Redhawks, Bears may get truer self exams

Both teams should get better reads on how they stack up against the competition after today's game.

The way Missouri State coach Randy Ball sees it, neither he or Southeast Missouri State coach Tim Billings know a whole lot about their teams yet.

But Ball figures they'll both get a much better idea tonight, when the squads square off at 6 p.m. in Springfield, Mo.

"I think this will be a much better gauge for both of us," Ball said.

That's because Missouri State -- formerly Southwest Missouri State -- and Southeast have both faced two teams that, on paper, shouldn't really be on their level.

Missouri State has lost to Division I-A Arkansas 49-17 and pounded NAIA Quincy 51-14.

Southeast has been routed 58-23 by Southern Illinois, the nation's top-ranked Division I-AA team, and lost 33-12 to Division I-A Kent State.

"It's hard to tell right now where we're at, based on who we played, because this will be our first I-AA opponent," Ball said. "I'm sure Southeast also probably doesn't think they have a good standing on where they're at, playing the No. 1 ranked team in I-AA and a I-A team.

"I think this game will give us a better idea comparison-wise, and I'm sure the same thing for them."

While Billings agrees to a point, he also believes the Bears are talented enough to match up with Southeast's first two opponents.

"I think they're really good this year, probably the best since I've been here," said Billings, in his sixth season at Southeast. "They were only losing to Arkansas 28-17 going into the fourth quarter, which tells you something about their talent."

Missouri State, coming off a 6-5 season, is picked to finish fifth in the Gateway Conference that also features SIU and fellow top-10 teams Western Kentucky and Northern Iowa.

A power attack

Of most worry to Billings regarding the Bears is a powerful, run-oriented offensive attack that is similar to SIU's.

Missouri State features two Division I-A transfers among its top three tailbacks -- including Michael Cooper, who gained more than 600 yards as a freshman at Georgia in 2003 -- although the Bears' leading rusher is junior college transfer P.J. Ikner, who has 146 yards and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He had an 86-yard touchdown run against Arkansas.

The Bears also have a Division I-A transfer at quarterback, although Scott Carroll saw little action as a freshman at Purdue last year. Carroll is 26 of 48 (54.2 percent) for 380 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Carroll's favorite target is Michael Sparks, averaging nearly 21 yards for his 10 receptions. Sparks is also averaging almost 21 yards on punt returns.

Missouri State also features All-American kicker Jon Scifres, who was 15 of 15 on field goals last year and has a streak of 17 successful attempts.

"They're really good offensively. They remind me a lot of SIU," Billings said. "They have some really good running backs, and I think their quarterback has made a big difference for them."

Southeast's defense turned in one of its top performances in years at Kent State last Saturday, allowing just 195 yards, including only 24 yards rushing.

But the Golden Flashes are more of a finesse passing team, while the Bears are a power, two-back offense like SIU. The Salukis rushed for nearly 200 yards against Southeast and passed for more than 300 passing yards, much of that coming on play-action.

"They [Missouri State] match up better with our defense than Kent State," Billings said. "Kent State dropped back and threw the ball a lot, which we see in practice every day.

"This will really be a big test for our defense, because they'll run the ball and run the ball, then they'll hit you with play-action."

What worries Ball the most about the Redhawks is their wide-open passing attack and what appears to be improved athleticism across the board.

"There is no team in our league that throws the football like they do. No question it causes a lot of problems," Ball said. "I'm impressed with them athletically. They have some really talented guys. They've played two really outstanding teams. That's about as tough as it gets.

"And over the years, it doesn't matter what kind of team they have or we have, the games have been close. I expect another close game."

Even though the Bears have won 11 of the last 12 meetings and Southeast has never beaten them in four tries under Billings, the past three meetings have been decided by seven points or less.

Whether the margin for tonight's contest is again razor-thin -- and whether Southeast has a chance to pick up a win before opening Ohio Valley Conference play -- depends largely on stopping the Bears' ground game, said Billings.

"We have to stop the run, get them in passing situations," Billings said. "I think that's going to be the big key for us."