Redhawks hold final practice before football playoff debut

CHENEY, Wash. -- The Southeast Missouri State football team got its first taste of the fire-engine red turf at Eastern Washington University during Friday's hour-long practice.

The Redhawks players trickled from the locker room before the 5 p.m. light workout got under way. The players wore helmets and most donned sweatpants and sweatshirts as the temperature hovered just below freezing.

Southeast players, who were not made available for interviews Friday, made few comments as they got their first look of the field.

Redhawks senior J.J. Sanchez plays around trying to catch passes in the snow on Eastern Washington University's Roos Field Friday evening, December 3, 2010, in Cheney, Wash. (Kit Doyle)

One player chanted "Overrated" a couple of times as he headed toward the field.

After the Redhawks started stretching, one player joked, "I can't see my cleats."

The Redhawks only practiced for about an hour in preparation for Saturday's playoff game against Eastern Washington, which is scheduled to kick off at 3:05 p.m. Central time.

Snow banks surround the field, including a couple of sizable ones about 5 ½ feet beyond the south end zone. The Redhawks took extra caution practicing fade routes into the corner of that end zone.

The Redhawks arrived in Washington early Friday morning, between 12:30 and 1 a.m. after flying from St. Louis into Spokane, Wash.

Redhawks fans will be ale to watch Saturday's game on WQWQ, which is channel 12 in Cape Girardeau.

Check back Saturday before the game for more updates on the Redhawks' first trip to the playoffs in the program's 104-year history.