Quincy, records fall in Indians' last game

It was a night for offensive milestones Saturday as Southeast Missouri State University's football team closed out the 2001 campaign by rolling past Division II Quincy 38-6 in front of a season-low 3,800 fans at Houck Stadium.

The Indians (4-7), who broke a four-game losing streak, set the school's single-game total offense record by compiling 638 yards against the overmatched Hawks (2-8). The previous mark was 588 yards against Tennessee-Martin in 1986.

Individually, wide receiver Willie Ponder and quarterbacks Jeromy McDowell and Bobby Brune all left their mark on the Southeast record book.

Ponder, the Indians' electrifying junior-college transfer, became just the second player in Southeast history to have 1,000 or more yards receiving in a season. He caught four passes for 106 yards Saturday as he finished the year with 70 receptions for 1,090 yards. The yardage figure fell 26 yards short of the school record while the 70 catches are the third-most ever.

In addition, Ponder's 25-yard touchdown reception on a pass from tailback Curtis Cooper was his 11th receiving TD of the season to set a school record.

"Willie had a great year," said Southeast coach Tim Billings. "He's a heck of a football player and the good thing is he's coming back next year."

McDowell, the Indians' redshirt freshman quarterback, became just the second Southeast player to ever pass for more than 2,000 yards in a season. Although McDowell was a bit shaky Saturday -- he was intercepted twice despite playing only a little more than a quarter - he completed four of nine passes for 123 yards, giving him 2,051 yards for the season. And he compiled that despite missing significant time with an injury.

"Jeromy had a great season for a freshman," Billings said. "He's only going to get better."

Brune, the Indians' senior backup quarterback who has been a starter for much of his Southeast career, completed 10 of 14 passes for 201 yards. The Cape Girardeau Central High School product finished his career with 4,124 passing yards to move into fifth place on the school's all-time list -- and one notch above his father, Greg, who had 4,109 yards.

"I guess now I'll have bragging rights around the house," said a smiling Brune. "It feels great. And it's nice to end my career with a win. Hopefully the younger guys have something to build on."

Said Billings, "It's really nice for Bobby, who has had a great career here. And it's good for all the guys to reach those milestones."

As for the game itself, the Indians struggled somewhat early as they had several turnovers that led to solid scoring chances by the Hawks, who twice had the football inside the Southeast 20-yard line in the opening quarter but failed to score.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Indians got on track to lead 24-0 at halftime and then it was only a matter of what the final score would be, although Billings was quick to point out that Quincy put up a strong effort the entire contest.

"I thought our kids played solid," Billings said. "Quincy played hard and you have to give them credit."

Cooper led the Indians on the ground with 129 yards on 15 carries, most of that damage coming in the first half. Cooper, who last week became just the third Southeast player to reach 1,000 yards rushing in a season, finished his senior campaign with 1,198 yards, the second-most in school history.

"It's nice to go out with a win, for me and all the seniors," Cooper said.

Iven Brown rushed for 81 yards on just six carries while Adrian Sanders totaled 103 receiving yards on just two catches.

Quincy, which moved the ball fairly decent all game and had 332 yards of offense, was led by hard-charging Clyde Howard, who rushed for 111 yards on 24 carries.

In addition to Ponder's TD reception from Cooper, the Indians' other touchdowns were by Cooper on a 9-yard run, by Brown on a 45-yard run, by Brune on a 7-yard run and by Chuck McElroy on a 1-yard pass from Brune. Derek Kutz kicked a 21-yard field goal.

Southeast missed out on its first shutout since 1994 when Quincy scored with just 5:33 left in the game on a 28-yard pass from Craig Harmon to Adrian Dixon.

Defensively, Demar Winston and Dimitri Patterson intercepted passes while Patterson recovered a fumble. According to unofficial pressbox statistics, Kelvin Jones led the way in tackles with 10 and Michael Irving had eight.

"We got to play a lot of people and it's nice to finish with a win, especially for the seniors," Billings said.