Southeast's turnaround ends short of OVC title

Southeast Missouri State University wasn't the only Ohio Valley Conference football team that entered Saturday's showdown having overcome a shaky start.

Perhaps lost in the hype of the Indians' 0-5 beginning was the fact Jacksonville (Ala.) State started out 2-3 -- including an embarrassing home loss to Division II North Alabama.

But it was the Gamecocks --and not the Indians -- who climbed all the way back to their first NCAA Division I-AA playoff berth and the outright OVC title, thanks to a 22-17 win over host Southeast in front of about 6,650 fans at Houck Stadium.

The Gamecocks (8-3, 7-1) claimed the OVC in their first season in the league. They are riding a six-game winning streak.

"It was a fight. We had great respect for them and they have an excellent team," JSU coach Jack Crowe said. "Both teams had to overcome a lot, but this team has played with a lot of heart and pride all year."

With a victory, Southeast (5-7, 5-3) would have earned a share of its first OVC title and advanced to the postseason for the first time on any level because of head-to-head play. Instead, the Indians had to settle for a three-way tie for third place, matching their highest OVC finish, including last year.

"We played good, but we missed out on some opportunities and we had some key turnovers that really hurt us," Southeast coach Tim Billings said. "You can't make those kinds of mistakes in a championship game."

The Indians actually held a decisive edge in total yardage -- 490 to 318 -- thanks mostly to a career-high 407 yards passing by Andrew Goodenough, who completed 27 of 45 attempts. But, although they moved the ball well between the 30-yard lines, they had trouble getting close to the goal line much of the afternoon.

And the Indians ultimately could not overcome an early defensive touchdown by the Gamecocks, who never trailed and used their bend-but-don't-break defense to hold on, along with a trademark rushing attack that piled up 250 yards.

Although the Gamecocks entered the contest ranked toward the bottom of the OVC in total defense, allowing an average of 374.2 yards per game, they led the league in scoring defense, giving up 21.6 points a contest.

"SEMO was a good football team and they fought very hard. Today we just came out on top," said JSU linebacker Charles Cartwright, who was credited with 1.5 sacks as the Gamecocks pressured Goodenough much of the day. "Coming into this game, we really wanted to force some turnovers."

The first of two Southeast fumbles proved especially costly. Midway through the opening quarter, with the Indians in possession at midfield, Southeast's coaching staff called a seldom-used option play.

But Goodenough's attempted pitch to Jamel Oliver was off the mark. JSU's Dexter Sistrunk scooped up the ball and raced 42 yards untouched to the end zone for an early 7-0 lead.

"That's one of the plays that has hurt them all year, but we just didn't execute it well," Billings said.

Said wide receiver Brandon Amick, who caught seven passes for 156 yards and a touchdown, "You hate to give them seven points, especially in a game between even teams."

Steven Lee's 51-yard field goal midway through the second quarter put JSU up 10-0, which was the halftime score.

Southeast's offense began to click immediately in the second half. On the third play, Goodenough -- who threw for 285 yards after halftime -- hit Amick with a 76-yard bomb to the JSU 1 and Bobby Dorsainvil scored on the next play, making it 10-7.

JSU answered with Ralph Jenkins' 10-yard TD run midway through the period, giving the Gamecocks a 16-7 lead after the extra point was blocked.

The Indians came right back with a drive that stalled near the JSU goal line, and Derek Kutz kicked a 21-yard field goal to pull the Indians to within 16-10 late in the quarter.

Southeast then had three more possessions with a chance to take the lead but could not convert, including a lost Goodenough fumble near midfield -- he was blindsided as his arm was going back on a pass attempt -- and a drive to the JSU 25 that ended on downs with six minutes remaining.

When JSU marched 75 yards -- and used up more than four minutes -- to score on Oscar Bonds' 22-yard run with 1:39 left that made it 22-10, the victory appeared secure.

"We really needed a stop on that drive," said Southeast cornerback Dimitri Patterson, who intercepted his sixth pass of the season for the Indians' lone forced turnover. "We knew what was coming, but we couldn't stop it."

But the Indians had one more gasp. They quickly drove 65 yards and scored on Goodenough's 20-yard pass to Amick with 41 seconds left, making it 22-17. But JSU recovered an onsides kick and ran out the clock.

"We played well, but we didn't get enough turnovers. We needed more," Southeast linebacker O.J. Turner said. "But they're a really good team and you have to give them credit."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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