Quarterbacks still a mystery for SIU-Southeast game

An added wrinkle has been added to Southeast Missouri State's preparation for longtime rival SIU Carbondale in Saturday's first-ever football game at the eight-year-old Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

SIU senior quarterback Kory Faulkner, a Ste. Genevieve High School graduate who was off to a strong start this season, suffered an injury to his non-throwing shoulder in the second quarter of Saturday's 31-10 win over Division II Charleston (W.Va.).

According to the Southern Illinoisan newspaper, SIU coach Dale Lennon said he would be surprised if Faulkner played against Southeast although he would know more as the week progressed.

If Faulkner can't go, then redshirt freshman Ryan West -- who saw his first collegiate action after Faulkner went down -- is expected to start. West completed 5 of 10 passes with two touchdowns and one interception in relief of Faulkner.

So the Redhawks, not knowing which quarterback they'll see Saturday, must prepare for both.

But Southeast coach Tony Samuel, speaking at his weekly media conference Monday, said he doesn't envision that causing any extra problems partly because the styles of the two signal callers appear similar.

"It's more just evaluating what the other quarterback can do. It looks like he's got good mobility, a live arm," Samuel said about West. "I would say same styles."

Since the Redhawks are young and inexperienced overall, Samuel said he wouldn't try to complicate things too much as far as coming up with different game plans for each quarterback.

"We're a young team and our big challenge right now on defense is to execute," Samuel said. "We try not to go too far into that phase of it because we just need to execute at this point."

Samuel said he certainly would not rule out Faulkner playing Saturday. In fact, until the coach sees otherwise, he's counting on it.

"The way we approach things, we think he's going to play," Samuel said.

Of course, SIU also has to prepare for at least two Southeast quarterbacks because junior Kyle Snyder and sophomore Scott Lathrop are both likely to see action Saturday.

Both played in Southeast's 45-7 season-opening loss at Southeastern Louisiana on Aug. 29, with Snyder starting.

Lathrop went all the way during a 31-13 loss at Mississippi on Sept. 7 as Snyder did not see action due to a shoulder injury. Samuel said Snyder will be ready to go Saturday.

"He's fine," Samuel said. "To be quite honest, I think we're going to play both quarterbacks this week. I think both quarterbacks are deserving of playing time."

SIU (1-2) broke into the win column at home Saturday after dropping its first two games against rugged competition, falling at Illinois 34-26 and at home against eighth-ranked Eastern Illinois 40-37 in double-overtime.

Southeast (0-2), which also lost its first two contests against stiff opposition, had an open date last week. Samuel said the Redhawks used their time away from competition well, focusing not only on SIU but also themselves.

"I thought we put in some good work. We needed it," Samuel said. "The kids responded well to what we wanted to get done."

Southeast will look to end a string of domination by the Salukis in the series that was resumed in 2009 after a three-year break.

SIU has won six of the past seven meetings, all by at least 21 points.

Southeast lost 35-14 last year in Carbondale and 38-10 in 2011 in Cape Girardeau. The Redhawks rallied from an 18-point deficit to stun SIU 24-21 in 2010 in Carbondale.

"They're a very good football team," said Samuel, who is is 1-3 against SIU since he took over Southeast's program in 2006.