WEST MAKES SPLASH AT QUARTERBACK

Rashad West had a dazzling coming out party as Southeast Missouri State University's quarterback.

A sophomore in his first season with the Indians, West had seen only limited action behind center this year while also playing some at wide receiver.

But Saturday, West -- who replaced starting quarterback Bobby Brune early in the second quarter -- was incredible as he helped rally the Indians to their first victory of the season, 28-23 over Southwest Missouri State.

A crowd of 3,652 at Houck Stadium saw West display the exceptional athletic ability that Southeast coach John Mumford has been raving about all season.

"Rashad was unbelievable," said Mumford. "He's a great athlete. People probably wonder why he hasn't played more before this, but he had some arm problems early and it was a matter of learning the offense.

"Our other two quarterbacks (Brune and Mike Gross) have been in the offense for two years. But Rashad has really stepped up."

He certainly did Saturday. The Bears scored a touchdown and field goal in the early moments of the second quarter to take a 9-0 lead.

Then West entered the game and he directed the Indians' offense the rest of the way.

West, running and passing with equal efficiency, accounted for 270 yards of offense. He ran for 97 yards on 20 carries and would have finished with more than 100 yards had he not taken some intentional losses late in the game when the Indians were trying to run out the clock.

Through the air, West was 12 of 16 for 173 yards. He scored a touchdown running and threw a pair of TD passes.

"It felt good to be out there helping the team," said a grinning West as he received congratulations just moments after the game had ended. "We hung in there and nobody ever quit."

Before Saturday, West had completed 10 of 24 passes for 157 yards primarily in late-game, mop-up duty. He had rushed for 22 yards on 10 attempts and caught three passes for 42 yards.

But against the Bears, West got his first extended action at quarterback because, once he entered the game, he played so well there was no reason for Mumford to even consider taking him back out.

"It felt good to play a lot of quarterback," West said. "I've been waiting for my chance all week to show what I can do.

"I think we probably caught them (SMS) off balance. I'm sure they hadn't seen much of me on film and they weren't ready for me."

West played at Hofstra, like Southeast a Division I-AA program, in 1997 and spent last year at a junior college, although he didn't play football.

A native of Bradenton, Fla., West attended the same high school as Florida State star and Heisman Trophy contender Peter Warrick, who has been in the headlines lately for his role in a department store scam.

"He was a senior when I was a sophomore, but I knew him pretty well," said West of Warrick. "We were pretty good friends."

West was a veritable Houdini on some of his improvisational, scrambling runs Saturday. Asked how he was able to wriggle out of trouble so many times, West smiled.

"People have been asking me how I did it," he said. "I can't even answer that. It just happened."

As far as the Indians are concerned, it couldn't have happened at a better time.