Redhawks prepare for first OVC contest

~ Southeast will take a 2-1 record to Samford on Saturday.

So far, so good for Southeast Missouri State, which has won two of its first three games.

But the contests will now begin to take on added importance as the Redhawks open Ohio Valley Conference play Saturday night against Samford in Birmingham, Ala.

Southeast coach Tony Samuel is eager to see how the Redhawks stack up with their league opponents.

"This is what we gear ourselves for," Samuel said during his weekly media briefing Monday. "This will be a good, stiff test. Going on the road ... a long road trip ... I'm looking forward to seeing what we have."

Saturday's 13-10 home win over Indiana State was the Redhawks' second straight victory, after opening the season with a 59-3 loss at Division I-A Cincinnati.

Samuel said 2-1 is what he was shooting for when the season started, taking into account how difficult it would be to upset Cincinnati.

"You never know with a young team where you'll be," said Samuel, whose squad's other victory came over Division II Southwest Baptist. "To be realistic, I was hoping we'd be 2-1."

Although Samuel said the Redhawks still have a long way to go, he noticed considerable improvement against Indiana State.

For the first time this season, Southeast did not have a turnover. Also for the first time this year, the Redhawks did not give up a quarterback sack.

The Redhawks forced three turnovers against Indiana State, giving them a 7-1 edge in turnovers over the past two games.

"We played well. We had some positives," Samuel said. "We did improve from the game before, but we have to get a lot better."

Samuel said he will again use two quarterbacks against Samford (2-1), although he did not say who the starter will be.

Victor Anderson received the bulk of the action in the first two games, but he and Houston Lillard basically split the offensive possessions throughout Saturday's contest.

Lillard turned in by far Southeast's top passing performance of the season, completing 13-of-18 for 159 yards and a touchdown that capped a long drive. He also led a long drive that resulted in a field goal.

Southeast quarterbacks had combined for just 171 yards passing in the first two games.

"We'll still play two quarterbacks because I think they both have some really good strengths," Samuel said.

Anderson has shown to be by far the better runner of the two, rushing for 172 yards and averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He gained 118 yards against Cincinnati.

Lillard has the better passing numbers, completing 19-of-27 (70.4 percent) for 217 yards. He is third in the OVC in completion percentage and third in passing efficiency.

Anderson has completed 12-of-28 passes (42.9 percent) for 113 yards.

Each quarterback has thrown one touchdown pass and been intercepted once.

"Both guys have had their real positive moments," Samuel said.

Goodson, Casper shine

Samuel was fairly certain that senior linebacker Adam Casper would have another strong season, after he led the Redhawks with 108 tackles last year and ranked second in the OVC in tackles per game.

The coach also knew that sophomore linebacker Jared Goodson had plenty of potential, after a true freshman season that saw him make 16 tackles in limited action.

Through the early part of this season, the two are waging a battle for the team lead in tackles.

Goodson is first with 33 tackles, after being Southeast's leading tackler in each of the past two games. He also tops the squad in tackles for loss with 3 1/2, all in the past two contests.

Casper, first-team all-OVC in 2006, is right behind Goodson with 32 tackles. No other Southeast player has more than 16 tackles.

Goodson and Casper rank two-three in the OVC in tackles per game. Goodson is also tied for first in fumbles forced with two and he is tied for eighth in tackles for loss.

"They're making a lot of plays," Samuel said.

Of Casper, who is one of Southeast's captains, Samuel said: "He's a vet, he understands the game."

As for Goodson, Samuel said: "He's an athletic kid ... sometimes out of position, but he makes up for it with great speed. When he gets it all down, he can be a special player."

Conference stats

Several other Southeast players rank high in various OVC statistical categories.

Junior tailback Timmy Holloman is third with 352 yards rushing.

Redshirt freshman defensive back Chris Nelson is tied for first with two interceptions, both coming against Southwest Baptist.

Junior defensive lineman Hannibal Vaivao is tied for second with two quarterback sacks.

Sophomore defensive back Eddie Calvin is tied for second in passes defended with four, including an interception.

Noteworthy

• Southeast, which is riding a two-game winning streak, has not won three in a row since 2003.