Offense sputters again

When you have a bend-but-don't-break defense, you need an offense that can put some points on the board occasionally.

Southeast Missouri State's offense has not been able to do that, stopping Saturday night at 16 points against Eastern Illinois.

That brings the Redhawks average in three Division I-AA games -- if Indiana State still qualifies as Division I-AA -- to 16.7 points per game.

Meanwhile, the Redhawks defense is attempting to turn every drive by the opposition into a field goal -- or a missed field goal.

Nationally ranked EIU actually scored four touchdowns Saturday night, but one was set up at the Southeast 2-yard line by a punt return miscue. The Panthers had nothing to show for a turnover in the first period, and the Panthers scored the only points of the fourth period on a field goal -- after a turnover -- after going in reverse 2 yards.

The standard postgame reaction at Southeast football games: The defense held its own.

And the mention of Tim Holloman at least brought a smile to the face of Southeast offensive coordinator Vince White, who some believe may be more conservative than any of the candidates vying for the Republican nomination in 2008.

"We want to run the football, and we have to be able to run the football," White said. "It takes the pressure off our quarterbacks as well."

Holloman did his part again, picking up 133 yards on 28 carries and scoring Southeast's only touchdown. His 52-yard scoring run in the second period was more than 20 percent of Southeast's offense for the night.

Yet, some wonder. Why did Holloman get so few touches in the fourth period of a 26-21 loss last week at Samford? Why did he not get a chance to carry when Southeast recovered a fumbled punt at Eastern Illinois' 12-yard line in the second period?

"A lot of times it's because the defense is just doing something different," White said, mentioning the adjustments in red zone defense as well. "We try to take what they gave us from what we see during the week of getting ready."

Holloman has proven he can break open a long run; the 190-pound junior may not be the guy you want in tough red zone yardage.

"I'm getting the ball as much as I'm supposed to be getting it," Holloman said. "I'm just trying to help the team."

And Southeast's offensive line may not be ready to impose its will on other teams just yet, though White defended the group. They did, after all, allow six sacks against Southwest Baptist.

"They've been playing pretty well," White said. "They're young, too, and their getting better."

But White did say the offense does have its limitations by what's going on at the quarterback position.

The season started with a two-man battle between juniors Houston Lillard and Victor Anderson.

Lillard showed promise in the win against Indiana State but was injured last week against Samford. After Anderson also was shaken up, Southeast took the red shirt off Jared Van Slyke. This week, he Redhawks brought Steve Callanan back from the defensive depth chart.

With Anderson 0-for-7 on his passes Saturday, and now at 34 percent for the year, Callanan, a redshirt freshman, has taken on the role of "the passing quarterback."

"He's a smart kid," White said. "He recalled a lot of the offense."

Callanan finished 7-for-18 for 60 yards in his first collegiate passes.

"We really have cut the game plan down because we're young at that position," White said.

Callanan was on the field for most of the final possessions as Southeast had to battle from behind, leaving Anderson on the sideline.

"I thought he reacted well," White said of Anderson. "I don't think it was a problem."

Good thing because White has enough problems to address.