INDIANS JUST MISS TOP 25

Don't look now, but Southeast Missouri State University's football team is off to its best start since 1990.

With a 2-1 record following Saturday's thrilling 28-25 victory over nationally-ranked Illinois State, the Indians have matched the start of the 1990 squad. During that final season of NCAA Division II play, Southeast won its first two games and three of its first four on the way to a 7-3 final record.

And because of the current 2-1 mark -- which includes a 34-33 comeback win over Southern Illinois two weeks ago after Southeast trailed 31-0 in the first half -- the Indians are even receiving their share of national attention.

In the latest Sports Network NCAA Division I-AA poll released Monday, the Indians garnered the second-most votes among those squads that failed to make the top 25, meaning they are unofficially ranked 27th nationally.

Since moving to the I-AA level in 1991, the Indians have cracked the national top 25 just one time, that coming in 1995 when they were rated 20th in the Sports Network preseason poll following a 7-5 season in 1994. But that ranking didn't last long as they lost their 95 opener.

Speaking at his weekly media conference Monday, Southeast coach Tim Billings acknowledged that it's nice to be 2-1, particularly since the Indians have played a brutal schedule so far.

"I'm real pleased. We've beaten two good football teams. We could have lost both of these last two games, but we just found a way to win," said Billings, who added with a smile, "but this is my poorest start in six or seven years. I know it's good for here, but the key is to be 3-1."

Billings, of course, is used to plenty of success, having spent the past 10 seasons as an assistant coach at Marshall, which was the nation's winningest football program of the 1990s.

Billings is the first person to admit that fate -- or something -- has definitely been smiling on his first Southeast squad over the past two weeks.

First came the unbelievable comeback over SIU. Then Saturday, playing their first home game of the season, the Indians were totally dominated statistically -- Illinois State had 445 yards to 167 for Southeast -- but used two defensive touchdowns and a fake punt for a TD to pull off the upset of a team ranked 12th nationally at the time.

"It was a great win, do doubt about that," Billings said. "The stars were aligned for us again. I thought they were aligned perfectly last week (against SIU), but they were even a little better this time."

Even though Southeast has won two of its first three games -- the loss was a 63-7 setback at I-A power Marshall in the season opener -- Billings realizes the Indians have so many things they need to improve on. He knows a team won't win many games being statistically dominated like what happened Saturday.

"Defensively, we're getting better. Our defense helped us win the football game," he said. "Offensively, I was disappointed. We didn't play very well. We just have to get better.

"We're a better football team this week than we were last week, but we're still not where we want to be. We have to keep improving."

If the Indians are to reach Billings' target of getting to 3-1, they will have to pull off another upset this week as they begin Ohio Valley Conference play Saturday with a 6 p.m. home game against Western Kentucky.

The Hilltoppers, who have already played one OVC contest, are off to a 2-0 start and they are ranked 24th after Saturday's impressive 23-0 win at previously ranked Elon. Western Kentucky's other triumph was a 71-0 romp past league foe Tennessee-Martin.

"It doesn't get any easier. We're playing an excellent football team and it's going to be a very, very tough game," said Billings. "It's a new season now (with OVC play starting). This is what it's all about."

An announced crowd of 8,125 was on hand at Houck Stadium Saturday for Billings' first home game as Southeast's coach. He was pleased with that but will be looking for an even bigger turnout for the Family Weekend contest against Western Kentucky.

"We had over 8,000 (against Illinois State), but I was watching the film and I still saw some empty seats," Billings said. "There's no reason we can't fill it."

As part of the Family Weekend festivities, immediately following Saturday's game there will be a concert featuring Davy Jones of the Monkees.

* Billings said that quarterback Rashad West, who missed the Illinois State game after spraining an ankle during the first half against SIU, will probably return to the starting lineup Saturday.

"If Rashad is well enough and he can practice (this week), which it looks like he'll be able to, then he'll probably start," said Billings.

Bobby Brune, who directed the big comeback win over SIU, started and played the entire game against Illinois State.

* After reviewing game film, safety Isaac Powell was credited with 20 tackles against Illinois State, moving him into second place on the squad with 39 tackles.

Southeast's other safety, Joe Williams, leads the Indians with 40 tackles, which ranks fourth in the OVC. Powell is fifth in the league while defensive end Charles Sorter is sixth with 37 tackles.

Sorter is tied for first in the OVC in both quarterback sacks with three and tackles for loss with eight.

Cornerback Isaac Huddleston, who had two interceptions against Illinois State and returned one for a touchdown, is tied for the OVC lead in interceptions and he ranks 26th nationally.

* In national team statistics, the Indians are ranked 11th in punt returns with an average of 15.5 yards per return, thanks to Curtis Cooper, who has all of Southeast's punt returns and ranks third in the OVC.

Also, they are 18th nationally in turnover margin with a plus 1.33, which has been one of the primary reasons for their two victories.

But on the other hand, the Indians rank extremely low nationally in a host of categories, including rushing offense (112th), total offense (108th), rushing defense (117th), total defense (106th) and scoring defense (110th).

* On the injury front, freshman reserve linebacker Travion Brock suffered a broken arm against Illinois State and underwent surgery Sunday.

Another reserve linebacker, sophomore Justin Hayes, suffered a sprained knee Saturday but he is probable for this week.

* Early-season results appear to indicate that the OVC is stronger this year than it has been in quite some time.

The league is 11-8 overall in non-conference games, with four of the losses coming to I-A teams. Against I-AA competition, the OVC is 7-4, with three of the losses coming by three points or less.

Even though Western Kentucky's shutout of Elon Saturday was impressive, Eastern Illinois might have had the most eye-opening performance of the weekend even though it came in a loss.

The Panthers piled up 522 yards against undefeated I-A squad Toledo -- which earlier this season dominated Penn State -- and drove to the Toledo 7-yard line before time ran out during a 31-26 setback.