INDIANS LEAVE MARTIN SMARTIN'; SOUTHEAST ROLLS TO 42-7 VICTORY

MARTIN, Tenn. -- The last two weeks had not been much fun for Southeast Missouri State University's football team as the Indians lost to Illinois State and Murray State by a combined 58-10 score.

But all that changed in a big way here Saturday night. The Indians' frowns turned to big-time smiles as they broke a two-game losing streak with a 42-7 romp past the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks.

After falling behind 7-0 early, the Indians blitzed the winless Skyhawks with a 42-point barrage as they squared both their overall (2-2) and Ohio Valley Conference (1-1) records.

The Indians' 35-point margin of victory was their biggest since moving up to the Division I-AA level in 1991 and their largest since a 46-10 romp past Lincoln in the final game of the 1989 season.

"It feels good. A lot better than before," said a smiling Southeast head coach John Mumford. "All in all, it was a heck of a win."

For the first time since a season-opening win over Lambuth, the Indians got major contributions from both their offense and defense on the same night.

Southeast's defense was its usual stingy self, limiting the Skyhawks to 168 total yards and six first downs and giving the Indians' offense great field position virtually all game long. The Tribe's `D' even scored a touchdown on a Ronnie Smith interception return.

And this time the Southeast offense was able to capitalize as the Indians dropped the Skyhawks -- whose lone win last season came at the expense of the Tribe -- to 0-4 overall, 0-2 in OVC play.

"This feels great. It was a total team effort," said Southeast preseason All-American defensive lineman Angel Rubio. "We needed this one. It gives us confidence on both sides of the ball.

"We've had confidence in the offense all along. They played the way we knew they were capable of playing."

The Indians churned out 332 yards of offense, including 162 through the air as quarterback Justin Martini directed the Indians' attack impressively.

Making his first start of the season after Heath Graham quit the team earlier in the week, Martini completed nine of 16 passes, including touchdown strikes of 28 yards to Dante Bryant and 32 yards to Leslie Weaver.

"Justin ran the club very well," Mumford said. "The kids responded to him."

The Indians' rushing attack netted 170 yards, led by K.D. Koloesho, who gained 84 yards on 16 carries and scored on a 43-yard run.

Fullback Britt Mirgaux, used primarily as a blocker previously, added 36 yards on seven attempts and scored on a 2-yard run.

Another rushing touchdown came from Aaron Layne on a 20-yard dash.

For I-A transfers Weaver, Koleosho and Layne, it was their first touchdowns as members of the Southeast squad.

"We hit some big plays and had good field position," said Mumford. "I thought our defense really punished Martin physically."

The Skyhawks -- who have been outscored 151-27 so far -- took their first lead of the season late in the first quarter after Southeast muffed a punt. Freshman quarterback Brock Bailey hit Wesley Moore with a 45-yard scoring strike, putting UTM ahead 7-0.

But that was to be one of the Skyhawks' few highlights the entire night.

Southeast took charge with a 21-point second quarter, starting with the speedy Koleosho's 43-yard scamper that capped a four-play, 61-yard drive. The first of Eric Warren's six conversion kicks tied the contest at 7-7 with 12:05 left before halftime.

The Indians took the lead for good with 4:48 remaining in the first half as Martini hit Bryant in the corner of the end zone with a beautifully timed 28-yard pass. That capped a short four-play, 45-yard drive.

Southeast's next possession began at the UTM 49 and it took the Indians nine plays to score, Mirgaux doing the honors from two yards out just 41 seconds left before the intermission.

The Indians went ahead 28-7 on the opening possession of the second half. Willie Davis' 56-yard kickoff return put the ball at the UTM 43. Four plays later, Martini hit Weaver with a 32-yard TD strike.

And things were going to get even worse for the Skyhawks -- much worse.

Early in the third quarter, Bailey was slammed to the grass on a sack by Marcus McClellan and the quarterback had to be helped to the sideline. He did not play the rest of the game.

Then in the closing seconds of the third period, Smith made a juggling interception of a Nick Roberts pass and went 43 yards down the sideline to the end zone. It was Smith's second defensive touchdown of his Southeast career; last year he returned a fumble 91 yards against Austin Peay.

Southeast scored its final TD early in the fourth quarter on Layne's 20-yard dash.

After that, it was call-off-the-dogs time as the Indians cleared their bench. Converted wide receiver Jeff Shaw, who moved into the backup quarterback role with Graham's departure, played virtually the entire final period in place of Martini.

McClellan was credited with three tackles for loss to lead the Indians' defense. He, Rubio and Damon Hendrick recorded sacks while Hendrick recovered a fumble. Fred Hambrick joined Smith with an interception.