Samuel: Redhawks' challenge is to stay united

~ Southeast has lost three straight games and been hit with injuries and the loss of its top running back.

The Southeast Missouri State football program has had to deal with plenty of adversity in recent weeks.

But coach Tony Samuel believes his players are handling things well.

Samuel said during his weekly media briefing Monday that the biggest thing is for the Redhawks to remain united.

"The kids' biggest challenge is to stay close together and fight through this together," Samuel said. "I feel like they're hanging in there well."

Not only have the Redhawks (2-4, 0-3 Ohio Valley Conference) suffered three straight losses, they've also suffered through a rash of injuries, including to quarterback Houston Lillard.

Then last week the program was jolted by the loss of top offensive threat Timmy Holloman, a junior tailback who was declared ineligible after being found in violation of unspecified NCAA regulations.

At the time, Holloman ranked second in the OVC and eighth nationally in rushing. He had 655 yards and had scored six of Southeast's nine touchdowns through five games.

"There's always going to be adversity in life in general," Samuel said. "I feel like the kids are handling it well. They're continuing to play hard."

Samuel, whose squad is coming off Saturday's 44-17 loss at OVC leader Eastern Kentucky, said Sunday's practice "was very spirited."

Following the Eastern Kentucky game, several Southeast players said they have no doubt the squad will remain bonded despite the adversity.

"With the injuries, what happened with our running back, it really tests the will of the team and the character of the team," junior wide receiver Mike Williamson said. "There's nothing we can do about it now but stick together and keep fighting, which I know we will."

Added senior offensive tackle Francisco Perez: "We're a family. We just have to stick together as a team."

This week the Redhawks will take on another winless OVC squad as Murray State (1-5, 0-3) visits Houck Stadium for Saturday's homecoming contest.

The Racers have lost 18 straight OVC games, their last conference victory coming in 2004.

Samuel said Lillard's status for Saturday remains uncertain.

Lillard had been splitting time with Victor Anderson at quarterback before suffering cracked ribs at Samford on Sept. 22. He has not played since.

"We really don't know," said Samuel, who added that Lillard's status remains day-to-day.

Anderson on defense

Vincent Anderson, Southeast's leading receiver on the season with 12 catches, did not play at all on offense at Eastern Kentucky.

But Anderson still saw plenty of action, primarily at safety as he had been moved there to provide depth for a position weakened by injuries.

Anderson was credited with two tackles.

"I thought for a first game he did well," Samuel said. "We've had so many injuries back there, and we had a couple extra receivers. ... We thought he could help us out."

Samuel said he was not certain if Anderson would remain on defense or move back to offense.

In addition to playing defense Saturday, Anderson also returned three punts for 42 yards, including a 28-yarder that is the longest punt return by the Redhawks this year.

Perez has TD taken away

Perez appeared to score his first collegiate touchdown Saturday.

Perez reached the end zone after catching a 6-yard pass from Victor Anderson during what was supposed to be a tackle-eligible play in the third quarter.

But officials whistled Perez for illegal touching and the Redhawks were penalized 5 yards.

Samuel said after the game the officials explained that Perez was not behind the quarterback when he caught the pass, which the college rule for tackle-eligible plays mandates.

At Monday's media briefing, Samuel confirmed that, after watching the play on film, the call was correct.

"That would have been exciting," Perez said Saturday of his near-TD. "We worked on it during the week and they [coaches] told me to be deep enough because it has to be a backward pass.

"I thought I was pretty deep, but they [officials] said I wasn't back far enough."