Redhawks find rare road win before resuming OVC play

A win over a squad that has now lost 18 straight games and 42 of its last 43 might not seem like much.

But if you're the Southeast Missouri State football team, any victory is a good victory — especially if it's a road triumph.

That includes Saturday's 24-21 come-from-behind decision at floundering Indiana State, which extended the nation's longest Division I losing streak.

The Redhawks notched only their third road win since Tony Samuel took over as coach before the 2006 season, the other two coming in Samuel's inaugural campaign.

Southeast, which was winless away from home last year, had dropped its past seven road games.

The Redhawks (2-3 overall, 0-1 Ohio Valley Conference) at least can carry a bit of momentum into its remaing seven games, which will feature nothing but OVC opponents.

The next three games is a brutal stretch.

On Saturday, the Redhawks visit preseason OVC favorite Jacksonville State and touted LSU transfer quarterback Ryan Perrilloux.

Following a bye week, the Redhawks travel to perennial OVC power Eastern Illinois on Oct. 18.

After that, the Redhawks return to Houck Stadium for an Oct. 25 homecoming date with Tennessee State, which had been among the OVC's more impressive squads so far this season before suffering its first loss Saturday to nonconference foe Florida A&M.

Even an anticipated conference contender would find that hard to navigate.

How will a team expected to finish last in the league get through this gauntlet?

We'll soon find out.

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Jacksonville State served notice Saturday that maybe the OVC's coaches and sports information directors knew something when they rated the Gamecocks the favorites in the preseason poll.

The Gamecocks opened conference play with a 23-10 win at Eastern Illinois.

Perrilloux had a big performance, throwing for one touchdown and running for two more. He completed 20 of 25 passes for 281 yards.

Southeast will have its work cut out trying to deal with Perrilloux.

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Southeast has been far from impressive this year, needing late rallies for its two wins, including the season opener against a Division II Southwest Baptist squad that was coming off an 0-11 campaign.

But it has been impressive how the Redhawks have played well under pressure late in games — especially senior quarterback Houston Lillard.

If the Redhawks don't come up with numerous clutch plays down the stretch against both Indiana State and Southwest Baptist, they're looking at an 0-5 record right now.

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Former Southeast All-American Edgar Jones, who began the season on the Baltimore Ravens' 53-man roster, is now on their practice squad.

Jones, a defensive end at Southeast, played linebacker last year during his rookie season. He saw limited action, playing in four games and recording five tackles, including a sack.

Jones was moved to tight end by the Ravens during this preseason.

Three other Southeast products remain on active NFL rosters: offensive lineman Eugene Amano (Tennessee Titans), cornerback Dimitri Patterson (Kansas City Chiefs) and offensive lineman Dan Connolly (New England Patriots).

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The latest addition to the Southeast men's basketball coaching staff has plenty of experience.

Tommy Suitts, named last week by Scott Edgar to fill out his staff, has been a head coach at two Division I programs, Rice from 1981 to 1987 and Chicago State from 1987 to 1990.

Suitts, a 1969 graduate of Alabama — where he played — has been a high school coach since 1992.

Edgar said in a release from the university that he has known Suitts for close to 30 years and considers him a great friend.

Edgar said Suitts will work in all areas of the Redhawks' program, with a focus on administrative duties.

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The Missouri football team has been mighty impressive, although the Tigers' nonconference schedule was not exactly rugged.

After beating a solid Illinois squad in its opener, MU rolled past three overmatched opponents: Southeast, Nevada and Buffalo.

But this week the stakes will get much higher for the Tigers, who open Big 12 Conference play Saturday at Nebraska.

That game should be especially interesting. While the Cornhuskers are not the powerhouse team they once were, MU hasn't won at Nebraska since 1978.

I think this is the year the Tigers finally end that streak — and it better be if MU wants to remain in the hunt for the national championship.

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Last season it was Eastern Kentucky's Christian Friedrich.

This year it just might be Jacksonville State's Ben Tootle.

Could the OVC possibly have a player selected in the first round of baseball's amateur draft two straight seasons?

It looks like that might be possible.

Friedrich, a left-handed pitcher, became only the second player in OVC history to be drafted in the first round last year (the other was in 1984).

Tootle, Jacksonville State's junior right-hander, recently was ranked among the top 15 prospects in the country by several national scouting services.

Tootle was named the fourth-best prospect from the Cape Cod League by Baseball America, and ESPN listed him as the 13th-best prospect in the country.

Tootle apparently dazzled during the prestigious Cape Cod League this summer, going 3-3 with five saves and a 1.97 ERA while primarily being used as a reliever. His fastball reportedly was clocked in the upper 90s.

At Jacksonville State, Tootle has been a starter. He is 16-5 in two years for the Gamecocks, posting a 10-2 record last season, including an 8-0 mark against OVC competition.

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It's got to be pretty cool being Blake DeWitt these days.

The Sikeston native is headed to the playoffs in his rookie season after the Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up the NL West title last week.

DeWitt, who turned 23 last month, spent much of the last part of the regular season as the Dodgers' starting second baseman following an injury to Jeff Kent.

DeWitt was the team's regular third baseman early in the year before being sent down to Class AAA and then getting called back up in late August.

DeWitt entered Sunday's final regular-season game batting .266 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, two triples and 52 RBIs.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.