Redhawks step out of OVC play this weekend

~ Southeast takes an eight-game winning streak into its nonconference game

Don't expect Southeast Missouri State to overlook Southwest Baptist in its final game before the highly anticipated Ohio Valley Conference title showdown at Jacksonville State.

Not after what the Division II team from Bolivar, Mo., almost did to the Redhawks in the 2008 season opener.

The Bearcats led 28-12 in the fourth quarter before Southeast forced overtime and won 35-28.

"We just take it one game at a time," senior tailback Henry Harris said. "Our focus will be on Southwest Baptist."

While Saturday's 1 p.m. matchup at Houck Stadium in Southeast's final regular-season home game might not seem like a big contest, its implications could be huge for the Redhawks.

The Redhawks, now up to ninth nationally for the program's highest ranking, could all but lock up at least an at-large playoff berth with a victory.

Southeast, which never has made the playoffs on any level, would make an at-large bid a moot point by winning at second-ranked Jacksonville State in the Redhawks' Nov. 13 regular-season finale.

That would give Southeast the program's first OVC championship and the league's automatic playoff berth.

But even if the Redhawks drop that contest, it's hard to imagine their resume not being good enough to qualify for postseason play as long as they don't stumble Saturday. And if the Redhawks do make the playoffs, there is a chance they could host at least one postseason game.

Southeast, 8-1 overall and a first-place 7-0 in the OVC, has posted eight straight victories for the program's longest winning streak during a season since the 1955 squad went 9-0.

The eight wins are tied for the program's most victories since 1955 and tied for the second-most ever, trailing only the 1955 and 1937 squads that went 9-0.

"They're a very dangerous opponent. We were fortunate to beat them last time," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said of Southwest Baptist. "We are nationally ranked and these guys are going to come in and try to get a piece of that.

"It's a big moment for the seniors, to send them out in the right way. This is a great senior group."

In order to avoid a Senior Day upset, the Redhawks might have to slow down Southwest Baptist's high-powered, spread offense at least a little bit.

The 7-2 Bearcats, riding a school-record seven-game winning streak, are averaging a staggering 45.2 points and a nation's best 553.3 yards per game.

"I think it's a big challenge for our defense. It's a different style of offense," Samuel said. "Regardless who they're playing, they're putting up big numbers."

SBU's offense is led by All-American senior quarterback Steven Gachette.

Gachette, who already has played against Southeast twice -- including as a freshman in 2007 when the Redhawks won 38-17 after being tied 7-7 at halftime -- has more than 12,000 career passing yards and 92 touchdown passes.

"We were fortunate to get him," said SBU coach Keith Allen, who said the Florida native was recruited lightly and originally came to the program as a walk-on. "He makes everybody better."

The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Gachette is having a monster season. He has thrown for 2,899 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 69 percent.

Gachette also is SBU's leading rusher with 735 yards and 15 touchdowns as he averages seven yards per carry. Earlier this season he became first player in school history to both throw and rush for more than 200 yards in the same game. He ranks second nationally in total offense.

"He's very dangerous. He's a difference maker. He's scary," Samuel said.

Gachette completed 33 of 51 for 298 yards while rushing for 58 yards on 16 attempts in that 2008 near-upset of Southeast although he was intercepted four times.

"He gave us fits last time," Samuel said. "They're very explosive on offense."

While dynamic offensively, SBU is not nearly as strong defensively although it does rank among the top 10 nationally with 33 sacks and 20 takeaways.

The Bearcats are allowing averages of 27.6 points and 355.8 yards per game. Division II power Central Missouri State piled up 616 yards during a 60-13 season-opening romp.

SBU has emerged after leaving the rugged MIAA -- one of the nation's top Division II conferences -- following a 2007 season that saw the Bearcats go 0-11 under Allen, then their interim coach.

Allen, later hired on a permanent basis, led SBU to a 5-6 record in 2008 and a 6-5 mark in 2009 for its first winning season in eight years. The Bearcats have clinched back-to-back winning seasons for only the second time in program history.

"We're moving in the right direction," Allen said.

Allen said SBU -- which will receive about $25,000 from Southeast for playing the game -- is looking forward to the challenge.

"Every kid at our level obviously wanted to play at a bigger level," Allen said. "We get a chance to step on the field with a nationally ranked FCS team. We're excited to be playing them."

National publicity

The Redhawks, while continuing to climb in the national rankings, received national publicity with an article that ran in Thursday's edition of USA Today.