INDIANS WIN CELLAR BATTLE

The expected total blowout never materialized, but Southeast Missouri State University's football team still had little trouble snapping a four-game losing streak and ending its home schedule in style Saturday night.

Perennial Ohio Valley Conference whipping boy Tennessee-Martin had its most competitive league performance of the season but still suffered a 34-14 defeat in front of 3,850 fans at Houck Stadium.

Southeast improved to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in OVC play. UTM, which had been outscored 267-22 in its previous six conference games, fell to 1-8 overall and 0-7 in the league.

"It feels great (to win again). We really needed it. We needed it for our program and for our players," said Southeast first-year head coach Tim Billings, who added with a grin, "But we needed it the most for our coaches."

While the overmatched Skyhawks -- who have not posted an OVC victory since the 1996 season -- battled gamely, the Indians kept a fairly comfortable distance between themselves and the visitors for most of the night.

With quarterback Rashad West -- who was not publicly named as the starter until he took the field to begin the contest -- directing the offense smoothly, the Indians scored four first-half touchdowns to build a 28-14 lead at the break.

West also led the Indians to a TD on their second drive of the final half as they opened up a 34-14 advantage that would stand as the game's final score. After West suffered a minor ankle injury, Bobby Brune came on with about six minutes left in the third period and directed the Indians the rest of the way.

West, who has suffered from a variety of injuries for much of the season, accounted for 212 yards of total offense. He rushed for 80 yards on nine carries and scored a touchdown, and he completed nine of 13 passes for 132 yards and a TD, without an interception.

"Rashad played great," said Billings, who indicated that West's ankle should be fine for next Saturday's game at Eastern Illinois. "He made the right checks and made no mistakes."

Southeast's leading rusher was true freshman tailback Marcus Patton, who has seen his workload increase more and more as the season goes on.

A strong and speedy 195-pounder, Patton gained 81 yards on 15 attempts, and he scored two touchdowns, including a highlight-reel 14-yarder in which he carried at least three defenders into the end zone over the final few yards.

"Marcus had a great game," Billings said. "He's a big, strong kid who is smooth. He's getting better and better."

Said a smiling Patton of his impressive touchdown run, "I just lowered my shoulder and went as hard as I could."

Of his emergence in the Southeast offense, Patton said, "I started off the year inexperienced, but coach has worked with me and and I'm getting more and more experience."

The Indians wound up with 409 total yards, including 248 rushing. Mark Blissett added 43 yards on the ground while senior K.D. Koleosho -- who had not played all year while recovering from offseason knee surgery -- added 17 yards on two attempts and brought a smile to Billings' face.

"It was great to see K.D. back on the field," said the coach.

The Skyhawks had 328 total yards, including 257 on the ground. They were led by talented true freshman running back Roland Ogletree, who gained 137 yards on 27 carries.

But Southeast's defense stiffened in the second half, allowing no points even though UTM drove four times deep into Indian territory.

Southeast, which never trailed, got first-half touchdowns from West (11-yard run), Patton (3-yard run), Blissett (7-yard run) and Jerl Huling (5-yard pass from West). Huling's TD, in which he tightroped the right corner of the end zone, came with just 26 seconds left before the intermission and put the Indians up 28-14 after the Skyhawks had scored less than two minutes earlier.

UTM's touchdowns, both in the first half, were by Ogletree (9-yard run) and Troy Phillips (21-yard pass from Robert Hines).

Patton's tackle-breaking 14-yard run midway through the third quarter was the only scoring of the final half.

"We played hard, but we have got to score more points," said UTM coach Sam McCorkle.

Said Billings, "Tennessee-Martin played hard and they're well coached. We just have better players."

Southeast true freshman linebacker Ricky Farmer, continuing his strong play, was unofficially credited with 16 tackles to lead all defenders. Andre Clark and Greg Westermayer each intercepted passes.