SEMO FOOTBALL NOW WILL SHOOT FOR THREE WINS IN A ROW

A two-game winning streak was just what the doctor ordered for Southeast Missouri State University's football team.

While a three-game victory spurt might not make the Indians totally able to forget their seven-game losing streak to start the season, it would certainly continue the heeling process.

The Indians will have a chance to make it three in a row and apparently a very realistic chance this week when Eastern Illinois visits Houck Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday.

Southeast is 2-7 overall and 1-4 in Ohio Valley Conference play following a 36-7 win at Tennessee-Martin.

Eastern Illinois, having its worst season since 1993, is 1-8 overall and also 1-4 in the OVC after falling to Western Kentucky 38-15.

During his weekly media conference Monday, Mumford spoke like it's a new season for the Indians since they finally shed their losing streak."We have a chance to go 3-0 and that's the big theme this week," said Mumford. "But it will take a top effort for us to continue our winning streak."That's because Mumford believes the Panthers' record might be a bit misleading. Eastern Illinois played three Division I-A teams early in the season, losing all three, and that appears to have taken a toll."I think playing three Division I-A games has taken a toll on them physically," Mumford said. "They are still an excellent football team."nThe Indians have had a few games this season where they were able to substitute freely late but that's because Southeast was on the short end of a lopsided score.

Against Tennessee-Martin, however, the tables were turned as, for the first time, the Indians were on the positive end of a blowout."It was nice to have a game like that," said Mumford. "It was nice to be able to get so many young kids into the game."Among the young players who really made his mark was redshirt freshman defensive end Kent Langston out of Jackson. Langston has seen very limited action this year but he had two quarterback sacks against the Skyhawks."Kent is coming on," Mumford said. "He's finally realized he can use his quickness. It's good to see do that."nBy totally dominating Tennessee-Martin Southeast held a 469 to 191 edge in total yardage and allowed just 28 rushing yards the Indians have moved up dramatically in the OVC statistics.

Southeast is now up to fourth in passing offense and ffith in total offense. Defensively, the Indians have moved up to fourth in rushing defense and fifth in total defense.

Individually, a big game by quarterback Rashad West in his first career start has moved him up to second in the league in passing efficiency.

Defensively, Brian Hinton's five interceptions are the most in the OVC, although he officially ranks second in interceptions per game.

Linebackers Jeremy Atwell and Donovan LaViness are waging a battle for the OVC tackles title. Atwell is first with 91 while LaViness is tied for second with 90. Atwell is third in the league in tackles for loss with 17.

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Tailback K.D. Koleosho has had three straight productive games since becoming Southeast's feature ballcarrier, gaining 225 yards during that span.

Koleosho leads the Indians on the ground with 367 yards, averaging a healthy 4.9 yards per carry.

Tailback Riki Smith is second in rushing with 293 yards.

In the receiving department, Leslie Weaver is tops with 30 catches while tight end John Borne, coming off a five-catch-for-118-yards performance against Tennessee-Martin, is now second with 21 receptions.

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Mumford said that the three players who missed the Tennessee-Martin game for violating unspecified team policy Seth Carriere, Jason DeWolf and Ryan Lock will be back in action this week.

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Southeast's final game of the season Nov. 20 at home against Tennessee State will be televised live by WSMV-TV in Nashville, Tenn.

To accommodate television, the game time has been moved to 3 p.m. The contest had originally been slated to kick off at 1 p.m.

Tennessee State is 8-0 and ranked second nationally among Division I-AA teams."This is a great opportunity for added exposure for our football program and Southeast Missouri State," Mumford said. "Live television in a market like Nashville is important to both Tennessee State, Southeast Missouri and the entire Ohio Valley Conference."WSMV-TV is the NBC affiliate in Nashville.