Redhawks climb in top 25 polls

~ Southeast football ranks No. 18 and No. 20 in the two major Division I-AA polls after winning its fifth game in a row

Southeast Missouri State's fifth straight win moved the football Redhawks up seven spots in the national rankings.

The Redhawks are No. 18 in The Sports Network poll released Monday, Southeast's highest ranking since joining Division I-AA in 1991.

Southeast's previous high ranking was 20th during the first week of the 2003 season. Southeast dropped out of the poll two weeks later and had not appeared again since debuting at No. 25 last week.

While the Redhawks have now been ranked two straight weeks in The Sports Network media poll, they appeared Monday for the first time in the other recognized Division I-AA poll that is voted on by a panel of coaches.

The Redhawks are No. 20 in the coaches poll after receiving the second most votes among teams outside the top 25 last week.

"It's really good for the program," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said about the rankings. "It's always nice to have your name out there, but we have a lot of the season to go."

Southeast is 5-1 for the first time on the Division I-AA level after Saturday's 19-17 home victory over Tennessee State.

The Redhawks also have their first five-game winning streak in Division I-AA and their first 4-0 Ohio Valley Conference start since joining the league in 1991.

The OVC-leading Redhawks visit Austin Peay (2-3, 1-1) on Saturday. A victory would clinch Southeast's first winning season since 2002 and just the program's third winning mark in Division I-AA.

Undefeated Jacksonville State is the only other ranked OVC squad at No. 3 in both polls.