Southeast, Austin Peay both have something to prove Saturday

It's not like the Southeast Missouri State football team has been getting blown out of Ohio Valley Conference games.

But that's little consolation for the Redhawks, who fell to 0-3 in league play with Saturday's 23-17 setback at Tennessee State.

Southeast, 1-4 overall, has suffered four straight losses since opening the season with a 72-3 mauling of NAIA Quincy.

That puts even more importance on this Saturday's 1 p.m. homecoming contest with equally-struggling Austin Peay (1-4, 0-2), also riding a four-game losing streak since knocking off Division II Newberry in its opener.

"It's a really big game for both programs," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said Monday during his weekly media conference. "We're trying to break the ice and they're trying to break the ice."

Southeast's other OVC losses this year have been by nine points to Eastern Illinois and by seven points to Tennessee-Martin.

If recent history is any indication, this week's game will go down to the wire. The last two matchups between the Redhawks and Governors have been decided by three points.

Southeast won last year's meeting in Clarksville, Tenn., 33-30, after Austin Peay captured a 34-31 double-overtime thriller in 2007 at Houck Stadium.

"We've had some really close battles with them," Samuel said.

The Redhawks needed a late comeback to beat Austin Peay in last season's final game as they trailed by 10 points with under six minutes remaining.

Quarterback Matt Scheible, making just his second college start as a true freshman, rallied Southeast to a pair of late touchdowns, including the game-winner with 14 seconds remaining.

That was something of a coming-out-party for Scheible, who passed for 195 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 73 yards.

"He had a real good game," Samuel said. "He ran the offense well."

Scheible has mostly been solid as Southeast's starter this year, although he struggled some Saturday at Tennessee State. Scheible completed just 13 of 34 passes, but did throw two touchdown passes and also led Southeast in rushing with 61 yards.

Samuel said he expects Scheible to bounce back well.

"He'll be fine," Samuel said. "He's going to do some great things. He's going to win a lot of games for us."