Redhawks try to end six-game skid

~ Missouri State is enjoying a better season than many observers expected.

What before the season looked like it might offer a solid chance at a Southeast Missouri State win is now a very daunting task for the struggling Redhawks.

Southeast, saddled with a six-game losing streak, visits resurgent Missouri State today.

The Redhawks are 2-7 overall and 0-6 in Ohio Valley Conference play. They have not tasted victory since Sept. 15, when they beat Indiana State 13-10.

Missouri State is 5-5 overall and 2-4 in the rugged Gateway Conference, after the Bears went just 2-9 overall a year ago, including a 1-5 league mark.

The Bears close out their second season under coach Terry Allen today with a shot at the program's first winning record since 2004.

"They're a good football team," said Southeast coach Tony Samuel, also in his second year. "It's going to be a tough challenge for us."

Missouri State has posted some impressive results, including a home win over an Illinois State squad that at the time was nationally ranked.

The Bears have been particularly tough at home, with a 4-1 record.

Missouri State's lone loss at Plaster Field came last week, 38-17 to Northern Iowa, although the Bears and the nation's top-ranked Division I-AA team were tied 17-17 at halftime.

The Bears were averaging over 56 points a game at home this season before Northern Iowa shut down their nationally ranked offense, holding Missouri State to just 11 net yards in the second half.

Missouri State features one of the nation's touchdown leaders as senior tailback Gerald Davis is tied for sixth with 16 touchdowns.

Davis has rushed for 773 yards, while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. True freshman tailback Kingjack Washington is not far behind with 583 yards, and he averages 6.3 yards per carry.

Davis and Washington represent a contrast in style. Davis is a 228-pound bruiser, while Washington is a 165-pound speedster.

"They've got nice running backs and a nice offensive line," Samuel said. "They have a good concept [offensively], with the bootleg and the short passing game."

Running the Bears' offense is true freshman quarterback Cody Kirby, who has thrown for 1,487 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 58.2 percent (131-of-225).

"He's good, accurate in the short game," Samuel said.

Missouri State features one of the Gateway's top offenses, averaging 402.3 yards and 34.4 points per game. But the Bears have struggled defensively, giving up 465.3 yards and 37.1 points.

For those people who are into comparative scores, Missouri State and Southeast have played two common opponents this year.

Southeast beat Indiana State 13-10 and lost to Tennessee-Martin 55-20. Missouri State edged Tennessee-Martin 51-44 and destroyed Indiana State 63-7.

If the Redhawks don't break their losing streak today, they'll have one more shot next week as they finish the season with an OVC home game against Jacksonville State.

Noteworthy

• St. Vincent High School graduate Waylon Richardet, a backup redshirt freshman defensive lineman for the Bears, has seen action in nine of their 10 games.

Richardet, who also sees extensive special teams action, has nine tackles, including one tackle for loss.

As a St. Vincent junior, he helped lead the Indians to the 2004 Class 1 state title.