Knee injury could keep McDowell out of SIU game

Southeast Missourian

Jeromy McDowell's shoulder appears to be holding up fine, but his knee is not cooperating as well.

Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings said McDowell, the Indians' sophomore quarterback, re-injured his knee during Monday's practice and is scheduled to have the knee examined today by his doctor in St. Louis.

Billings said McDowell is questionable for Saturday's game at Southern Illinois, and Billings is concerned the injury could be serious.

"We won't really know until he sees the doctor," Billings said.

McDowell had offseason shoulder and knee surgery that forced him to miss spring workouts. He also practiced little during the preseason as he continued to rehabilitate the shoulder and was not expected to play much during Thursday's opener against Arkansas-Monticello.

But with the Indians struggling, McDowell played most of the second half and both overtimes of Southeast's 42-41 victory. McDowell passed for three touchdowns and said later his shoulder felt fine, although he took several shots to the knee that had him hobbling.

By the following day, however, McDowell's knee seemed to be coming along well. But Billings said McDowell re-injured the knee Monday on a play during which he simply planted and turned.

Now the Indians will anxiously await news on one of their offensive leaders who passed for 2,051 yards as a redshirt freshman last year. It was only the fourth time in school history that a player threw for more than 2,000 yards in a season.

McDowell had a particularly strong second half against the Salukis last year, passing for 317 yards and three touchdowns after intermission as the Indians pulled away for a 24-5 victory at Houck Stadium.

If McDowell can't play Saturday, then Billings said junior-college transfer Jack Tomco will start for the second straight week and redshirt freshman Jeff East will again see action. Tomco completed six of 10 passes for 82 yards Thursday, although he was intercepted twice. East threw for a TD in his first collegiate game.

"Jack made some mistakes but played pretty well and I'm glad Jeff got some reps," Billings said. "We think they're both good quarterbacks."

Other injuries

The Indians should be at near full strength for SIU, which opened its season with a 78-0 mauling of Kentucky Wesleyan.

Billings said several Southeast defensive backs who either missed the opener or saw limited action should return. And starting wide receiver Tarik Simpson, who did not play Thursday because of a pulled hamstring, returned to practice Monday. Billings said Simpson could play Saturday.

One other player who missed the opener, junior-college transfer Amos Misilao, probably won't be academically eligible this season, Billings said. Misilao, who was slated to start at center, was ruled ineligible prior to Thursday's game. The problem centered around one of his grades from junior college.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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