SE REDUCES MOUNTAINS TO HILLS IN LOSS

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's football Indians saw their record dip to 0-4 Saturday night.

But this loss was unlike any the Indians have experienced so far this season.

For the first time all year, Southeast was in the game at halftime, trailing host Western Kentucky only 14-7.

That was a far cry from the previous three contests, which saw the Indians outscored 89-7 in the first half. The closest Southeast had been at the intermission all season was a 26-7 deficit against Southern Illinois in the opener.

And things remained tight for the majority of the second half. But the Indians still suffered a familiar fate as WKU posted a 21-10 victory in front of 7,700 fans at L.T. Smith Stadium.

WKU improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Indians are 0-2 in the league.

"It was a change," said Southeast coach John Mumford of his squad being in the game at halftime for the first time this season. "But the key was the third quarter. We had good field position and could only come away with three points."

Said WKU coach Jack Harbaugh, "It was a win, but it wasn't a pretty win. I thought our defense rose up."

With Mike Gross making his first career start at quarterback after impressing during late-game action the past two weeks, the Indians finally scored their first offensive touchdown in the first three quarters of any game.

Gross directed a 77-yard, 11-play drive that culminated with his 11-yard touchdown pass to Glenn Haley with 6:56 left in the opening period. Seth Carriere, the Indians' punter who was kicking in place of injured Nick Reggio, booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Indians benefited from some good fortune to score their TD. On third down, Gross drilled a pass intended for K.D. Koleosho that went off Koleosho's hands. But the ball bounced right to Haley, who made the catch at about the three and spun into the end zone.

"When we got the deflected pass for the touchdown, I thought maybe this was going to be our night," Mumford said.

WKU took advantage of a turnover to even things. Freshman safety Bobby Sippio intercepted a Gross pass at the Southeast 42 late in the first quarter, which led to the tying score.

Quarterback Sylvester Gray went over on a 5-yard option keeper with 13:43 left in the second period for a 7-7 tie.

Sippio, having a huge rookie season, then personally gave the Hilltoppers a lead they would not relinquish by stepping in front of a Gross pass along the sideline and returning it 60 yards for a touchdown with 9:02 left before halftime.

It was Sippio's fourth TD of the season, two coming on punt returns and two on interception returns.

"We threw two picks in the first half and one went back (for a touchdown)," said Mumford. "It's hard to overcome those things."

With Southeast's defense stifling WKU's flexbone option offense in the third quarter, the Indians had a golden opportunity to tie the contest.

Isaac Powell intercepted a Gray pass and returned it 25 yards to the WKU 14 with just over four minutes left in the third period.

But the Southeast offense could not move and Carriere booted a 35-yard field goal to draw the Indians to within 14-10.

"If we could have scored there, it really could have been a different game," Mumford said.

The Indians' defense continued to hang tough but WKU tacked on an insurance touchdown with 10:22 left in the fourth quarter as backup quarterback Jason Michael scored from 10 yards out to cap a 66-yard drive.

"Michael came in and made some things happen for us," Harbaugh said. "I was really proud of his leadership."

Southeast's defense had by far its top performance of the season, limiting WKU to 224 yards -- all on the ground. The Hilltoppers misfired on all five of their passing attempts, with Powell, John Smith and Brian Hinton nabbing interceptions.

"Our defense played gangbusters, especially in the third quarter," said Mumford. "We talked about playing physical because we knew this was a physical team. We might have worn down in the fourth quarter."

The Indians gained 233 yards, 91 on the ground and 142 through the air.

Gross, playing all the way until the final series, was 14-for-30 for 135 yards. He was also the Indians' leading rusher with 40 yards on 14 carries as he continues to pace Southeast on the ground this season with 151 yards.

"I thought Gross did a nice job moving the club," Mumford said. "I thought he got in a pretty nice rhythm."

Southeast's defense was spearheaded by its three linebackers, according to unofficial press box statistics. David Bowling was credited with nine tackles, followed by Donovan LaViness with eight and Jeremy Atwell with seven.

The Indians will finally return home after a three-game road swing when Eastern Kentucky visits Houck Stadium next Saturday night.