Southeast Missouri State football coach Samuel stresses axing turnovers

The Southeast Missouri State football team limited its turnovers during last year's historic season. It committed 16 in 12 games.

That also held true for the first five contests of 2011 even though the Redhawks won just one of those games.

But the bottom finally fell out on the Redhawks in the turnover department Saturday in Richmond, Ky.

Southeast committed six turnovers, two more than during the first five games combined. Host Eastern Kentucky capitalized with 24 points off the miscues on its way to a 41-17 victory.

The Redhawks last had six turnovers during the 2007 opener, a 59-3 loss at Cincinnati.

"Way out of character. Just things that are out of character for us," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said Monday. "We have to clean that up."

Although the turnovers doomed any chance Southeast had Saturday, the Redhawks' offense performed well when it did hold onto the ball and the defense was solid.

Southeast had a 387 to 343 edge in yards. That was a far cry from the previous week, when the Redhawks lost at Tennessee State 55-3 while allowing more than 500 yards and gaining less than 200.

"If you look at the numbers, you take away the turnovers, we're in the football game," Samuel said. "We just have to fix some things up."

Senior quarterback Matt Scheible threw three interceptions after having just one in the first five contests and being picked off only three times all last season.

Southeast's other three turnovers came on special teams. The Redhawks lost two fumbles on kickoff returns and one on a punt return.

"We just have to limit our mistakes," junior linebacker Blake Peiffer said Saturday.

The defeat dropped the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Redhawks to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in league play, virtually eliminating them from title contention.

But the Redhawks will have an opportunity to finish the season strong with a flurry of home dates.

The Redhawks played four of their first six games away from Cape Girardeau but have four of their final five contests at Houck Stadium, beginning with Saturday's homecoming matchup against Austin Peay (2-4, 2-2).

"It's good to be back at home. We've been on the road quite a bit. It's taken its toll," Samuel said. "Now we have an opportunity to stay at home and flip this thing around. We can still have a good season."

Southeast's lone victory came at Houck Stadium, a 37-30 win over Eastern Illinois on Oct. 1.

"We've been on the road so much, it's going to be good to get back home and start getting some wins," redshirt freshman receiver/returner Spencer Davis said Saturday.

After facing Austin Peay, Southeast visits Tennessee-Martin for its final road test before ending the year with three consecutive home games.

Noteworthy

* Southeast's top two receivers statistically, sophomore D.J. Foster and senior Aaron King, did not make the trip to Eastern Kentucky after violating team policy.

Samuel said they should play when asked about their status for this week's game.

Foster leads Southeast receivers with 18 catches and three touchdowns. King has eight receptions.

* Redshirt freshman Lennies McFerren, a member of Southeast's tailback rotation, did not play Saturday. Samuel said McFerren has "been a little nicked up."