No room for error for Indians

Ever since Southeast Missouri State University lost to Murray State on Oct. 25, the Indians' margin of error regarding their Ohio Valley Conference title hopes was reduced to zero.

The Indians took care of business Saturday by beating Tennessee-Martin 20-7, but today the stakes will be raised considerably when first-place Tennessee State visits Houck Stadium.

"This is a big key to our season," Southeast coach Tim Billings said.

Southeast (3-6, 3-2) controls its own destiny and is assured of capturing at least a share of its first OVC crown if it wins its remaining three games. But a loss would effectively end the Indians' title hopes. TSU (6-3, 4-1) is tied for first with Jacksonville State.

"They're one of the teams we're chasing, and we know we need to win the rest of our games," wide receiver Chris NesSmith said. "We've got three games left and we have to have them all."

Added defensive end Ryan Roth, who leads the Indians with five quarterback sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, "This is a big game, but every game is a must-win game for us the rest of the way. We know we have to win out."

The Tigers, who lead the OVC in total defense and are second in total offense, have made an impressive turnaround after last year's struggles that saw them go 2-10 and finish next-to-last in the conference with a 1-5 record. TSU lost to Southeast last season 49-25 in Cape Girardeau.

"The big difference this year is we're playing a lot better defense and offensively we're a lot more consistent," TSU coach James Reese said. "Last year at SEMO, we never got out of the gate and they really took it to us. We have to make sure that doesn't happen."

Billings has been impressed by the way the Indians have bounced back from an 0-5 start -- they've won three of their last four games -- and battled through injuries that have taken down several defensive starters.

But he says Southeast, the preseason OVC favorite, will have to step up its performance considerably in order to knock off the high-flying Tigers.

"It's going to be a tough game, and we're going to have to play really well in all three phases," Billings said. "We're going to have to play better than we have been."

TSU's most obvious improvement from last year has been on defense, where the Tigers were shredded for an average of 413 yards per game last year. They are allowing just 289 yards a contest this season.

Offensively, the Tigers again have some of the OVC's premier playmakers.

Tailback Charles Anthony leads the league in rushing with 1,070 yards and averages a healthy 5.5 yards per attempt. He is already TSU's single-season rushing leader and needs 64 yards to break the school's career record. Anthony has 11 touchdowns this year.

C.J. Johnson, the OVC's all-time leading receiver, averages a whopping 20.4 yards on 37 receptions, with seven touchdowns. He needs 21 yards to set the school career receiving yardage record.

Receivers Ronald Jackson and Carlos Wright average 18.2 and 16.6 yards per catch. And quarterback Bryson Rosser, despite starting just three games, has thrown for 11 touchdowns as he has solidified what was a shaky position.

"They've got the all-time leading receiver in the conference and the best running back in the conference. Besides that, they've been playing really good on defense," Billings said. "We're not going to be able to dominate them. We just don't want to give up any big plays and hope we can keep them out of the end zone."

Southeast's defense is also considerably improved from last year, ranking third in the OVC by allowing an average of 339 yards per game.

Offensively, the Indians feature Jackson High School product Ray Goodson, third in the OVC with 52 receptions, at tight end. Andrew Goodenough, who was solid if not flashy at Tennessee-Martin, will make his second straight start at quarterback.