INDIANS LOSE BATTLE FOR A PERFECT FINISH

Tennessee State's football team put the finishing touches on a perfect regular season Saturday, but the Tigers had to withstand a spirited and impressive effort by Southeast Missouri State University's Indians in order to pull off the rare feat.

Southeast battled TSU on even terms most of the way before the Tigers were able to hold on for a 35-28 victory that ended the season for Southeast. A crowd of 6,850 watched the game at Houck Stadium.

The Tigers, the nation's top-ranked NCAA Division I-AA football team, improved to 11-0 overall and 7-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The OVC champions will almost certainly host a first-round I-AA playoff game.

The Indians, who had their three-game winning streak snapped, finish with a 3-8 overall record and a 2-5 OVC mark.

After the game, an emotional Southeast coach John Mumford lauded the performance of his squad, not just Saturday but over the final four weeks of the season, when the Indians became one of the more feared teams in the OVC."A lot of factors went into it, but the last four weeks I feel like we were as good as any team in the conference. We became a pretty good football team," said Mumford. "We're not pleased with 3-8. That's not real good. But a lot of rewards came out of this season that these guys will take later on in life."We lose 16 seniors and I could go on and on about them, and how they stuck with it and gave us great leadership. It's been an emotional day. I just told them (after the game) that in 20 years (of coaching), this is probably the team that had the most character, will and courage. The record doesn't show it, but I feel they're winners. I told them they deserved a lot better than what they got this year."Mumford might very well have coached his final game at Southeast Saturday. The Indians have gone 3-8 two years in a row and Mumford, who received just a one-year contract extension after last season, is 40-70 in 10 seasons as the Indians' head coach. An announcement regarding Mumford's future at Southeast could come as early as today, or probably Monday at the latest."We'll just see what happens," said Mumford. "I just need to get through this night and enjoy it with my family. I'll worry about it in the morning."Even though the Indians lost Saturday, Mumford knows they left everything on the field and, had a couple of plays gone their way, could have pulled off the monumental upset."It was a heck of a game. Tennessee State has a very talented team with so many weapons," Mumford said. "I'm real proud of my guys. They believed they could do it and they almost did."Offense ruled much of the contest, particularly in the first half, which ended with TSU leading 26-21.

The Tigers had 520 yards, led by quarterback Chris Perkins, who completed 34 of 51 passes for 431 yards and four touchdowns. Avion Black and Corey Sullivan each caught nine passes for well over 100 yards.

Southeast did the bulk of its damage on the ground, rushing for 337 of its 481 total yards. Quarterback Rashad West had another big game, running for 135 yards on 17 carries and completing 10 of 18 passes for 144 yards.

Broderick Benson had 119 yards on 18 attempts and scored three touchdowns while K.D. Koleosho gained 46 yards on just six carries before suffering a knee injury early in the second quarter. He did not return. John Borne led the Southeast receivers with six catches for 102 yards."They are a smash-mouth football team. A team like this takes a lot out of you," said TSU coach L.C. Cole of the Indians. "They played hard and played well. They'd won three straight coming in and I can see why."Said Mumford, lauding his offensive line, "I'm so proud of those guys up front. They didn't do well early in the season but the last four games they really played well."TSU had not trailed in the first half of a game all season, but the Tigers fell behind the Indians two different times in the opening two quarters.

After the Tigers went ahead 7-0 early in the game, the Indians got a 6-yard touchdown run by Benson and a 42-yard TD dash by West to take a 14-7 lead. TSU tied it at 14-all later in the first quarter.

The Indians went back in front 21-14 early in the second quarter on Benson's 2-yard run. But the Tigers scored the final 12 points of the half, Black's 19-yard touchdown catch with just 37 seconds left before the intermission putting TSU ahead for good at 26-21.

TSU seemed to take control of the game when Hull caught a 23-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to make it 32-21. A field goal with just over nine minutes left in the game made it 35-21.

But the Indians would not fold. Benson's 5-yard run with 3:26 left made it 35-28 and the Indians had one final chance when they got the ball back on their 18 with 1:02.

Out of timeouts, the Indians were able to reach the TSU 47 with 2.7 seconds left, but West's desperation heave near the goal line was intercepted by Chane Price to seal the Tigers' perfect regular season.

According to unofficial press box statistics, linebacker Jeremy Atwell led Southeast with 11 tackles. He also intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.

Ed Sanders and Brent Sterling had 12 and 11 tackles, respectively, to lead the Tigers' defense.

In addition to Koleosho's injury, which is not expected to require surgery, defensive back Demar Winston suffered a broken arm early in the third quarter.