OVC's TOP DEFENSE LOOMS BETWEEN SE, FIRST WIN OF SEASON

Solving the Ohio Valley Conference's top-rated defense will be one of Southeast Missouri State University's primary missions today as the football Indians shoot for their first victory of the season.

Tennessee Tech, which boasts one of the nation's stingiest Division I-AA defenses, visits Houck Stadium for today's 1 p.m. homecoming game.

The Indians, 0-5 overall and 0-3 in OVC play, have lost 10 straight games over the past two seasons. The Southeast record for consecutive losses is 12 during the 1983 and 1984 seasons.

But the Indians, after being blown out in their first three games, have measured up well over the last two weeks against highly regarded opponents.

Southeast lost at Western Kentucky 21-10 two weeks ago, then last Saturday the Indians rallied from a 28-0 deficit to force a 28-28 tie before falling to 16th-ranked Eastern Kentucky 37-28 in front of a record crowd of 11,015 on Family Weekend.

The two latest performances, coupled with the fact the Indians' last victory came against Tennessee Tech -- 29-24 in Cookeville, Tenn., last season -- gives Southeast coach John Mumford plenty of hope that his team will finally break into the win column today.

"We've been a lot more competitive the last two weeks, but now we have to take that final step," said Mumford. "We had a great atmosphere at Houck Stadium last week. Hopefully we can continue to have that type of enthusiasm and reward the fans and ourselves with a win."

Going into the season, Tennessee Tech figured to be one of the teams on Southeast's schedule that the Indians would match up with fairly well.

The Golden Eagles, like the Indians, struggled in the OVC last season, the squads tying for sixth in the eight-team league. And Tech was picked to finish just sixth in the OVC again this year, one spot ahead of Southeast.

But Mumford knows beating the Eagles -- who are 2-1 overall and 1-0 in OVC play -- will be far from easy, primarily because of Tech's fast and tenacious defense.

Tech leads the OVC in rushing defense and total defense. The Eagles allow an average of just 65.7 yards per game on the ground to rank ninth in the nation. They give up only 205.3 yards overall, fifth best nationally.

"They are the real deal," said Mumford of the Eagles' defense. "Their front seven or eight all have tremendous speed. We've got a great challenge ahead of us, but our offense has really been improving and I feel like we can do some things against them."

All-American end Branon Vaughn spearheads the Eagles' defense, although he is not their leader in tackles or sacks. Linebacker Chad Evitts has 24 tackles. End Jerry Turner has four sacks, followed by tackle Zach Reed with three and Vaughn with two.

In recent years, the Eagles have relied heavily on their defense, with their offense only being average at best. But it appears that Tech's offense is quite a bit improved this season as the Eagles have gone to a form of the run-and-shoot.

"It's a new look for them, and they're evidently doing it pretty well," Mumford said.

Tech quarterback Grant Swallows, who recently took over the starting position, is completing 65 percent of his passes (31 of 48) for 355 yards.

Walter Hill is Tech's most dangerous offensive weapon as the wide receiver has 16 catches for 227 yards and three touchdowns.

"Hill is an outstanding receiver, very explosive," said Mumford.

Although Mumford has not said who for sure will start at quarterback for the Indians today, Bobby Brune figures to get the nod after completing 13 of 17 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns against Eastern Kentucky.

Brune started the first three games of the season while Mike Gross started the last two. Gross also figures to see action today, if he doesn't start.

Leslie Weaver leads the Indians in receptions with 19 for 236 yards.

Defensively, the Indians have been strong the past two weeks. Linebacker Jeremy Atwell leads the OVC in tackles with 57 and in tackles for loss with 14.

Safety Isaac Powell is second on the squad in tackles with 50 and he has a team-high two interceptions. Linebackers David Bowling and Donovan LaViness each have 39 tackles while Joel Becker leads the way in sacks with two.

Tennessee Tech at SEMO

When: Today, 1 p.m.

Where: Houck Stadium

Records: SEMO 0-5, 0-3 OVC; TT 2-1, 1-0 OVC

1998 records: SEMO 3-8; TT 4-7

Last Week: SEMO lost to Eastern Kentucky 37-28; TT beat Tennessee-Martin 45-9

Coaches: John Mumford (SEMO) 37-67, 10th year; Mike Hennigan (TT) 19-17, 4th year

Series record: Tied 4-4

Last meeting: SEMO won 29-24 in 1998

Radio: K103-FM

Tennessee Tech at SEMO

Probable Starters

SEMO Offense

TE -- John Borne 6-1 235 Sr.

LT -- Ian Walters 6-4 295 Sr.

LG -- Chad King 6-2 300 Sr.

C -- Jon Jensen 6-2 260 Fr.

RG -- David Fielder 6-3 290 Jr.

RT -- Chris Kiefer 6-3 285 Sr.

WR -- Leslie Weaver 5-7 155 Jr.

WR -- Corey Chester 5-11 180 Jr.

QB -- Bobby Brune 6-4 210 So.

FB -- Sturge Cumberford 6-1 215 So.

TB -- Riki Smith 5-9 185 Sr.

PK -- Seth Carriere 5-11 180 So.

SEMO Defense

DE -- Chad Gwilliam 6-3 260 Jr.

DT -- Brad Richardson 6-2 275 Sr.

NG -- James Jenette 6-0 320 Fr.

DE -- Joel Becker 6-2 255 Sr.

LB -- Jeremy Atwell 6-1 220 Sr.

LB -- David Bowling 6-0 220 Sr.

LB -- Donovan LaViness 5-11 220 Sr.

CB -- Demar Winston 5-9 170 Fr.

CB -- Brian Hinton 5-10 165 Sr.

FS -- John Smith 6-1 195 Sr.

SS -- Isaac Powell 6-1 195 Jr.

P -- Seth Carriere 5-11 180 So.

TT Defense

DE - Branon Vaughn 6-1 220 Sr.

DT - Zach Reed 6-3 265 Jr.

DT - Eric Allen 6-2 265 So.

DE - Jerry Turner 6-2 260 Sr.

LB - Chad Evitts 6-2 225 Jr.

LB - Gabe Villarreal 6-2 220 Sr.

LB - Jeff Hunnicutt 6-0 220 Sr.

CB - Reggie Knighten 6-2 175 Sr.

CB - Troy Grant 5-10 185 Jr.

FS - Jahi Henley 5-10 192 Jr.

SS - Joshua Symonette 6-0 210 Sr.

P - Andy Dorsey 6-0 205 Jr.

TT Offense

TE - Andy Johnson 6-2 247 Sr.

LT - Montuka Murray 6-3 265 Jr.

LG - Marcus Harrison 6-3 265 Jr.

C - Joey Bishop 6-4 260 So.

RG - Mark Williams 6-1 285 Sr.

RT - Wes Gallagher 6-2 278 Sr.

WR - Walter Hill 6-2 177 Sr.

WR - Tony Fragale 6-0 170 Sr.

QB - Grant Swallows 6-2 195 So.

FB - Ronnie Sidler 6-2 260 Fr.

TB - Jerome Tillman 5-8 178 Jr.

K - David Collett 6-1 190 So.