SEMO COACH SEEKS WIN AND A BIG PERFORMANCE

SEMO Depth Chart

FCOFFENSE

FLTE -- Mitch Fryer 6-2 240 Sr.; John Borne 6-1 235 Jr.

LT -- Ian Walters 6-3 280 Jr.; Cornelius Jackson 6-5 265 So.

LG -- James Williams 6-2 275 Sr.; Perry Save 6-3 320 Jr.

C -- Chris Kiefer 6-3 270 Jr.; Ian Walters 6-3 280 Jr.

RG -- Chad King 6-3 275 Jr.; Jessie Eaton 6-3 320 Sr.

RT -- Carlos DeJesus 6-3 300 Sr.; Chris Evertsen 6-3 295 Jr.

WR -- Leslie Weaver 5-10 185 So.; Dante Bryant 6-1 190 Sr.

WR -- Marcus McKinley 5-10 185 Sr.; Corey Chester 5-11 175 So.

QB -- Jeff Shaw 6-2 205 Sr.; Kevin Seto 6-4, 210 Jr.

FB -- Britt Mirgaux 6-1 228 Sr.; Broderick Benson 5-10 215 Jr.

TB -- Corey Williams 5-11 215 Sr.; Riki Smith 5-9 185 Jr.

PK -- Nick Reggio 5-10 175 Jr.

FCDEFENSE

FLDE -- Marcus McClellan 6-3 250 Sr.; Eric David 6-3 245 Sr.

DT -- Troy Baglio 6-1 280 Sr.; Jason DeWolf 6-3 290 Jr.

NG -- Daren Keely 6-4 290 Jr.; Rod Dragash 6-2 290 Jr.

DT -- Brad Richardson 6-2 255 Jr.; Joel Becker 6-3 265 Jr.

SLB -- Gabe Jenkins 6-0 230 Sr.; Jeremy Atwell 6-1 205 Jr.

MLB -- David Bowling 6-0 210 Jr.; Terrance Sterling 5-11 225 Sr.

WLB -- Kevin Meachem 6-2 215 Sr.; Octavio Campos 6-0 230 Sr.

LCB -- Fred Hambrick 5-10 185 Sr.; Isaac Powell 6-1 180 So.

RCB -- Brian Hinton 5-10 180 Jr.; Andre Clarke 6-0 190 So.

FS -- Joe Williams 5-11 200 So.; Isaac Powell 6-1 180 So.

SS -- John Smith 6-1 190 Jr.; Leotis Belcher 6-3 190 Fr.

P -- Justin Keen 6-5 180 Fr.; Nick Reggio 5-10 175 Jr.

Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford expects the Indians to win Thursday night's season opener against Truman State.

But Mumford won't simply be satisfied with a routine victory. He wants the Indians to be impressive in their performance when the Division II Bulldogs from Kirksville come to Houck Stadium for the 7 p.m. kickoff.

"Every time you play down a division it's scary," said Mumford Monday morning during his first weekly media conference of the season. "You can win and look bad. It's important how we play, as well as winning the game.

"You'd like to be fundamentally sound, be mistake-free as far as turnovers and really limit penalties. Those are the things we're looking for."

All that being said, Mumford certainly doesn't believe the Bulldogs will be an easy touch for the Division I-AA Indians -- even if Truman State did lose 16 starters from last year's 6-4 team.

"They're a dangerous team," said Mumford. "They have a lot of new faces, but you can tell on last year's film that they are coached very well."

Mumford said the Indians, who have been practicing for nearly three weeks, are ready to hit somebody else other than each other.

"The guys are anxious," he said. "It should be a good night of football."

* Mumford officially released the Indians' game-week depth chart Monday and there were a few surprises, but nothing major.

Chad King, a Fredericktown High product, has moved ahead of returning regular Jessie Eaton at right guard, although Eaton figures to also play quite a bit Thursday.

"Chad has done very well," said Mumford of the junior who was a part-time starter last season. "He's improved a lot, but Jessie will also play a lot."

As expected, true freshman Justin Keen out of Jackson figures to do the punting Thursday. Keen was recruited as a quarterback but he averaged 37 yards per punt for Jackson last year.

"We had a young man scheduled to come in who ended up going to Arkansas instead and that kind of left us in a lurch," said Mumford of Southeast's punting situation. "But we think Justin can be a tremendous punter. He's got the physique and leg strength."

Four other local products are listed as first-teamers heading into Thursday's game:

Center Chris Kiefer (Perryville), fullback Britt Mirgaux (Scott City), linebacker Gabe Jenkins (Cape Central) and strong safety John Smith (Jackson).

All except Smith started virtually every game last season, with Smith being a part-time regular.

* While quarterback Jeff Shaw and the rest of the first offensive unit will start Thursday's game, Mumford said plans are for junior-college transfer quarterback Kevin Seto and the rest of the second unit offense to play during the second series.

"Our second unit has done very well and at this time our intention is to have them play the second series," Mumford said. "That's something that coach (Steve) Schottel (Southeast's offensive coordinator) likes to do anyway."

* Mumford figures that as many as five running backs -- that group should be one of the Indians' major strengths -- could see extensive action Thursday.

Tailbacks Corey Williams, Riki Smith and K.D. Koleosho, along with fullbacks Mirgaux and Broderick Benson, have all been impressive so far, according to Mumford.

"They've all done well," he said of the five.

* In the return department, Mumford said that Corey Chester and Andy Dunaway would handle the punts while Chester and Smith would take care of the kickoffs.

Chester, listed as a No. 2 wide receiver, and Dunaway are both walkons and Mumford had high praise for both.

"They've really worked hard and done well," he said.

Mumford said that Dunaway is a particularly good story. The Cape Central product, a redshirt freshman, has also worked his way into the mix at wide receiver in addition to being the Indians' holder for extra points and field goals.

"Andy has just worked his tail off," Mumford said. "He came here as a walkon last year, has really improved and he's going to be a solid player for us."

* While Truman State lost most of its top players from last season, the Bulldogs are certainly not without their standouts.

Players of particular note for the Bulldogs are two seniors, center Spencer Stevens and cornerback Tommy Hernandez.

Stevens, a 330-pounder, has made a few preseason Division II All-American teams and is the strongest player in Truman State history, according to coach John Ware, who said Stevens bench-presses 535 pounds and squats more than 800 pounds.

Hernandez, like Stevens, was a first-team all-conference pick last year.