INDIANS LOOK TO END SKIDS AGAINST EKU

Southeast Missouri State University's football team will be looking to break a pair of nine-game losing streaks tonight.

The Indians, who host Eastern Kentucky in a 6 p.m. Family Weekend contest at Houck Stadium, have suffered nine straight defeats dating back to the seventh game of the 1998 season.

And the Indians have also lost all nine meetings with the Colonels in a series that began in 1990.

Southeast is 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference this season. EKU, which is ranked 21st nationally and will be playing its OVC opener tonight, is 3-1.

"For the most part, we've played Eastern Kentucky tough in the past, but never enough to get over the hump," said Southeast coach John Mumford. "I couldn't think of anything better than to beat EKU on Family Weekend. That would be a great shot in the arm."

The Indians are certainly in need of something to boost their sagging fortunes. A competitive 21-10 loss at Western Kentucky last Saturday is something Mumford figures his team can build on, especially after the way Southeast was routed in its first three games.

"We're getting to be more competitive and that was our most competitive game so far," Mumford said. "But we have to start making plays. We started knocking on the door against Western Kentucky. Now we need to kick in the door."

If the Indians are to barge through the door tonight, then they will have to knock off the nation's winningest NCAA Division I-AA football program of all time.

Since Division I-AA was formed in 1978, the Colonels have gone 197-63-21, the best record of any I-AA team during that time.

EKU has won 12 OVC titles since 1980 and has posted 21 straight winning seasons. Legendary coach Roy Kidd has a 289-109-8 record in his 36th season in charge of the Colonels.

"They've just got an unbelievable tradition," acknowledged Mumford.

The EKU machine hit something of a road block last year as the Colonels went just 6-5 and uncharacteristically did not qualify for the I-AA playoffs.

If the first four games of this season are any indication, the Colonels are improved from last year but perhaps still not up to the level of their glorious past.

Still, EKU -- which has lost only to national powerhouse Appalachian State -- appears to be quite formidable, led by its usual punishing ground attack.

"They're a typical EKU team," said Mumford. "They're going to line up and come at you. They're not going to do anything fancy. They'll just give the ball to their tailbacks, throw in some play-action passes and count on their people being better than your people."

The Colonels have two of the OVC's top tailbacks in former Louisville transfer Corey Crume and ex-Kentucky transfer Derek Logan. Crume leads the OVC with 398 yards while Logan is fourth with 269 yards. They average 5.3 and 4.9 yards per carry, respectively.

"Crume and Logan are both outstanding," Mumford said. "They eat up a lot of yardage."

Although EKU is not considered a passing team, quarterback Waylon Chapman has impressive numbers. He's completed 63 percent of his attempts (55 of 87) for 643 yards, with eight touchdowns and four interceptions.

"Their quarterback is a big, strong kid," said Mumford. "They suck you in with the run and then they're very dangerous with the play-action."

Defensively, the Colonels have struggled some, particularly against the run. EKU, like Southeast, ranks low in the national rushing defense statistics, both squads allowing 213 yards per game.

Southeast has struggled running the ball, averaging less than 100 yards per game, but that has picked up in the past two weeks and Mumford believes the Indians might be able to finally get their ground game untracked tonight.

Mike Gross will make his second straight start at quarterback for the Indians after accounting for 175 yards worth of total offense against Western Kentucky.

Defensively, the Indians will look for another strong effort from a unit that had by far its best performance of the season against Western Kentucky, limiting the Hilltoppers to 224 yards of total offense.

INDIAN NOTES: There will be plenty of activities surrounding tonight's Family Weekend game.

In addition to a concert by the legendary Beach Boys following the contest, one fan attending the game could drive home in a new Nissan 4 X 4 Aztec Red pickup truck.

Tonight's corporate game sponsor, The First National Bank, will sponsor a "Lucky Fan of the Game" promotion at halftime.

One selected fan will have the opportunity to kick a football from a tee or by punting at a distance of 35 yards into the back of the new truck from Crown Cadillac Olds Nissan. The football cannot bounce in our out of the truck. It must land in the bed of the truck and remain there...

Also tonight, Southeast women's basketball standout Paula Corder-King will receive a plaque from the NCAA for being the top free-throw shooter in NCAA Division I women's basketball last season.

Eastern Kentucky at SEMO

When: Today, 6 p.m.

Where: Houck Stadium

Records: SEMO 0-4, 0-2 OVC; EKU 3-1, 0-0 OVC

1998 records: SEMO 3-8; WKU 6-5

Last Week: SEMO lost to Western Kentucky 21-10; EKU beat Samford 17-16

Coaches: John Mumford (SEMO) 37-66, 10th year; Roy Kidd (EKU) 289-109-8, 36th year

Series record: EKU leads 9-0

Last meeting: EKU won 19-7 in 1998

Radio: K103-FM

Eastern Kentucky at SEMO

Probable Starters

SEMO Offense

TE -- John Borne 6-1 235 Sr.

LT -- Ian Walters 6-4 295 Sr.

LG -- Chad King 6-2 300 Sr.

C -- West McKee 6-5 245 Fr.

RG -- David Fielder 6-3 290 Jr.

RT -- Chris Kiefer 6-3 285 Sr.

WR -- Leslie Weaver 5-7 155 Jr.

WR -- Corey Chester 5-11 180 Jr.

QB -- Mike Gross 6-0 185 So.

FB -- Sturge Cumberford 6-1 215 So.

TB -- Riki Smith 5-9 185 Sr.

PK -- Seth Carriere 5-11 180 So.

SEMO Defense

DE -- Chad Gwilliam 6-3 260 Jr.

DT -- Brad Richardson 6-2 275 Sr.

NG -- James Jenette 6-0 320 Fr.

DE -- Joel Becker 6-2 255 Sr.

LB -- Jeremy Atwell 6-1 220 Sr.

LB -- David Bowling 6-0 220 Sr.

LB -- Donovan LaViness 5-11 220 Sr.

CB -- Demar Winston 5-9 170 Fr.

CB -- Brian Hinton 5-10 165 Sr.

FS -- John Smith 6-1 195 Sr.

SS -- Isaac Powell 6-1 195 Jr.

P -- Seth Carriere 5-11 180 So.

EKU Defense

DE - Nick Hill 6-1 240 Fr.

DT - Terry Thomas 6-2 270 Sr.

DT - Jason Muchow 6-0 285 Sr.

DE - Shorty Combs 6-2 240 Jr.

LB - Nick Sullivan 6-2 222 So.

LB - Tim Gibbens 6-1 231 Jr.

LB - Adam Rader 6-0 207 Jr.

CB - Kris Nevels 5-9 157 Jr.

CB - Sunsett Graham 5-10 194 Fr.

FS - Shawn Gallant 6-1 200 Sr.

SS - Scooter Asel 6-0 205 Jr.

P - Luke Anderson 6-3 208 So.

EKU Offense

TE - Anthony Watson 6-3 244 Sr.

LT - Charles Watkins 6-2 283 Sr.

LG - Josh Hunter 6-3 290 Sr.

C - Chris Holder 6-2 293 Sr.

RG - Jacob Johnson 6-3 300 So.

RT - Brett O'Buck 6-4 281 Jr.

WR - Alex Bannister 6-5 194 Jr.

WR - Tyrone Browning 6-0 185 Jr.

QB - Waylon Chapman 6-3 224 Jr.

FB - Chad Culver 5-11 240 Fr.

TB - Corey Crume 6-0 222 Jr.

K - Jason Martin 6-2 215 Jr.