INDIANS FLUNK REDBIRD TEST; SOUTHEAST FALLS 41-7 IN 1ST BIG CHALLENGE

It was certainly not the way Southeast Missouri State University's football Indians envisioned making a bold statement about their new and improved look this season.

Facing their first legitimate test of 1977, the Indians flunked with flying colors as Illinois State rolled to a 41-7 victory Saturday night.

A crowd of 5,143 at Houck Stadium saw a scene that was eerily reminiscent of last season: a moribund offense, a big special teams blunder and a defense that was strong early but wore down in the second half.

It all added up to an ISU blowout as the Redbirds improved to 2-1. Southeast, which had opened the season by coasting past NAIA foe Lambuth 24-6 on Aug. 30, fell to 1-1.

To say Southeast coach John Mumford was a bit stunned by the 34-point home loss would be an understatement.

"I'm in total shock right now," he said. "I thought we're a better football team than we displayed.

"We gave Illinois State too many things. But not to take anything away from Illinois State. They got on a roll and they have a lot of talent."

How about a 41-point roll. The Redbirds, after falling behind 7-0 early, scored the game's final 41 points.

"I'm pleased," said ISU coach Todd Berry, a former Southeast assistant under Mumford. "We've got a real nice chemistry about us."

ISU's defense had been shredded for an average of 528 yards and 36 points over the Redbirds' first two games.

But against Southeast's offense, the Redbirds' defense looked like one of the nation's best. The Indians managed just 168 total yards, including only 31 yards on the ground as ISU defenders appeared to be in Southeast's backfield most of the night.

"The offense has to control the ball," Mumford said. "Our defense was on the field way too much in the first half."

The Redbirds' offense, directed by talented freshman quarterback Kevin Glenn, gained 388 yards. Glenn passed for 179 yards and three touchdowns.

In addition to being extremely ineffective offensively, the Indians added to their woes by committing seven turnovers. Quarterbacks Heath Graham and Justin Martini (who came in late when the outcome had already been decided) combined to throw five interceptions.

ISU also had its share of turnovers with four and a big one early in the game allowed Southeast to score its only touchdown of the night.

With just under four minutes left in the opening quarter, Fred Hambrick intercepted a Glenn pass deep in ISU territory and returned it 13 yards to the one. On the first play, Broderick Benson scored and Eric Warren's extra point gave the Indians a 7-0 lead.

At that point, the Indians' defense was playing well and limiting the Redbirds' effectiveness.

But Southeast handed the touchdown right back to ISU early in the second quarter. The Indians were punting deep in their own territory when the snap sailed over punter Justin Terrill's head and into the end zone. ISU's Jacob Niete fell on the ball to tie the contest at 7-7.

"The bad snap gave them momentum," said Mumford. "I felt we were in pretty good shape early. The defense was swarming. Then we gave them the touchdown."

It was all Redbirds after that. The Indians did help out with several first-half dropped passes that could have turned things back in their favor, but it didn't happen.

On a fourth-and-17 play, Glenn hit Marquis Mosely with a 31-yard touchdown pass to put ISU ahead 14-7 midway through the second quarter. Jake Strader tacked on a 35-yard field goal late in the period to make it 17-7 at halftime.

The second half was no contest as the Redbirds scored seven points in the third quarter and 17 more in the final period. Glenn had second-half touchdown passes of five yards to Terel Patrick and 44 to Mosely while Corey Day scored on a 14-yard run and Strader hit a 34-yard field goal.

Now Southeast will try to get in its bounce-back mode as the Indians prepare for next Saturday's road game against two-time defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Murray State.