INDIANS RELOAD SLINGSHOT FOR WCU

Is there anything left in Southeast Missouri State University's slingshot?

Tim Billings, the Indians' first-year head football coach, sure hopes so.

The Indians have recorded two straight stunning victories, first rallying from 31 points down to beat Southern Illinois and then shocking national power Illinois State during last Saturday's home opener.

Tonight, in a 6 o'clock Family Weekend contest at Houck Stadium, the 2-1 Indians face another daunting challenge when they open Ohio Valley Conference play against the 2-0 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, who are ranked 24th nationally in Division I-AA and have not yet allowed a point.

"We've used two stones to slay Goliath the past two weeks," said Billings with a laugh. "This week we have to find another stone."

More seriously, Billings said, "It doesn't get any easier. They're averaging 50-some (actually 47) points per game and they're the only team in the nation that hasn't been scored on. We're playing an excellent football team."

Western Kentucky certainly figures to pose quite a few problems for the Indians from both a system and personnel standpoint.

For starters, Billings realizes that the Hilltoppers are extremely talented. Then there is the fact they run an option offense, something the Indians have not yet seen this year and something that is normally very difficult to prepare for.

"It's been a really tough week for the defense to prepare, because we don't play the option that much," he said. "They put you in tough situations on defense."

What perhaps makes this year's Western Kentucky offense more difficult to defend than in some seasons past is the fact the Hilltoppers appear to have a quarterback who is a very capable passer.

Jason Johnson, a junior-college transfer, has completed nine of 14 attempts for 209 yards. He's also directed the option effectively with 123 yards rushing and a 5.6-yard-per-carry average.

"Their quarterback is a good player," said Billings. "He can run and throw well."

Jack Harbaugh, Western Kentucky's veteran coach, said Johnson has added an important dimension to the Hilltoppers' attack.

"He's still learning (the system), but I'm very impressed with his athleticism, and he throws the ball better than some quarterbacks we've had here in the past, which gives us another dimension," said Harbaugh.

Keith Brooks is the Hilltoppers' leading rusher with 151 yards (7.6 average). Dewayne Gallishaw has added 115 yards (4.8 average).

The Hilltoppers are third in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 343.5 yards on the ground per game. Some of that can be attributed to the fact they opened the season with a 71-0 rout of perennial OVC doormat Tennessee-Martin, but Western Kentucky showed its mettle last Saturday by beating nationally ranked Elon on the road 23-0.

"Elon always has a very good team, and to go there and shut them out, that shows you what kind of team Western Kentucky has," said Billings.

Defensively, the Hilltoppers are led by speedy linebackers Melvin Wisham and Sherrod Coates, who are considered two of the best in the OVC.

"We have some excellent athletes (on defense)," Harbaugh said. "They run around, make plays. But we've played two option teams (in the first two weeks of the season), and now we have to make a transition to a one-back, passing offense. That's tough, because we're an option team, so that's what we see in practice."

Harbaugh said he has all the respect in the world for what Billings and his brand-new coaching staff have done with the Indians, who won only three games all of last season.

"I'm really, really impressed with the job coach Billings and his staff have done. It's amazing, the enthusiasm and the attitude he's instilled in that ballclub, and what they've been able to do in such a short time," said Harbaugh. "The last two weeks have demonstrated the type of character and leadership we will be facing this week. I expect a tough game, no question about it."

Not many people outside the Southeast program expect the Indians to be a factor in the OVC race this year; they have been picked to finish seventh in the eight-team league. Billings doesn't see why the Indians can't surprise a lot of people and he knows a win tonight would be a major step in that direction.

"It's a big football game," Billings said. "You have to win your home games. If we can win this one, we feel like we can be in the hunt in the OVC. But we've got a tough one to open with."

* Quarterback Rashad West is expected to start for Southeast tonight after missing the Illinois State game with a sprained ankle.

* Zimmer Radio and the Cash-Book Journal will be sponsoring a pre-game tailgate party outside Houck Stadium starting at 3 p.m. today.