INDIANS SEEK OUT REVENGE AGAINST MARTIN 'HAWKS

Southeast Missouri State University's football team shouldn't be lacking for motivation tonight when the Indians play at the University of Tennessee-Martin.

The Indians, after winning their season opener, have lost their last two games and any hopes they have of putting together a strong, breakthrough campaign would be severely damaged with an upset loss to the winless Skyhawks.

Add to that the revenge factor -- UTM's only win last year came at the expense of Southeast, 7-6 at Houck Stadium -- and the Indians should be foaming at the mouth for the 7 p.m. kickoff at Skyhawk Stadium.

"It's a critical game for us," acknowledged Southeast coach John Mumford. "If we can win this one, we have the next two at home and I think we'll be in pretty good shape."

Southeast (1-2, 0-1 Ohio Valley Conference) would appear to have a decided edge over UTM (0-3, 0-1) entering the game, but Mumford knows -- particularly after last season -- that nothing can be taken for granted.

Mumford considers the Skyhawks, who are in a transition period with a new coaching staff, to be extremely dangerous and steadily improving.

"They lost pretty bad to two excellent football teams the first two weeks of the season (42-0 to Western Kentucky and 42-6 to Eastern Illinois), but they showed a lot of improvement last week (a 27-14 loss to Southwest Missouri State)," said Mumford. "They've got some talent and they'll be a tough team to beat. I think we kind of underestimated them last year but we can't do that this time."

UTM coach Jim Marshall, a former Skyhawks assistant who had been an assistant at Memphis before coming back to Martin to take over a struggling program, said he knew what he was getting into would not be easy.

"It's been a rough start," Marshall acknowledged. "Out of 56 kids we took to Southwest Missouri, 32 are new. It's just part of a rebuilding program. We're trying to get experience for these guys for the years to come."

Marshall said he doesn't know if the Skyhawks played all that much better against Southwest Missouri as they had in their previous two games.

"I don't know if it was us or if it was them playing bad to help us out," he said. "We're just having a hard time right now."

The Skyhawks did return several talented players from last season, including defensive end Antonio Strobridge and linebacker John Swift, who led the OVC in tackles and fumble recoveries a year ago.

UTM is fairly experienced on defense, with six seniors, but extremely inexperienced on offense, with only one senior. Southeast also starts just one senior on offense and five on defense.

True freshman quarterback Brock Bailey has struggled directing the UTM offense, completing just 23 of 72 passes (32 percent) for 256 yards.

"He (Bailey) has been playing like a freshman," said Marshall. "By the time he gets older and gets a year of experience under his belt, all this won't be new to him and he'll be a fine quarterback. But right now it's tough."

The Skyhawks got a boost against Southwest Missouri from tailback Darriel Ruffin, a junior-college transfer. Ruffin set a UTM record by rushing for 222 yards on 26 carries.

"That's the first big game he's had for us," Marshall said. "He ran the ball real well, but you have to have more things than just that."

While Southeast's defense has been strong and ranks as one of the best in the OVC, the Indians' offense ranks dead last with just 234 yards per game. Considering that UTM's defense allows an average of 455 yards a contest, Mumford is hoping this is the game that his offense breaks out and gains some confidence.SEMO at Tennessee-Martin

Probable Starters

SEMO Offense

TE - Mitch Fryer 6-2 240 Jr.

LT - Ian Walters 6-3 280 So.

LG - James Williams 6-2 275 Jr.

C - Chris Kiefer 6-3 270 So.

RG - Jessie Eaton 6-3 320 Jr.

RT - Dan Clauss 6-4 250 Jr.

WR - Leslie Weaver 5-10 190 Fr.

WR - Dante Bryant 6-1 190 Jr.

QB - Justin Martini 6-1 205 Sr.

FB - Britt Mirgaux 6-1 228 Jr.

TB - K.D. Koloesho 5-10 195 So.

PK - Eric Warren 5-7 190 Sr.

SEMO Defense

DL - Angel Rubio 6-3 290 Sr.

DL - Troy Baglio 6-1 280 Jr.

DL - Damon Hendrick 6-5 260 Sr.

DL - Marcus McClellan 6-3 250 Jr.

LB - Gabe Jenkins 6-0 230 Jr.

LB - Zuri Buchanan 6-0 240 So.

LB - Chris Justice 6-2 235 So.

CB - Fred Hambrick 5-10 180 Jr.

CB - Willie Davis 5-11 190 Sr.

FS - Michael Reece 6-1 200 Sr.

SS - Ronnie Smith 5-9 195 Sr.

P - Justin Terrill 6-2 185 Sr.

UTM Defense

DL - Antonio Strobridge 6-0 235 Sr.

DL - Reggie Walker 6-3 280 Sr.

DL - Ron Tharpe 6-1 270 Jr.

DL - Charlie Gill 6-3 225 Sr.

LB - Brian Johnson 6-1 180 Sr.

LB - Brian Bradshaw 6-3 250 Jr.

LB - John Swift 6-3 225 Sr.

CB - Corey Cob 6-1 190 Sr.

CB - Rod Harris 5-10 180 Jr.

FS - Brian White 5-11 200 Jr.

SS - Gary Wheeler 5-10 190 Jr.

P - Jade Stillings 5-10 180 Jr.

UTM Offense

TE - Ryan Edwards 6-4 210 So.

LT - Richard Coure 6-6 260 Sr.

LG - Dexter Milsap 6-1 285 Jr.

C - Patrick Allen 6-2 325 Jr.

RG - Rodney Swearingen 6-4 285 Jr.

RT - O.J. Bostic 6-4 330 Jr.

WR - David Barnes 5-11 185 Jr.

WR - Wesley Moore 6-3 205 Jr.

QB - Brock Bailey 6-3 175 Fr.

FB - Brent Hamrick 6-0 220 So.

TB - Darriel Ruffin 5-9 185 Jr.

PK - Jade Stillings 5-10 180 Jr.