Redhawks find usual run route congested

The Southeast Missouri State football team has led the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing each of the last three seasons while ranking among the nation's top 10 on the FCS level all three years.

Last season's Redhawks were eighth nationally in rushing with an average of 262.4 yards per game.

This year, through three games, the Redhawks are averaging just 117.3 yards rushing per contest to rank eighth in the nine-team OVC and nowhere near the upper tier nationally.

But Southeast coach Tony Samuel said it's way too early to read all that much into this year's subpar rushing totals because of several factors.

Samuel believes part of the Redhawks' ground struggles so far this season can be attributed to the fact Southeast (0-3) fell behind by substantial margins early in its first two games, a 45-7 loss at Southeastern Louisiana and a 31-13 setback at FBS 21st-ranked Mississippi.

Then Saturday, when Southeast dropped a 36-19 decision to SIU in St. Louis -- the squads were tied 19-19 midway through the third quarter -- Samuel said the Salukis basically were determined to take away the running game while inviting the Redhawks to pass.

SIU held Southeast to 53 yards rushing, the Redhawks' lowest total in a game since 2008, but junior quarterback Kyle Snyder completed 17 of 33 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns.

The 249 passing yards are Southeast's most in a game since 2008.

"You have to take what people give you a little bit. We got behind in both [the first two] games early. We had to throw a little more," Samuel said during his weekly media conference Monday. "They [SIU] gave us the pass so we tried to take advantage of it. It almost took us all the way to a victory.

"We've got a nice corps of receivers. I do feel that we're a little more capable of throwing the ball this year. That's always a good thing."

While Southeast has struggled running the football through three games -- averaging just 3.2 yards per attempt, after averaging 4.9 last year, 5.3 in 2011 and 5.0 in 2010 -- the Redhawks have displayed an improved passing attack after ranking last in the OVC a year ago with an average of 96.4 yards per contest.

Southeast already has thrown for nearly half as many yards -- 496 -- as last year's total of 1,061. Much of that came Saturday when Snyder went all the way at quarterback.

"He can throw the ball. He's making progress," Samuel said about Snyder, who missed the entire 2012 season with a knee injury after transferring to Southeast from FBS Ohio University. "We're hoping that both [Snyder and sophomore Scott Lathrop] keep coming."

Samuel said the ultimate goal is to be as balanced offensively as possible. And, of course, the bottom line for any offense is scoring points no matter how that is accomplished.

Southeast is averaging only 13 points while allowing an average of 37.3 points, figures that rank eighth and seventh, respectively, in the OVC.

The Redhawks are averaging 282.7 yards of offense and allowing 478.3 yards to also rank eighth and seventh in the conference.

Some of those numbers might be a result of Southeast having faced tough competition so far, although Samuel doesn't expect things to get any easier the rest of the season.

In fact, Samuel strongly disagreed when it was suggested that Southeast's first three opponents might be as good or better than many OVC teams.

"No, I don't feel that way at all," Samuel said. "There used to be a time people would easily like to convince you that our league isn't as good as other leagues. That's not the case any more."

Southeast begins its eight-game OVC schedule Saturday with a 6 p.m. Family Weekend matchup against 23th-ranked Tennessee-Martin (2-1) in the Redhawks' home opener. The Skyhawks were idle last week.

"It's great to be back at home," Samuel said. "I like the idea it's Family Weekend just because we know we always have a good crowd. That's going to be very important for us."

The Skyhawks have been one of the OVC's biggest early surprises after they lost numerous key players to graduation following an 8-3 overall record and 6-2 conference mark in 2012.

The Skyhawks, picked fifth in the nine-team OVC's preseason poll, have two wins over squads that were ranked at the time in Chattanooga and Central Arkansas, which is still rated 13th. UTM's only loss was at perennial FBS power Boise State.

"Very good Tennessee-Martin team, conference opener. ... It's a big game for both teams. It's a very, very important game for us. Looking forward to it," Samuel said. "The conference is going to be tight. You really want to start out strong and win that first one.

"The goal is always to win the conference. You win your conference, that gives you an opportunity to get in the playoffs."