SE wraps up OVC season tonight

On paper, Eastern Kentucky shouldn't have much trouble with Southeast Missouri State University when the football teams hook up at Houck Stadium tonight in the Indians' final Ohio Valley Conference game of the season.

But Roy Kidd, EKU's legendary coach, hasn't compiled more than 300 victories by overlooking anybody. So he says he's genuinely concerned about the problems the Indians (3-6 overall, 1-4 OVC) present for his powerful Colonels (5-2, 3-1).

"I think they're a heck of a lot better football team than their record," said Kidd, who is the nation's third winningest active coach with a 304-119-8 record in his 38th season at EKU. "They got a good football team. Offensively they can score. They spread you all over the field, no backs, one back, two backs. You just don't see it that often and we're going to have to be ready."

The Colonels, who are ranked 23rd and 25th in the two national Division I-AA polls, have been ready for most things this year. Their losses have been to Division I-A Central Michigan 42-28 in their season opener and to Eastern Illinois 21-17 in their OVC opener.

Eastern Illinois has clinched the OVC title at 5-0 after routing Tennessee-Martin 56-16 Thursday night. EKU is in second place at 3-1.

"I think they're as good as any team in the league," said Southeast coach Tim Billings of the Colonels.

Statistically, the Colonels certainly look like the one of the OVC's top teams. They lead the league in rushing defense (85 yards allowed per game), passing defense (161.71) and total defense (246.71) as they rank in the top 10 nationally in all three categories.

Offensively, the Colonels are not as potent overall but they do lead the OVC in rushing offense (257.57), which has been a staple of EKU under Kidd. Considering that the Indians are last in the conference in rushing defense (206.78) -- they are also last in total defense (399.11) -- it's not hard to figure what the Colonels will try and do today.

"They can throw the ball, but that's not their strength," Billings said. "They're a typical Roy Kidd team. They'll run it at you with their big, strong offensive line and great running back. We have to do something to slow them down in the running game. We want to dare them to throw the ball."

With a running back like C.J. Hudson, it doesn't make much sense for the Colonels to throw too often. Hudson, a 5-foot-6, 189-pound redshirt freshman, is the OVC's leading rusher and he ranks seventh nationally with 139.7 yards per game. He has gained 978 yards, scored 10 touchdowns and averages 5.9 yards per carry.

"He's done a great job," said Kidd of Hudson, who finished his high school career as the third all-time leading rusher in Florida prep history. "Our offensive line has done a good job helping him, but he's been a very pleasant surprise."

Kidd says the Colonels generally use two quarterbacks. Toki McCray, the normal starter, has passed for 562 yards while Travis Turner has added 298 yards. Both are completing more than 54 percent of their attempts.

While EKU figures to be able to move the ball against Southeast, Kidd is worried that the Indians will be able to do the same to the Colonels. Southeast ranks second in the OVC in total offense (388.89) and passing offense (261.67).

Tailback Curtis Cooper is closing in on becoming only the third player in Southeast history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season -- he has 994. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jeromy McDowell has thrown for 1,789 yards and wide receiver Willie Ponder has caught 61 passes for 913 yards as he should become just the second player in school history to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

"We're certainly going to have to do a good job of defending the pass," Kidd said. "If we let that kid (McDowell) just sit there, he's going to pick us apart. He's done it to everybody else and there's no reason to think he won't do it to us."

Tonight's game will feature two special free admission promotions.

First, the contest will be part of NCAA football's annual "Take a Kid to the Game" program. Youngsters age 15 and under will receive a free ticket with the purchase of a full-priced adult ticket.

Also, the game will be part of "Cape Youth Tackle League Day." All Cape Youth Tackle League players wearing their jerseys will be admitted free.