INDIANS TO FACE NO. 1 TEAM IN LAND SATURDAY IN TENN. ST.

Southeast Missouri State University's football team certainly won't lack for motivation this week as the Indians go through their final practices of the season.

Awaiting the Indians in Saturday's season finale is undefeated Tennessee State, which just happens to be the nation's top-ranked NCAA Division I-AA squad.

The Tigers, ranked second for the past several weeks, ascended to that lofty perch Monday by virtue of previous No. 1 Troy State's 24-7 loss to McNeese State.

So the Tigers, who are 10-0 overall and have wrapped up their second straight Ohio Valley Conference championship with a 6-0 record, will no doubt be flying high when they come to Cape Girardeau for Saturday's 3:05 p.m. kickoff at Houck Stadium."The kids are excited about playing Tennessee State. We're all jacked up for it," said Southeast coach John Mumford. "There aren't many times you get to play the No. 1 team in the country and see how you measure up."For the 3-7 Indians, in addition to facing the nation's top-ranked team, they have the added incentive of trying to finish the season with a four-game winning streak."There's a lot at stake for us," Mumford said. "After losing the first seven, to win four in a row and continue to show the way we've bounced back would be quite an accomplishment."And Mumford said even more incentive should come in the form of the game being televised live back to Nashville by WSMV-TV, the NBC affiliate in Nashville.

In addition, the telecast will be shown locally on WDKA-TV in Cape Girardeau." Having the game televised is great exposure for our university," said Mumford.

***

A host of Southeast seniors will be playing their final game Saturday, including 14 who can be considered starters, with many of them ranking among the squad's top performers.

Senior offensive starters are tight end John Borne, tackles Chris Kiefer and Ian Walters, guard Chad King, fullback Broderick Benson and tailbacks K.D. Koleosho and Riki Smith, who have shared duties most of the year.

Defensively, senior regulars are tackle Brad Richardson, end Joel Becker, linebackers Jeremy Atwell, David Bowling and Donovan LaViness, cornerback Brian Hinton and safety John Smith."I'm very proud of this group," said Mumford. "Generally, when you start out as poorly as we did, seniors are the most easily frustrated, but these guys really stuck with it."This has really been a good group. I'm really in awe of their patience and through their patience, they've led us very well. It would be great to send them off with a win over the No. 1 team in the country."

***

On the injury front, wide receiver and kick returner Corey Chester should be ready to play Saturday. He missed the Eastern Illinois game Nov. 6 with a shoulder injury.

Cornerback Andre Clark hurt a knee against Eastern Illinois and he is questionable for Tennessee State.

***

Hinton continues to lead the OVC in interceptions with five. Safety Isaac Powell is tied for fourth in the league with three interceptions.

Hinton is also second in the OVC and 12th nationally in kickoff returns with an average of 25.9-yard average.

Quarterback Rashad West continues to rank second in the OVC in passing efficiency while wide receiver Leslie Weaver is eighth in receptions per game. He has caught 34 passes.

Atwell has dropped from first place in the league in tackles after Southeast's off week; he is now fourth with 99, just ahead of LaViness, who has 94. Bowling is 10th with 82.

Atwell and LaViness also rank in the top 10 in tackles for loss, Atwell third with 18 and LaViness ninth with 14.