Redhawks struggle in opener, but 2002 season lends some hope

Southeast Missouri State football fans looking for positive signs that this finally might be the year the Redhawks break through probably didn't see any during Thursday's season opener against Southwest Baptist.

Only a late rally by the Redhawks — they trailed 28-12 early in the fourth quarter before prevailing 35-28 in overtime — avoided what would have been among the most embarrassing losses in school history, and certainly the most embarrassing since moving up to Division I-AA in 1991.

Southeast scored the game's final 23 points and led only once all night — in overtime.

Those struggles came against a Division II program that went 0-11 last year and was outscored 494-240.

And this was no fluke near-upset by the Bearcats, who except for some critical mistakes might have won going away. They outgained Southeast 541 to 451 in total yardage and had seven sacks, while the Redhawks had two sacks.

Suffice to say, Southeast was fortunate to win.

Southeast quarterback Houston Lillard did look good, which is no surprise to me. Lillard, who threw for a career-high 387 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, is a smart player and an accurate passer.

I told people before the season that I expected Lillard to have a big year. I saw nothing Thursday to change my mind.

There were other individual highlights, like the career-high 10 receptions for 204 yards and two TDs by sophomore receiver Miles Edwards, the three interceptions by junior cornerback Eddie Calvin and the 16 tackles by senior linebacker Nick Stauffer.

It's hard, however, to dish out much praise after a team needs to sweat that much to beat what should have been an overmatched foe. But I've always been a big believer that you can't read too much — good or bad — into one game.

For evidence of that, and for at least a little morale boost for Redhawks fans who already are writing off the season as another bad one, I use the 2002 Southeast team as an example.

Southeast went 7-15 in Tim Billings' first two years as coach — exactly current coach Tony Samuel's record through his first two seasons — entering 2002.

Most Southeast followers expected more of the same going into that 2002 campaign.

Things appeared headed that way when Southeast needed a late rally to force overtime and beat Arkansas-Monticello — a Division II squad with a losing record from the year before — 42-41 in the season opener.

I'm sure Southeast followers left Houck Stadium that night thinking "here we go again."

Instead, Southeast went on to an 8-4 record for the program's most victories since 1969 and one of its two winning records in 17 Division I-AA seasons. Along the way the then-Indians stunned Division I-A Middle Tennessee State.

I'm certainly not about to predict another 2002. Not after what I saw Thursday night.

Of course, I remember feeling the same way leaving Houck that opening night in 2002.

We'll see.

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While Southeast at least wound up doing what it was supposed to do against SBU — win — Missouri figures to do what it's supposed to when the squads square off in Columbia on Saturday night.

I have a hunch the powerful Tigers won't have to sweat nearly as much as Southeast did against the Bearcats.

Southeast will visit Columbia hoping to stay as healthy as possible — and maybe keep things respectable for a while — while bringing back a $250,000 paycheck that will help the university's athletic department.

I wrote last week that everybody expects the Redhawks to be 1-1 through the first two weeks of 2008.

Although for much of Thursday's opener that outlook appeared bleak, things are on course for that, after which Southeast will have the final 10 games against fellow Division I-AA foes to define its season.

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For Southeast fans worried Saturday's game with the Tigers might get too ugly — like in the 90-0 category — I don't envision the final score being all that much different from the last two years when the Redhawks faced top-25 caliber teams.

Southeast lost to Cincinnati 59-3 last season and to Arkansas 63-7 in 2006.

Those types of squads generally tend to pour in on early and take it easy late. Often it's one of the few chances they have all year to let a lot of deep reserves see significant action.

As an example, look at Oklahoma's 57-2 win Saturday over Chattanooga, which is a struggling I-AA program probably along the line of Southeast. The Sooners led 50-0 at halftime and then called off the dogs.

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Southeast announced a few weeks ago that the game at Missouri would be televised by Fox Sports Midwest.

As it turns out, the contest only will be available through pay-per-view.

Southeast sports information director Ron Hines told me that the university was aware pay-per-view might be how Fox Sports Net ultimately decided to air the game, but that was still up in the air at the time.

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Former Southeast assistant men's basketball coach Ronnie Dean has landed a job as the assistant at Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill.

Dean was Southeast's chief recruiter the past four seasons, the last two under Edgar, who let Dean go following the 2007-08 campaign.

Dean joined a premier junior college program. Highland has advanced to the juco national tournament four of the past six years and annually sends several players on to Division I programs.

Here's wishing Dean all the best in his new position, and hopefully he'll be back in the D-I ranks before too long, which he told me is his goal.

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Area soccer fans who have been wanting to see David Beckham play in person, your best chance to do that without having to travel across the country is probably Sept. 13, when Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy have a Major League Soccer game at the Kansas City Wizards.

Wizards employee Brian Roth, a Southeast graduate and among the most rabid fans for all Redhawks sports teams, tells me people wishing to purchase tickets for the contest should call him at (913) 387-3839.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.