INDIANS TRY TO SNARE SOUTHWEST'S BEARS; SOUTHEAST TAKES SHORT BREAK FROM ITS OVC SCHEDULE

SPRINGFIELD -- For the second consecutive week, Southeast Missouri State University's Indians will face a team that sends out a host of receivers and fires the football all over the field.

Southeast coach John Mumford hopes the Indians are more successful today than they were last Saturday.

The Indians, coming off a 38-7 home loss to Tennessee State, will face Southwest Missouri State in a 1:30 p.m. kickoff at Plaster Field.

"We'll be basically facing the same kind of attack that we faced last week," said Mumford. "They run the ball a little bit -- and they're effective when they do -- but they throw the ball a lot.

"Any time a team spreads you out, it's always extremely difficult to defend because you're expecting the pass but then they might hit you with a run. Hopefully having a look at that kind of offense against Tennessee State will help us this week."

Both teams could certainly use a victory in this non-conference game.

Southeast is 3-4 and will face Ohio Valley Conference heavyweights Middle Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky the next two weeks.

Southwest is 2-4, including a 1-2 mark in the rugged Gateway Conference. The Bears, who have lost two straight games, have been highly competitive except for a 49-14 season-opening loss to Division I-A Tulsa.

"Both teams are really kind of in the same boat," Mumford said. "They've played a brutal schedule but they've been in every game except for Tulsa."

The Bears own an impressive win over Northern Iowa and have lost to Arkansas State, Western Illinois and Indiana State by a total of 21 points.

"They're a young team with a lot of talent," said Mumford.

Southwest quarterback Derek Jensen has completed 121 of 228 passes (53 percent) for 1,365 yards, with four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Jensen's favorite targets are Jeff Hewitt (21 receptions, 258 yards), Robert Rose (21, 192), Brad St. Louis (19, 181) and Chance Thurman (17, 230).

While the Bears throw the ball quite a bit, they have also proven to be efficient in the running department. Maurice Daniels (383 yards, 7.1 yards per carry) and Corey McGriff (285, 5.2) are the ground leaders.

"They don't rely on the run but they're dangerous with it," Mumford said. "They're a lot like Tennessee State in that they set up the run with the pass."

The Bears, who average 384 yards of offense per game, allow an average of 388 yards a contest.

Linebackers Corky Martin and P.J. Jones lead the Bears in tackles with 76 and 73, respectively, while end Frank Emeterio has a team-high four quarterback sacks.

Southeast redshirt freshman quarterback Bobby Brune has completed 61.5 percent of his passes (48 of 73) for 585 yards, with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Dante Bryant (30 receptions, 329 yards), Leslie Weaver (21, 329) and Corey Chester (16, 244) are the Indians' top receivers.

Corey Williams, who leads the squad with 340 yards on the ground but has missed most of the past three games with a dislocated elbow, should be ready to see plenty of action today.

The Bears and Indians used to be longtime rivals when both teams were members of the old Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association, but the squads have met just twice in the 1990s.

Southwest, which leads the all-time series 38-27, won the last meeting by a 39-3 county in 1995. That game was played in Cape Girardeau.

"They have a beautiful facility and it's a great football atmosphere," said Mumford of the Bears' home field. "It's their homecoming game and it will be a tremendous atmosphere.

"We need to bounce back from Tennessee State and come back with a strong game. It would be great to spoil their homecoming."

SEMO at Southwest Missouri

When: Today, 1:30 p.m.

Where: Plaster Field, Springfield, Mo.

Records: SEMO 3-4, 2-3 OVC; SMS 2-4, 1-2 Gateway

1997 records: SEMO 4-7; SMS 5-6

Last Week: SEMO lost to Tennessee State 38-7; SMS lost to Indiana State 24-14

Coaches: John Mumford (SEMO) 37-58, 9th year; Del Miller (SMS) 18-21, 4th year

Series record: SMS leads 38-27

Last meeting: SMS won 39-3 in 1995

Radio: K103-FM

SEMO at Southwest Missouri

Probable Starters

SEMO Offense

TE - Mitch Fryer 6-2 240 Sr.

LT - Ian Walters 6-3 280 Jr.

LG - James Williams 6-2 275 Sr.

C - Chris Kiefer 6-3 270 Jr.

RG - Jessie Eaton 6-3 320 Sr.

RT - Carlos DeJesus 6-3 300 Sr.

WR - Corey Chester 5-11 175 So.

WR - Dante Bryant 6-1 190 Sr.

QB - Bobby Brune 6-4 205 Fr.

FB - Broderick Benson 5-10 215 Jr.

TB - K.D. Koleosho 5-10 195 Jr.

PK - Nick Reggio 5-10 175 Jr.

SEMO Defense

DL - Troy Baglio 6-1 280 Sr.

DL - Marcus McClellan 6-3 250 Sr.

DL - Jason DeWolf 6-3 250 Fr.

DL - Brad Richardson 6-2 255 Jr.

LB - Gabe Jenkins 6-0 230 Sr.

LB - David Bowling 6-0 210 Jr.

LB - Kevin Meachem 6-2 215 Sr.

CB - Fred Hambrick 5-10 185 Sr.

CB - Brian Hinton 5-10 180 Jr.

FS - Isaac Powell 6-1 180 So.

SS - John Smith 6-1 190 Jr.

P - Justin Keen 6-5 180 Fr.

SMS Defense

DL - Frank Emeterio 6-3 240 So.

DL - Jerry Arnold 6-2 240 So.

DL - Billy Boston 6-3 298 Sr.

DL - Mario Turner 6-4 245 Fr.

LB - Shawn Lockhart 6-1 237 Jr.

LB - P.J. Jones 6-4 225 Fr.

LB - Corky Martin 5-10 218 So.

CB - Cory Blunt 5-9 175 So.

CB - Isaac Harvin 6-0 190 Jr.

FS - Michael Holloway 6-0 195 Sr.

SS - Rodney Fletcher 6-0 180 Jr.

P - Travis Brawner 6-0 186 Jr.

SMS Offense

TE - Brad St. Louis 6-4 242 Jr.

LT - Eric Owens 6-5 275 Fr.

LG - Matt Harriger 6-4 298 Jr.

C - Aaron Light 6-2 297 Jr.

RG - Tony Flint 6-2 305 Jr.

RT - Justin Craun 6-5 277 So.

WR - Robert Rose 6-0 204 So.

WR - Tacoma Fontaine 6-1 190 Fr.

WR - Chance Thurman 6-3 202 Jr.

QB - Derek Jensen 6-1 203 Sr.

RB - Maurice Daniels 5-11 205 Sr.

K - Travis Brawner 6-0 186 Jr.