Lillard likely will start Redhawks' final home game

Although things still could change this week in practice, senior Houston Lillard is scheduled to start at quarterback during Southeast Missouri State's final home game of the season.

Lillard started Southeast's first nine games before true freshman Matt Scheible received his first collegiate start in Saturday's 17-10 loss at Murray State.

Southeast coach Tony Samuel said during his weekly media conference Monday that, as things stand now, Lillard will open behind center when the Redhawks host Tennessee-Martin Saturday.

"It's the last home game for the seniors," Samuel said. "If you ask me right now who would start, it's Houston.

"He's a senior, he deserves the opportunity to start."

During last Monday's weekly media conference, Samuel gave no indication that Scheible might start in place of Lillard at Murray State, even though Scheible said he was told he would be the starter the previous day.

"Last week I didn't think it was necessary to put the freshman under the spotlight," Samuel said.

For the first time this season Southeast used both quarterbacks about equally in the Murray State contest.

Scheible played most of the first half and Lillard played the majority of the second half as the Redhawks fell to 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference. They are tied for seventh in the nine-team league.

Scheible saw action in seven of Southeast's first nine games, primarily receiving spot play except for Oct. 18 at Eastern Illinois.

In that contest, Lillard was yanked after throwing an early interception and Scheible went virtually the entire rest of the way.

Scheible directed the offense on four of Southeast's five first-half possessions at Murray State, including the first three. Lillard came in for the other possession of the opening half.

In the second half, Scheible was in for Southeast's first three possessions, but Lillard took over for the final six offensive series.

Scheible completed 3 of 10 passes for 13 yards. He was intercepted twice and sacked twice.

Lillard, who was in for all 10 of Southeast's points, completed 15 of 25 passes for 175 yards and one interception. He was sacked four times.

Lillard was 11 of 18 for 139 yards in the fourth quarter as Southeast's comeback attempt from a 17-0 deficit fell short.

Even if Lillard starts against UT-Martin, Samuel said Scheible also would see action.

"We'll play both of them," Samuel said. "[Scheible] deserves to play. This kid's got a bright future."

With Southeast assured of its 16th losing season in 18 years on the Division I-AA level, and with Scheible regarded as the Redhawks' likely starter next year, it would make sense to play him during the final two games of 2008.

Regardless who the quarterback is, the Redhawks figure to have their hands full with UT-Martin (7-3, 5-1), ranked 20th and 21st in the two major Division I-AA polls.

The Skyhawks, in a three-way tie for the OVC lead, are coming off a 37-20 loss at Auburn in which they were tied 20-20 midway through the third quarter.

Redhawks hit milestones

With 2,067 yards passing this year, Lillard becomes the eighth quarterback in Southeast history to throw for 2,000 or more yards in a season. The last to do it was Mike Haley (2,248) in 2005.

Lillard ranks seventh on the school's single-season list and could pass several players ahead of him. The record is 3,132 yards by Jack Tomco in 2002.

Junior wide receiver Walter Peoples, the OVC leader in receptions per game, has caught 60 passes to become the seventh player in school history with at least 60 receptions in a season. The last to do it was All-American Willie Ponder in 2003 (66).

Peoples is tied for sixth on the school's single-season list and, like Lillard, could pass several players ahead of him. The record is 87 receptions by Ponder in 2002.

Noteworthy

* Senior linebacker Nick Stauffer has moved up to second nationally in tackles per game with 13.5. He has 135 tackles after recording 20 against Murray State.

* Junior Doug Spada is the nation's No. 2 punter with a 45.1-yard average. Spada had a busy day Saturday, punting eight times for a 47.9-yard average.