's major statistical categories.

Senior tailback Corey Williams is tops in scoring with an average of 9.43 points per game, which ranks 14th nationally. Williams has 11 touchdowns despite missing virtually all of three games with a dislocated elbow.

Senior linebacker Kevin Meachem has an OVC-best 89 tackles and he is fourth in quarterback sacks with six, tops on the team.

* Senior wide receiver Dante Bryant now has 106 catches in his Southeast career. Bryant leads the Indians this year with 38 receptions for 432 yards.

* Team-wise, the Indians are third in the OVC in total defense, allowing an average of 342.2 yards per game. They are also third in rushing defense at 129.1 yards per game.

On the other side of the ball, the Indians are second in rushing offense with 161.8 yards per game.

* On the injury front, defensive back Andre Clark (knee) and tailback K.D. Koleosho (achilles) are doubtful for the EKU game.

Tight end Mitch Fryer (ankle), defensive tackle Troy Baglio (knee), defensive end Marcus McLellan (ankle) and linebacker Octavio Campos (back) are probable.