Southeast Missouri State football team continues to pursue goals

Southeast Missouri State's hopes of an unprecedented second consecutive winning season on the Football Championship Subdivision level ended Saturday with a 38-30 loss at Tennessee-Martin.

But the Redhawks said afterward they still are motivated to win as they end the year with three consecutive home games, beginning 1 p.m. Saturday against NAIA Central Methodist.

"There's nothing better than coming home," senior quarterback Matt Scheible said. "We're definitely going to play our hearts out. Our fans have been great, and they deserve that."

Redshirt freshman wide receiver/returner Spencer Davis said the squad's numerous underclassmen owe it to their older teammates to close the season strong.

"The last three games, we want to finish strong for the seniors," said Davis, who scored his first two collegiate touchdowns Saturday on passes from Scheible. "It's fun playing with these seniors. It will be good to see them go out with wins, especially playing at home."

Southeast, playing its fifth road game among its first eight contests, fell to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference with the defeat at Tennessee-Martin.

The Redhawks are assured their 18th losing season since moving up to the FCS level in 1991 just one year after they captured the program's first OVC title.

Southeast has had just three winning records during that time, topped by last year's 9-3 mark.

A slow start doomed the Redhawks at Tennessee-Martin, as was the case in all five of their road games this season. Southeast never led in any of the contests.

Southeast fell behind 21-0 early in the second quarter Saturday. The Redhawks trailed 28-3 late in the first half before closing within 38-30 late. A final drive fell short.

"If you look at it, it's been turnovers, youthful mistakes," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said Monday about the Redhawks' pattern of falling behind. "Typically when it's all said and done, a team with more experience won't have the slow starts."

Samuel believes the Redhawks still have much to play for even though a winning season no longer is possible.

Southeast still has a chance to finish .500 in the OVC. Young players also can gain experience for next season.

Samuel said the Redhawks' top priority is to send the seniors out on a positive note.

"We don't have a big senior class, but for what this senior class has accomplished here, we need to go out the right way for these guys," Samuel said. "We want to make sure we do things right for the seniors."

Samuel knows that won't be easy. He doesn't expect Central Methodist to be a pushover. Southeast then faces nationally ranked Jacksonville State and another solid OVC opponent in Murray State.

"All three games will be tough," Samuel said.

Central Methodist is having a strong season at 5-3 overall and in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

The Eagles, from Fayette, Mo., are riding a three-game winning streak. They are guaranteed of finishing at least .500 for just the fourth time in the past 20 years.