Starter battle heats up

~ Samuel declined to say which quarterback he thought played better.

Southeast Missouri State quarterbacks Houston Lillard and Victor Anderson have much in common.

They posted identical passing statistics in the annual spring game.

Both are junior college transfers.

Both are locked in a heated battle for the starting job.

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Houston Lillard scrambled away from defensive pressure during Saturday night's scrimmage at Houck Stadium. (Toby Carrig)

And both struggled in their team's final scrimmage of the preseason at Houck Field on Saturday night with just 11 days until the season opener in Cincinnati.

Anderson was called upon to take the opening-drive snaps. He struggled to find open receivers while being chased down by the fired-up defensive unit, which maintained a consistent blitz. He was wrapped up at least three times by the defense during the series. Defensive end Hannibal Vaivao, inside linebacker Nick Stauffer and inside linebacker Patrick Maloney were all in on tackles.

Anderson says that the referees were being heavy on the whistles because it was a scrimmage and that his inability to scramble from the tacklers and locate receivers should not be an indication that he is immobile.

"The refs were blowing the whistle as soon as they get near you," said Anderson, who has no idea when Southeast coach Tony Samuel will decide on a starting quarterback for the season opener. "In a real game, it's a different story. I'll make plays. If they're coming, I'm going to make them miss and I'm going to make plays."

Anderson only attempted passes, completing them all for short gains.

Southeast Missouri State fullback xxx 44 looked for running room Saturday night in the team's final scrimmage at Houck Stadium. The Redhawks open Aug. 30 at Cincinnati. (Toby Carrig)

Lillard took the snaps on the second offensive drive. He completed a few long passes, including a toss down the middle of the field to 6-foot-4 tight end Ben Gugler.

"I saw the defender's back turn," Lillard said. "With someone's back turned, they can't really see what you're doing. He can't make a turnaround, make a play on the ball and guard the receiver, so I just took a chance, tossed it over his shoulder and he made the catch."

Lillard threw more long tosses than Anderson, and had some trouble with his accuracy, overthrowing a ball to Vincent Anderson, Victor's twin brother.

Vincent Anderson is one of the team's top options at the receiver position.

He said he is willing to put aside his rooting interest in his brother for the best interest of the team.

"That's the coach's decision, but whatever quarterback is in there, I am ready to go," he said.

After the game, Samuel would not comment on which quarterback he thought played the best. He said he will look at the film and then evaluate how both played in the scrimmage.

"We'll have to see them on film and then we'll tell you about the film, which says a little bit more," Samuel said.

Lillard said that the atmosphere has remained competitive between him and Anderson since day one. He said he met Anderson before he came to the school and knew it was going to be a battle for the job.

"He had an all-right day," Lillard said about Anderson's performance in comparison to his own. "He's just got to be a little bit more alert of the blitz. That just comes with seeing it at practice. I'm satisfied with my pocket presence and I use that to my ability and keep going on with the game and not worry about anybody getting me."

Lillard added that the relationship between he and Anderson is not strained as they compete to become the Redhawks' No. 1 play caller.

"We both know we're talented and it's more of a respect for each other's ability to play," he said. "As an athlete, you don't want to be not playing."

Both third- and fourth-stringer quarterbacks, Steve Callanan and Jared Van Slyke, also took some snaps for Southeast on Saturday.

Three different quarterbacks started for the Redhawks last season. Kevin Ballatore saw the bulk of the playing time behind center, starting in nine of Southeast's 11 contests while completing 48 percent of his passes for 1,105 yards. Markus Mosley and Antonio Scaife each started one game apiece during the 2006 season.

It was the team's last preseason scrimmage. Southeast will open its season at Cincinnati on Aug. 30.