Southeast Missouri State football team conducts final scrimmage

The Southeast Missouri State football team put the wraps on by what most accounts was a solid two-week preseason camp with a final scrimmage.

Saturday's session at Houck Stadium lasted about 70 minutes and featured plenty of situational work as well as the scrimmaging.

"I thought it was a lot better than last week," junior linebacker Blake Peiffer said about the Redhawks' second scrimmage. "We had more enthusiasm. There was a spark in the team."

Southeast coach Tony Samuel agreed.

"I thought it was better than last week," Samuel said. "The timing was better on offense, crisper tackling on defense."

Southeast Missouri State University head football coach Tony Samuel shares a laugh Saturday, August 20, 2011 during the Redhawks football scrimmage at Houck Stadium. (Laura Simon)

The offense put up three quick touchdowns on long drives before the defense settled in during last week's scrimmage.

This time the offense failed to drive a substantial amount for any touchdowns. The only two scores came during red-zone work.

All-Ohio Valley Conference senior quarterback Matt Scheible still liked the way the offense operated as that unit stayed fairly basic.

"There was some new stuff we put in this week. I thought it went well," he said.

The touchdowns came on short runs by junior tailback Levi Terrell and true freshman quarterback Scott Lathrop.

Southeast defensive tackle Quinn Perry tries to take down quarterback Matt Scheible Saturday, August 20, 2011 during the Redhawks football scrimmage at Houck Stadium. (Laura Simon)

Terrell again ran well as Southeast spread the carries.

Terrell, a transfer from Division II Nebraska-Omaha -- he was that squad's leading rusher the past two years -- gained 80 yards on nine carries. He ripped off a 43-yarder.

"He's doing some good things," said Samuel, whose team appears to have several capable backs after the graduation of record-setting All-American Henry Harris and two other top performers.

True freshman AJ Cobb gained 50 yards on five attempts, including a 23-yarder.

Southeast's ground-oriented attack accumulated 216 yards on 39 attempts, an average of 5.5 yards per pop.

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Tyler Peoples handles a snap during Saturday's scrimmage.

"All the guys are running well," Scheible said.

The Redhawks didn't try much through the air. The quarterbacks combined to go 6 of 9 for 59 yards.

Redshirt freshman Tyler Peoples was 2 of 2 for 19 yards. Scheible was 2 of 2 for 14 yards. True freshman Trey Lewis was 2 of 3 for 26 yards.

Senior Josh Coleman caught two passes for 26 yards. Sophomore D.J. Foster added two receptions for 14 yards.

Junior college transfer Quinn Perry, a defensive lineman, had two tackles for loss.

ABOVE: Southeast Missouri State quarterback Matt Scheible is confronted by defensive tackle Quinn Perry during Saturday's scrimmage at Houck Stadium. TOP: Southeast Missouri State coach Tony Samuel shares a lighter moment along the sideline during the scrimmage. (Laura Simon)

Senior defensive end Johnnie Morgan intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards.

"We had fun today. It went well, but we definitely need a lot of work," All-American junior safety Tylor Brock said. "We've got a lot of new guys. We still have a lot of things to learn."

Peiffer rated camp a success.

"It went good. We had our ups and downs, like all teams, but we got a lot accomplished," he said.

Samuel also liked what he saw during the past two weeks.

Southeast Missouri State University defender Daniel Siehndel tries to bring down receiver D.J. Foster during the Redhawks' scrimmage at Houck Stadium.

"We had a couple of hiccups in there, a few days where we might take a lateral step, but it was a good, steady progress," he said. "We came out of camp in good shape, I thought. We needed a lot of work with new people."

That work will continue the next two weeks leading up to the Sept. 3 season opener at home against regional rival Southern Illinois.

"We still have a lot of things we need to clean up," Samuel said.

With the fall semester starting Monday, the Redhawks will settle into a once-per-day practice routine in the afternoon following classes.