SOUTHEAST SHIFTS FOCUS TO RAIDERS, HOMECOMING

With Southeast Missouri State University's hopes of a winning football season fading fast, the Indians need to turn around their recently struggling fortunes in a hurry.

Head coach John Mumford hopes the beginning of a strong close to the 1998 campaign will take place during the Indians' homecoming game Saturday against Middle Tennessee State. The kickoff at Houck Stadium is set for 1 p.m.

"We just have to regroup and bounce back," said Mumford during his weekly media conference Monday morning.

The Indians are coming off a 45-10 loss at Southwest Missouri State. The previous week, Southeast fell at home to Tennessee State 38-7.

Southeast is now 3-5 overall and 2-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play. There are three games left in the season, meaning the Indians will have to win all of them to finish with a winning record.

"That's got to be our goal right now," Mumford said. "I believe we still have three great opportunities remaining. We've got three tough opponents left, but they are beatable opponents."

After Saturday's contest -- which will be the Indians' final home game of the season -- Southeast will close out the campaign at Eastern Kentucky Nov. 7 and at Southern Illinois Nov. 14.

Asked how well he believes the Indians will be able to bounce back after being outscored 83-17 the past two weeks, Mumford said, "We have to accentuate the positive and not dwell on the negative. It's our job as coaches.

"From what I've seen, our players are hurt by the (Southwest Missouri) loss, but we seem to be a pretty resilient team. I believe we'll bounce back well."

The Indians will be facing an MTSU team that is 3-4 overall and 3-2 in OVC play. The Blue Raiders are coming off a stunning loss as they led Eastern Illinois 32-21 with 1:25 to play -- but saw the Panthers score 14 late points, including the game-winning touchdown with six seconds left.

"They're a very good football team, but I'm sure they have to be reeling from that loss," said Mumford.

MTSU is led by talented tailback Torin Kirtsey, a transfer from Georgia who has rushed for 730 yards and averages 5.2 yards per carry. Kirtsey leads the OVC in rushing.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Wes Counts -- like Southeast redshirt freshman QB Bobby Brune a hometown product -- is also having a strong season. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native has completed 65 percent of his passes (96 of 148) for 1,021 yards, with eight touchdowns and just one interception.

Sulecio Sanford is Counts' favorite target with 36 receptions for 438 yards and five touchdowns.

The Raiders, who will move up to the Division I-A level next year and thus leave the OVC in football, beat Southeast 55-6 last season in Murfreesboro.

* Southeast is definitely a banged up team right now.

Tight end Mitch Fryer (ankle), linebacker Octavio Campos (back), defensive back Andre Clark (knee) and running back K.D. Koleosho (achilles) are all doubtful for Saturday.

Campos, Clark and Koleosho all missed the Southwest Missouri game.

"We've got to get some guys healthy this week and some guys will have to play through it," Mumford said.

* Linebacker Kevin Meachem had another brilliant game against Southwest Missouri.

The senior was all over the field, recording 19 tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. He now leads Southeast and the OVC in tackles with 80.

* There will be several special activities surrounding Saturday's game.

The new Jim Lohr Video Room at the Rosengarten Complex will be unveiled during an open house at 11 a.m. Saturday. The new furniture and editing equipment were made possible by some of Lohr's former players who made donations to the project. Lohr, who was head coach at Southeast from 1974-83, will be on hand for the open house.

Also, the memory of former Southeast All-American Donald "Diz" Anderson will be honored with an endowed football scholarship funded by Anderson's family and friends. The scholarship announcement will be made during halftime ceremonies.

Anderson, who died earlier this year, won All-American honors as a center in 1946, when he led Southeast to a record of 8-0-1.