Southeast enjoyed opening challenge

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Even though Southeast Missouri State got thumped by a BCS conference team for the second year in a row, the Redhawks said they enjoyed testing themselves against major-college athletes.

And they picked up a nice paycheck for the university in the process.

Southeast opened its season Thursday night with a 59-3 loss at Cincinnati. The Bearcats went 8-5 a year ago, tied for fourth place in the Big East Conference and won the International Bowl.

In 2006, the Redhawks fell 63-7 at nationally ranked Arkansas from the Southeastern Conference.

"We all dreamed of playing at this level," junior safety Kendall Magana said. "It's fun ... I remember even at Arkansas last year, the score might not reflect it, but you get out there and they're all just football players, just like we are."

Said junior wide receiver Michael Williamson, "These are games, individually, you want to show up. It's good to play a team like that. It really shows you your weaknesses."

Added senior linebacker Adam Casper: "It's fun, but at the same time you want to compete. You hate to see a score like that. But they're a really good team."

Like most other teams in the Ohio Valley Conference -- and many other Division I-AA squads across the nation -- Southeast annually plays on the road against a Division I-A program in order to provide much-needed revenue for the overall athletic department.

Cincinnati paid Southeast $250,000 after Arkansas handed over $300,000 last year.

Southeast already has signed contracts to play at Missouri for $250,000 in 2008 and at Cincinnati for $275,000 in 2009.

Williamson catches pass

In his fourth year at Southeast, Williamson finally caught a pass.

The Texas native redshirted in 2004, then saw limited action over the past two years. His reception Thursday went for 14 yards.

"I wish it could have come in better circumstances, but it felt good," said Williamson, voted one of Southeast's four captains. "It's been a long time coming."

Statistically speaking

• Southeast was outgained in total yardage 615 to 262. The Bearcats rushed for 314 yards and threw for 301 yards.
• The Redhawks rushed for 175 yards, most of it by junior quarterback Victor Anderson, who gained 118 yards on 13 carries.
• Junior tailback Tim Holloman, Southeast's leading rusher the last two years, was held to eight yards on six carries.
• Southeast's top two rushers were rookies as they played the bulk of the second half. Redshirt freshman Sterling Hardin gained 27 yards on seven attempts and true freshman Alfred Reese had 24 yards on five carries.
• Junior Vincent Anderson led in receptions with three for 22 yards.
• Defensively, according to unofficial pressbox statistics, sophomore rover Walter Peoples had nine tackles and Casper eight.
• Magana intercepted a pass, which he returned 45 yards. Sophomore cornerback Salim Powell recovered a fumble forced by Casper.
• Junior lineman Matt Stahlberg had Southeast's lone sack.
• Sophomore Doug Spada punted four times for an average of 40 yards, with a 51-yarder.
• Sophomore Eddie Calvin averaged nearly 30 yards on three kickoff returns.