Southeast beaten on late TD by Colonels

RICHMOND, Ky. -- There must be something about Roy Kidd Stadium that brings out the best in Southeast Missouri State's football team.

Only this time, all the Redhawks had to show for another strong performance at Eastern Kentucky was a gut-wrenching defeat.

Southeast, poised to post its first victory of the season, saw EKU complete a 23-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 1.4 seconds remaining as the Colonels pulled out a stunning 33-32 victory Saturday night.

"The kids played their hearts out," said Southeast coach Tim Billings, whose squad fell to 0-7 overall and 0-4 in Ohio Valley Conference play. "It's so discouraging."

Said senior defensive end Justin Komondoreas: "It's really disappointing. But we just have to keep our heads up. As good as we played, this will definitely motivate us."

EKU (4-4, 4-1 OVC) is notoriously tough to beat at the facility named after its former legendary coach, having lost at home just 37 times in the past 36 years entering this season.

But Southeast is one of the few OVC teams to have experienced recent success at EKU, posting consecutive victories there in 2002 and 2003.

"We always play good here," senior wide receiver T.J. Milcic said. "I'd never lost here before."

When Southeast scored a touchdown to go ahead 32-27 with a little more than 4 minutes remaining, it looked like the Redhawks might make it three straight on the Colonels' field.

And, when EKU faced a fourth-and-16 yards from Southeast's 23-yard line with just 10 seconds left, the Redhawks could probably taste their first victory of 2005.

But quarterback Josh Greco, after holding the ball for several seconds, lofted a high pass into the right corner of the end zone toward 6-foot-5 Patrick Bugg.

Bugg, with two Southeast defenders draped all over him, went up and came down with the football cleanly. After EKU took a knee on its conversion, the Redhawks failed to come up with a miracle kickoff return as time expired.

"He just tossed it up there, and they made a great play," Komondoreas said.

Milcic, sent into the defensive secondary on the final few plays because of his 6-foot-5 height and good hands, nearly sealed the victory on third down when a Greco pass bounced off his hands at the goal line. EKU won it on the next play.

"It was the easiest pass I had to catch all night," said Milcic, who had four receptions for 67 yards.

Said Billings, "We were one play away. We dropped the one ball, and we had him [Bugg] double-covered."

The Redhawks had come no closer than 14 points in their previous six games, and they had held even a slim lead in only one of them.

But Southeast, committing no turnovers for the first time this season, led 16-0 less than eight minutes into the game and later was ahead 23-6 before settling for a 23-13 halftime advantage.

"It shows what we can do when we don't turn the ball over," Billings said.

In an attempt to ignite its running attack, Southeast -- which normally operates out of a one-back offense -- utilized the I-formation much of the night, inserting reserve linebacker Cory Andrade into the fullback position.

"We felt like we needed to run the football more, run it better, and take some pressure off our quarterbacks," Billings said. "Also, we felt like Timmy's more of an 'I' guy. He needs to hit the seams."

Tim Holloman, Southeast's true freshman tailback, had a dazzling performance, rushing for 155 yards on 31 carries, catching six passes for 95 yards, and scoring all four of the Redhawks' touchdowns, including a highlight-reel 64-yarder after a short toss from Mike Haley.

"We found a running back," Billings said. "He had a great game."

Haley, who went the entire way at quarterback, completed 18 of 27 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns, both to Holloman.

"Mike had his best game, no doubt," Billings said. "I think the running game made him more effective."

Said Haley: "We got off to a great start, and the running game helped. Timmy ran so well. He showed what he can do."

EKU fumbled the opening kickoff, Romae Rucker recovering at the Colonels' 29-yard line. Haley hit Holloman from 4 yards out for a 7-0 lead just 3:53 into the contest.

Less than a minute later, with EKU backed up, Komondoreas broke through and sacked Greco for a safety and a 9-0 lead.

After receiving the free kick, the Redhawks drove 50 yards and Holloman's spinning 16-yard touchdown run 7:15 into the first quarter made it 16-0.

Leading 16-6, Southeast drove 91 yards toward the end of the first half, scoring on Holloman's brilliant 64-yard touchdown on a short swing pass with 1:15 left.

But, in one of the key sequences of the night, EKU came right back and drove 65 yards -- taking advantage of 30 yards in penalties and a questionable pass reception during which a player appeared to be out of bounds before catching the ball -- to pull within 23-13 with 19 seconds remaining in the half.

"That was big," Billings said. "We could have been ahead 23-6 at halftime."

EKU scored two third-quarter touchdowns, capping a 21-0 run, to go ahead 27-23 as the Colonels appeared to take control.

But the Redhawks regrouped. Colin Schermann -- who also kicked four extra points -- booted a 27-yard field goal with 12:02 left in the fourth quarter, pulling Southeast within 27-26. Schermann is nine of 10 on field goals this year.

The Redhawks then pulled off a play that looked like it might be the key to victory. On third-and-15 from the EKU 44, Haley hit Milcic on a 37-yard bomb. Two plays later, Holloman scored from 1 yard out, putting Southeast up 32-27 with 4:08 left. A two-point try failed.

"Once we got behind, we could have folded," Billings said. "I was really proud of the way we came back."

EKU, however, had the final comeback, driving 76 yards and overcoming several strong Southeast defensive plays to score the game-winner. The Colonels converted three third downs -- then hit the Redhawks with the dagger on fourth down.

"Roy Kidd field has been good to us," Billings said. "It crushed us tonight."