INDIANS SHUT OUT AUSTIN PEAY; WIN SNAPS THREE-GAME SLIDE

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Okay, so maybe the competition wasn't all that great.

But Southeast Missouri State University's football team was still able to celebrate something of a milestone victory here Saturday afternoon.

The Indians had not recorded a shutout since the fourth game of the 1994 season when they downed Tennessee-Martin 10-0.

But Saturday, it was shutout time again for the Indians as they dealt struggling Austin Peay a 31-0 loss in front of 850 fans at Governors Stadium.

Not only did the Indians pitch a shutout -- just their second since moving to the Division I-AA level in 1991 -- they also broke a three-game losing streak and improved to 3-5 with the non-conference victory.

Austin Peay, which has drastically downgraded its program as it heads toward non-scholarship status, fell to 0-8. The Governors have been outscored 345-83 for the season and 263-27 the last six games.

"This one feels good," said Southeast coach John Mumford. "Not only to get the win, but the shutout is big. It kind of helps us re-establish our defense after last week (a 55-6 loss to Middle Tennessee)."

Although the Indians had trouble finishing off some drives, particularly in the first half, they ended with a season-high 425 yards of offense as they simply wore down the Governors in the second half. Austin Peay had 208 yards.

Aaron Layne paced Southeast's 270-yard rushing attack by gaining 127 yards on 14 carries. Britt Mirgaux added 65 yards while Corey Williams had 58.

Quarterback Justin Martini completed 6-of-15 passes for 155 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown connection with Dante Bryant and a 40-yard TD hookup with Mirgaux.

Mirgaux also scored on a four-yard run while senior safety Ronnie Smith scored his third touchdown of the season and fourth of his career by returning an interception 24 yards. Eric Warren added a 42-yard field goal.

Austin Peay moved the ball well at times behind third-team quarterback Dustin Bowling, who had attempted just four passes before Saturday but was unexpectedly pressed into duty when Jason Stooksbury came down with a throat infection during the week.

Although the Governors moved into Southeast territory several times, they could advance no deeper than the Indians' 24-yard line. That drive, on the game's opening possession, ended in a missed 41-yard field-goal attempt.

Marcus McClellan led the Indians' defensive charge with 2 1/2 sacks of Bowling.

Southeast wasn't exactly scintillating in the first half against the fired-up Governors, who played with plenty of emotion early.

The Indians led only 7-0 at the break, thanks to an 80-yard connection between Martini and Bryant midway through the second quarter. Bryant hauled in a 15-yard pass along the sideline, picked up a devastating block from tight end Mitch Fryer near midfield and romped to the end zone.

"We were a little slow starting out," said Mumford. "Austin Peay played hard. They came out and were fired up early."

Smith gave the Indians a 14-0 lead early in the third quarter when an errant Bowling pass went right to the Southeast safety, who avoided a few defenders on his way to the end zone.

Lacking in depth, the Governors began to wilt at this point as the Indians took total control of the contest.

Warren's 42-yard field goal late in the third period, which was set up by Layne's 57-yard run, put the Indians ahead 17-0.

Mirgaux caught a screen pass from Martini and rolled 40 yards for a touchdown just 1:35 into the fourth quarter for a 24-0 lead.

Less than two minutes later, Mirgaux scored the day's final touchdown with a four-yard run. Walk-on kicker Jamie Frisella booted the first extra point of his Southeast career after Warren had kicked the first three conversions.

"The kids did a great job in the second half," Mumford said. "Smith got us going with his interception and then our offense kicked in. Our backs really ran hard and the line did a good job."

Said Austin Peay coach Bill Schmitz, "I thought we were catching SEMO at the right time because they've been struggling. It looked like we kind of let down after the interception they ran back. And I thought our kids quit later in the game."

Southeast will return to Ohio Valley Conference action next Saturday when powerful Eastern Kentucky comes to Houck Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff.