Indians' passing attack takes shape in loss to Bowling Green

Newcomer Brian Matthews made his presence felt with six catches for 115 yards.

By Marty Mishow Southeast Missourian

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio. -- Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings expects Brian Matthews to be one of the Indians' top receivers this year.

While Billings was somewhat disappointed with Matthews' performance in the season opener at Southern Illinois on Sept. 2, the newcomer showed why his coach is so high on him Saturday night.

Although the Indians fell to 0-2 with a 49-10 loss at Division I-A Bowling Green, Matthews was one of the bright spots for Southeast as he caught six passes for 115 yards.

"Brian really stepped up," Billings said. "It was good to see that from him."

Matthews had two catches for 43 yards in a 42-3 loss at SIU. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior -- a transfer from East Tennessee State after that school dropped its football program -- said he simply felt more comfortable Saturday.

"Not only that, but I worked harder in practice and I think I just played harder tonight. I also had some more opportunities," said Matthews, who is averaging nearly 20 yards per reception.

Even though Southeast has scored just 13 points in its first two games against rugged opposition, the Indians' offense at least displayed some of the explosiveness against Bowling Green that Billings has been touting.

After being held to only 250 yards of offense against SIU, Southeast gained 359 yards Saturday, with quarterback Andrew Goodenough completing 25 of 33 passes for 269 yards.

"I think some things happened that we can build on," Goodenough said.

With Matthews and junior college transfer Oge Oge -- another big wide receiver at 6-4 and 210 pounds -- along with All-American tight end Ray Goodson and others, Goodenough figures to have plenty of options in the passing game.

Oge has caught five passes for 79 yards while Goodson, who had a team-high 66 receptions last year, is off to another strong start with 12 catches for 99 yards.

"Our offense started clicking," Goodson said. "It's encouraging."

Billings knows the Indians must still get their running game going -- they have rushed for just 148 yards in the first two games -- but he was also encouraged by Saturday's improved offense.

"I think we've got some playmakers, and Andrew played a lot better," Billings said.

As the Indians prepare for their final non-conference game -- Saturday at Central Michigan, another Division I-A squad -- they vowed not to let the first two lopsided losses get them down.

"We won't get down," linebacker O.J. Turner said. "We knew our early schedule would be really tough."

Said Goodenough, "The bottom line is we've got to keep getting better, and playing these kinds of teams will make us better. Our goal is to win the OVC and I still think we've got a good chance."

Added Goodson, "This is just the preseason. These games will make us better and get us ready for the OVC."

Southeast begins its eight-game Ohio Valley Conference schedule Sept. 25 at home against Samford.

Noteworthy

Junior college transfer Mike Haley, the Indians' backup quarterback, saw the first action of his Southeast career late in Saturday's game. He completed two of eight passes for nine yards and also rushed three times for 10 yards.

Redshirt freshman tight end Joseph Tuineau, a native of New Zealand who Billings has been touting as a star of the future, made the first receptions of his Southeast career. He caught two passes for 13 yards.

Southeast's defense came up with its first two turnovers of the season Saturday as Mike Miller intercepted a pass and Kellin White recovered a fumble.

Central Michigan, the Indians' next opponent, is also 0-2 and has been outscored 65-17, including Saturday's 24-7 loss at Michigan State.BOWLING GREEN 49, SOUTHEAST 10

Southeast 0 3 7 0 -- 10

Bowling Green 13 12 14 10 -- 49

First Quarter

BG -- Shaun Suisham 40 FG

BG -- Charles Sharon 8 pass from Omar Jacobs (Suisham kick)

BG -- Suisham 43 FG

Second Quarter

BG -- James Hawkins 20 pass from Jacobs (Suisham kick)

SE -- Derek Kutz 22 FG

BG -- Monty Cooley safety

BG -- Suisham 42 FGThird Quarter

BG -- Sharon 79 punt return (Suisham kick)

BG -- C. McGrady 19 pass from Jacobs (Suisham kick)

SE -- David Taufoou 1 run (Kutz kick)

Fourth Quarter

BG -- Derrick Lett 6 pass from Jacobs (Suisham kick)

BG -- J. Timchenko 40 FG

Southeast Bowling Green

First downs 17 28

Rushes-yards 24-81 50-216

Passing yards 278 285

Passes 27-41-1 24-38-1

Punts 5-42.8 2-50.5

Fumbles-Lost 3-3 3-1

Penalties-Yards 7-60 13-64

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING --Southeast, Taufoou 9-42, Jamel Oliver 11-31, Mike Haley 3-10; Bowling Green, P.J. Pope 12-64, B.J. Lane 14-49, Dan Macon 7-46, Jacobs 9-28, Steve Sanders 1-20, Van Johnson 2-12, J. Washington 4-(-1)

PASSING -- Southeast, Goodenough 25-33-1-269, Haley 2-8-0-9; Bowling Green, Jacobs 24-37-1-285, Washington 0-1-0-0

RECEIVING --Southeast, Ray Goodson 7-45, Brian Matthews 6-115, Oge Oge 3-55, T.J. Milicic 3-39, Oliver 3-4, Joseph Tuineau 2-13, Bill Coleman 2-7, Taufoou 1-0; Bowling Green, Pope 6-55, Hawkins 4-82, Sharon 3-22, Sanders 2-37, McGrady 2-26, Brandon Jones 2-11, Cole Magner 2-10, K. Brantley 1-23, S. O'Drobinak 1-13, Lett 1-6