SE PACKS MEMORY E-RACERS; INDIANS TRY TO FORGET PAST AGAINST OVC CHAMP MURRAY ST.

To simply say that Southeast Missouri State University's football team has struggled against Murray State in recent years wouldn't even come close to doing the situation justice.

The Indians have lost four straight games to the Racers -- and the past two seasons Southeast hasn't even scored against MSU, losing by a combined 50-0.

Tonight, in Murray, Ky. (7 p.m. kickoff), the Indians will try to reverse all of those trends when they meet the Racers in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.

"We're going over there to play an excellent football team and it's going to be a tremendous challenge for us," said Southeast coach John Mumford.

Adding to the challenge is the fact the Indians have to find a way to bounce back from last Saturday's disheartening 41-7 blowout loss at home against Illinois State.

Toward that end, Mumford had his players bouncing tennis balls around campus the past several days to signify `bounce back' week at Southeast.

"That's been our motto this week, to bounce back," said Mumford, whose team is 1-1. "I still have a lot of confidence in this team. We just have to put the Illinois State game behind us."

Of course, the Racers will be trying to do a little bouncing back of their own tonight. They led Southern Illinois 20-3 in the fourth quarter last Saturday but wound up losing 24-20. Coupled with the previous week's triple-overtime defeat against Western Kentucky and MSU has now lost back-to-back games for the first time since 1994.

"It was a rough weekend for us," said MSU's first-year head coach, Denver Johnson. "I'm trying to find an answer. I'm trying to identify a problem to go about fixing."

Despite an uncharacteristic 1-2 record and despite having lost a host of key players from last season, Mumford said he sees little difference between the 1997 Racers and the model that went 16-0 in OVC play the last two seasons.

"I don't see a lot of difference in talent," he said. "They've got tremendous athletes."

According to Mumford, MSU poses few mysteries. The opposition generally knows what's coming. But stopping the Racers is another matter.

"Offensively, they pretty well come at you and say my guy is better than your guy," Mumford said. "Defensively, they put a lot of people at the line of scrimmage and you have to figure out a way to beat that."

Except for quarterback Mike Cherry -- and that's a big exception -- the Racers returned many of their key offensive players from last season.

The line is strong and experienced, led by all-OVC performers Brian Cox and Mark Robinson. The backfield features Anthony Downs, a 1,000-yard rusher last year, and Illinois transfer Wilbert Smith. The receiving corps includes All-American Reginald Swinton, who caught 66 passes in 1996.

Taking over for Cherry -- who was picked in the NFL draft -- is Arizona transfer Dan Loyd.

"He's a very good quarterback," said Mumford. "He's a little more mobile than Cherry and he has a good arm."

Loyd has passed for 577 yards so far. Swinton is averaging 22.4 yards on 10 receptions while Brandon Warfield has 11 receptions.

Downs, who injured an ankle against SIU and may not play tonight, has rushed for 254 yards while Smith has 255. Smith gained 137 yards against SIU after Downs was hurt.

Defensively is where the Racers suffered many of their losses from last season, but they returned several standouts, led by two-time all-OVC linebacker Ronnie Merritt.

"Merritt is a great linebacker, one of the best we'll see," said Mumford.

Another weapon for the Racers is all-OVC kicker Rob Hart, who set a league record with 22 field goals last season. He's off to a four-for-five start this year.

As for Southeast, Mumford is hoping his offense can show some of its weapons tonight in order to take the heat off a stout defense that was forced to do too much against Illinois State.

The Indians gained just 168 yards total offense against the Redbirds, but Mumford looks for much better production against the Racers.

"We just have to believe in each other and put things together," Mumford said. "I know we're a much better football team than we showed against Illinois State and we've got a chance to prove it."

SEMO at Murray State

Probable Starters

SEMO Offense

TE - Mitch Fryer 6-2 240 Jr.

LT - Ian Walters 6-3 280 So.

LG - James Williams 6-2 275 Jr.

C - Chris Kiefer 6-3 270 So.

RG - Jessie Eaton 6-3 320 Jr.

RT - Carlos DeJesus 6-3 300 Jr.

WR - Leslie Weaver 5-10 190 Fr.

WR - Dante Bryant 6-1 190 Jr.

QB - Heath Graham 6-2 220 Sr.

FB - Britt Mirgaux 6-1 228 Jr.

TB - Riki Smith 5-9 185 So.

PK - Eric Warren 5-7 190 Sr.

SEMO Defense

DL - Angel Rubio 6-3 290 Sr.

DL - Troy Baglio 6-1 280 Jr.

DL - Damon Hendrick 6-5 260 Sr.

DL - Marcus McClellan 6-3 250 Jr.

LB - Gabe Jenkins 6-0 230 Jr.

LB - Zuri Buchanan 6-0 240 So.

LB - Chris Justice 6-2 235 So.

CB - Fred Hambrick 5-10 180 Jr.

CB - Willie Davis 5-11 190 Sr.

FS - Joe Williams 5-11 200 So.

SS - Ronnie Smith 5-9 195 Sr.

P - Justin Terrill 6-2 185 Sr.

MSU Defense

DL - Kirk Barnett 6-4 260 Sr.

DL - Eric Mathies 6-3 275 Sr.

DL - Kennett Knotts 6-3 260 Jr.

DL - Jarrod Webb 6-1 275 Jr.

LB - Gary Humphrey 6-3 222 So.

LB - Ronnie Merritt 6-2 255 Sr.

LB - Chris Vaughn 6-1 215 Jr.

CB - Len Cooper 6-1 185 Sr.

CB - Chauncey McGee 5-9 190 Jr.

FS - Kenny Thomas 6-3 200 Sr.

SS - Gary Wheeler 5-10 190 Jr.

P - Carson Gream 6-2 180 Jr.

MSU Offense

TE - Maurice Pollard 5-11 250 Jr.

LT - Dan Brown 6-5 285 Sr.

LG - Matt Robinson 6-3 288 Sr.

C - Brian Cox 6-0 250 Sr.

RG - Jud Carter 6-3 276 Jr.

RT - Rob Reynold 6-6 320 Sr.

WR - Cliff Branch 6-2 185 So.

WR - Reginald Swinton 6-2 175 Jr.

QB - Dan Loyd 6-2 200 So.

FB - Mike Johnson 6-0 210 Sr.

TB - Anthony Downs 6-2 205 Sr.

PK - Rob Hart 5-9 190 Sr.