SE, INDIANA ST. BACK TO OWN WEIGHT CLASS; BOTH SCHOOLS PLAY FIRST DIV. I-AA OPPONENT TODAY

More and more college football teams have gone to the triple option offense in order to get the upper hand on opposing defenses.

Tonight at Houck Stadium (7 o'clock kickoff), the challenge for Southeast Missouri State University's Indians will be to slow down Indiana State's triple-option attack.

If the Indians are successful, then they will have a strong opportunity to get off to their first 2-0 start since making the move up to the NCAA Division I-AA level in 1991. Southeast last began a season unbeaten after two games in 1990, its final year in Division II.

"Indiana State runs the true triple option, which can be an extremely difficult offense to defend," said Southeast coach John Mumford. "It's assignment football. We're normally an attacking defense, but for this offense we're basically just going to have to make sure we're in the right places.

"It's going to be a tremendous challenge for our defense. We'll definitely be tested, but I think our defense will do a good job."

The Indians are coming off a somewhat shaky 23-18 comeback win over Division II Truman State in their season opener, but Mumford believes that victory certainly served a major purpose.

"We know we could have played a lot better, but I think the way we came back at the end showed a lot of poise and character," he said. "I think it's the kind of game that could really help us down the line."

While Southeast was playing down a Division last week, ISU took a major step up in class, traveling to national I-A powerhouse Kansas State and suffering a 66-0 drubbing.

ISU coach Tim McGuire said he really wasn't all that unhappy with his team's performance -- even though the Sycamores gained only 87 yards and allowed 485.

"Any time you get beat 66-0, you hope you'd play it better," he said. "But considering who beat us, I thought we actually did a pretty decent job. They were so much better than us, we told our players, we could play our best game and not win or even come close. Our concern was doing the right thing."

McGuire is in his first season as ISU's head coach after serving as the Sycamores' defensive coordinator the past six years. He took over a squad that went 3-8 in 1997.

While not picked to finish high in the Gateway Conference -- considered by many to be the best I-AA league in the country -- the Sycamores are expected to field one of the Gateway's better defenses, led by eight returning starters.

Headlining the ISU defense is 270-pound tackle Shannon Jackson, an All-American candidate who led last year's squad in sacks with seven and tackles for loss with 14.

"We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of football on the defensive side of the ball," McGuire said.

Offensively, this is the first year for the Sycamores to run the triple option. Steve Engelhart, who played in five games last year, is the quarterback. Two of last season's top four ground gainers are back in Sha Caldwell (326 yards) and Calvin Thomas (239 yards).

Mumford said Southeast fans shouldn't simply look at the Kansas State score and be fooled into thinking that ISU is not a solid I-AA team

"Kansas State is going to do that to a lot of I-A people this year, let alone I-AA people," Mumford said. "They (ISU) play in the toughest I-AA conference in the country.

"They're an outstanding defensive football team, with an outstanding defensive front and good linebackers. They get after it. Offensively, Kansas State just overwhelmed them but they have quite a bit of skill on offense."

McGuire also has plenty of respect for Southeast. He's concerned about quarterback Jeff Shaw, particularly his running ability, running back Corey Williams -- who scored all three touchdowns against Truman State -- and many other Indians.

"Their offense will give us everything we want. The quarterback is a major concern for us because he can do so many things," McGuire said. "Their defense is solid. We'll have our hands full."

The way McGuire sees it, his team is basically starting its season tonight. And he believes winning that first game will be no easy task.

"It's like our opener because this is really our first game against our level of competition," he said. "I would think it would be a pretty even matchup. They've got a win under their belt, they're at home and they'll have a lot of confidence. I think it's going to be a good game."

Indiana St. at SEMO

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Where: Houck Stadium

Records: SEMO 1-0, ISU 0-1

1997 records: SEMO 4-7, ISU 3-8

Last Week: SEMO beating Truman St. 23-18; ISU lost to Kansas St. 66-0

Coaches: John Mumford (SEMO) 35-54, 9th year; Tim McGuire (ISU) 0-1, 1st year

Series record: SEMO leads 2-1

Last meeting: ISU won 7-0 in 1944

Radio: K103-FM

Indiana State at SEMO

Probable Starters

SEMO Offense

TE - Mitch Fryer 6-2 240 Sr.

LT - Ian Walters 6-3 280 Jr.

LG - Chad King 6-3 275 Jr.

C - Chris Kiefer 6-3 270 Jr.

RG - Jessie Eaton 6-3 320 Sr.

RT - Carlos DeJesus 6-3 300 Sr.

WR - Marcus McKinley 5-10 185 Sr.

WR - Dante Bryant 6-1 190 Sr.

QB - Jeff Shaw 6-2 205 Sr.

FB - Broderick Benson 5-10 215 Jr.

TB - Corey Williams 5-11 215 Sr.

PK - Nick Reggio 5-10 175 Jr.

SEMO Defense

DL - Troy Baglio 6-1 280 Sr.

DL - Marcus McClellan 6-3 250 Sr.

DL - Daren Keely 6-4 290 Jr.

DL - Brad Richardson 6-2 255 Jr.

LB - Gabe Jenkins 6-0 230 Sr.

LB - David Bowling 6-0 210 Jr.

LB - Kevin Meachem 6-2 215 Sr.

CB - Fred Hambrick 5-10 185 Sr.

CB - Brian Hinton 5-10 180 Jr.

FS - Joe Williams 5-11 200 So.

SS - John Smith 6-1 190 Jr.

P - Justin Keen 6-5 180 Fr.

ISU Defense

DL - David Hunter 6-5 235 Sr.

DL - Brandon Stocker 6-3 250 So.

DL - Shannon Jackson 6-2 270 Jr.

DL - Troy Lefevra 6-3 216 Sr.

LB - Cory Pierce 5-9, 190 Jr.

LB - Mike Bandy 6-0 232 Jr.

LB - Tony Prior 6-0 205 Jr.

LB - Matt Graham 5-11 210 Sr.

CB - DeJuan Alfonzo 5-11 190 Jr.

SS - Chris Wilson 6-2 200 Sr.

CB - Keith Richards 5-11 175 So.

P - Phillip Aguilar 5-10 185 Sr.

ISU Offense

LT - Doug Hurt 6-2 280 Jr.

LG - Neal Biggs 6-4 290 Jr.

C - Eric Martin 6-2 260 So.

RG - Ryan Ralston 6-5 255 Fr.

RT - Gabe Johnson 6-0 275 Jr.

WR - Ryan Capretta 6-1 180 Sr.

WR - Jared Kixmiller 6-2 180 So.

QB - Steve Engelhardt 6-1 185 So.

HB - Keith Herron 5-8 175 So.

HB - Jared Sessum 5-10 205 So.

FB - Calvin Thomas 6-0 215 Jr.

K - Phillip Aguilar 5-10 185 Sr.