SEMO `D' LIVING UP TO BILLING SO FAR

Most Southeast Missouri State University football fans have heard of the likes of defensive stalwarts Angel Rubio, Troy Baglio, Zuri Buchanan, Chris Justice, Ronnie Smith and others.

Those are the types of players that garnered much of the preseason publicity for a Southeast defense that was expected to be the strength of the Indians this season.

And all of those players -- along with plenty of others -- lived up to their billing during Saturday's season-opening 24-6 win over visiting Lambuth.

But according to Southeast defensive coordinator Charles Sabbatini, the play of some of the Indians' less heralded defenders had as much to do with Southeast's stellar defensive effort in the opener.

Sabbatini, in assessing the Indians' season-opening defensive performance, mentioned players like ends Damon Hendrick and Marcus McClellan as people that Southeast fans probably haven't heard too much about yet -- but will as the year goes along.

Hendrick, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior who is the son of St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach George Hendrick, had a quarterback sack and a fumble recovery against Lambuth.

"Damon has been playing real well," said Sabbatini. "Last year, as a junior-college transfer, he didn't have a spring practice under his belt and that kind of set him back. But he's starting to make the plays we thought he would make."

McClellan, a 6-3, 250-pound junior, had six tackles -- third-most on the team -- and a quarterback sack in the opener.

A high-school All-American, McClellan signed with Clemson out of high school but never played for the Tigers. He was a late transfer from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa and joined the Indians in time for fall drills.

"Marcus made some plays," Sabbatini said. "He's got tremendous speed."

Another previously unheralded player who performed big against Lambuth was 320-pound junior noseguard Curtis Holman, who had two of the Indians' six quarterback sacks. Holman sat out last season after transferring from Southern.

Of course, the Indians' heralded defenders also performed well. Rubio, a preseason All-American lineman, had a team-high nine tackles, including four for losses. Safety Joe Williams was next with seven tackles.

All in all, Sabbatini gave his defense high marks for its performance in the opener although he said the Indians still have plenty of work to do as they prepare for their next game, Sept. 13 against Illinois State.

"The first half, I thought we just totally dominated the Lambuth offense," he said. "Any time you play anybody and hold them to 31 yards in the first half, you're pretty well doing what you asked them to do.

"Our front four played exceptionally well. They're supposed to be the strength of our defense and they were."

As for the Indians' offense, Southeast offensive coordinator Steve Schottel also came away pleased with his unit.

"Our kids played hard and they played enthused," he said. "But we've still got a lot of work to do."

Most noteworthy offensively for the Indians in the opener was having two running backs gain more than 100 yards as Riki Smith had 112 and Oklahoma transfer David Koleosho added 108. It marked the first time in recent history that two Southeast backs have gained more than 100 yards apiece.

"It's an accomplishment and a credit to the offensive line," said Schottel.

* Although it's only after one game, several Southeast players rank high in the current NCAA Division I-AA national statistics.

Punter Justin Terrill is fifth (42.3 yards per punt), Smith is eighth and Koleosho 10th in rushing and Leslie Weaver is 11th in punt returns (7.6-yard average).

* Southeast head coach John Mumford left the team for a few days after Saturday's opener to attend the funeral of his father-in-law in Lawrence, Kan.

Mumford was scheduled to return to Cape Girardeau late Wednesday. With an open date this Saturday, Mumford plans to give the Indians a long weekend off starting Friday.

* Illinois State, which hammered the Indians 29-0 in last year's opener, got off to a rough start this season, falling 44-13 at Southern Utah Saturday.

Southern Utah's wishbone attack piled up 385 yards rushing, including 201 by freshman Matt Cannon.

Illinois State will host Buffalo this Saturday.