Samuel's team gets defensive

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tony Samuel maintained all spring that the Redhawks' defense has been ahead of their offense.

So it was probably no surprise when the defense posted a decisive victory over the offense in Saturday's Southeast spring game.

Using a unique scoring system that was probably slanted a bit against the offense, the defense romped 60-24, as Southeast concluded its first spring under Samuel in front of about 300 fans at Houck Stadium.

"The defense has been playing well all spring," said Samuel, hired as Southeast's coach in December. "Typically when you start out with a new system, the defense is ahead. When you implement a brand new offense, it takes time."

Offensively, points were available for touchdowns (6), field goals (3), kicked extra points (1), two-point conversions (2), plays of 25 or more yards (1) and three consecutive first downs (1).

The defense was able to score through touchdowns (6), interceptions (6), fumble recoveries (6), sacks (2), missed field goals (3), made field goals (1), and series of three downs and out (1).

While the offense scored three touchdowns to account for the bulk of its points, the defense came up with a touchdown and four interceptions to account for half of its points.

"I thought the defense played well," said senior linebacker Seth Harrell, a Jackson High School graduate. "We wanted to win today but mainly everybody is just trying to play tough and earn a spot.

"I think things went well this spring with the new coaching staff. I see a lot of good things in the future."

Harrell had one of the defense's four interceptions, with Adam Schwent, Chris Nelson and Brian Kennedy also picking off passes.

Schwent, an all-state running back at Ste. Genevieve who moved to defense this spring, had one of the unit's highlights Saturday when he returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown.

"Everybody likes scoring," Schwent said. "It felt good."

Schwent, who said he is fully recovered from knee problems that set him back much of the past two years, is playing a type of linebacker/safety position in Southeast's new defensive scheme that emphasizes speed.

"I'm pretty much a rover. I like it," Schwent said. "The coaches asked me at the beginning of the spring if I wanted to switch to defense, and I was all for it."

After sitting out all of his first Southeast season two years ago with a knee injury, Schwent saw limited action last year at tailback, rushing four times for five yards.

All told, Schwent has had his right knee operated on three times over the past two years. He's simply glad to be healthy again and on the field.

"I feel good. The knee is coming along great," said Schwent, a sophomore in eligibility.

Samuel has said all along that his goal was to get Southeast's best players on the field, even if it means switching positions, which has happened to a few Redhawks players.

"He's a good athlete. He moves well," Samuel said of Schwent.

Southeast's defensive front put plenty of pressure on the four quarterbacks who saw action, coming up with at least eight sacks, although no actual hitting was allowed on the quarterbacks.

Kyle Hunt, Edgar Jones, Jared Odom and Brandon McCrary were credited with two sacks each.

Despite the lopsided score, the offense had its moments.

Sophomore tailback Tim Holloman, Southeast's leading rusher last year who was a member of the Ohio Valley Conference all-freshmen team, gained 91 yards on 13 carries and scored on a 42-yard run.

Tailback John Radney added 41 yards on five attempts.

"They both showed some good things," Samuel said.

Senior quarterback Kevin Ballatore, Southeast's most experienced signal caller even though his season last year was limited to four games and one start by a broken foot, completed 12 of 21 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He was not intercepted.

Ballatore threw touchdowns of 5 yards to tight end Joe Tuineau and 8 yards to wide receiver Antonio Scaife. Stevelan Harper, a transfer from New Mexico State, caught four passes for 38 yards.

Southeast's other three quarterbacks -- redshirt freshman William Cowan, and sophomores Markus Mosley and Adam Wells -- combined to go 3 of 18 for 30 yards with the four interceptions.

"I could tell improvement offensively from last Saturday's scrimmage," Samuel said. "It just takes time."

While Samuel acknowledged that the Redhawks still have miles to go in order to improve on last year's 2-9 season, he likes the foundation that is starting to build and was pleased with what he saw Saturday.

"It was a good atmosphere. I liked the crowd. A lot of people came out," said Samuel, whose squad opens the season Sept. 2 at Austin Peay. "One of our big goals today was to have great effort. Effort-wise, we did a good job.

"Obviously we need to work on quite a few things, but it was a good spring. The kids bought into what we want to do."