Defense picks up for first scrimmage of preseason

There were some rough spots, but Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings came away pleased with his team's first dress rehearsal of the preseason.

The Indians held a two-hour scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Houck Stadium -- with officials -- on the first day they were able to work out in full pads under NCAA guidelines.

"Defensively, we had a lot of improvement. That side of the ball played well," Billings said. "Offensively, we were inconsistent. We made some plays and moved the ball, but we had too many mistakes.

"But overall, it was a good first scrimmage. We got a lot of work in and we got to look at a lot of different players."

After a sluggish start, the Indians' offense finally picked up and finished with three touchdowns.

Running back Keiki Misipeka, a transfer from Hawaii, scored the first TD on a bruising 11-yard run that seemed to fit his rock-solid 5-foot-11, 215-pound frame.

Misipeka, who had several other impressive runs during the scrimmage, played sparingly last year at pass-oriented Hawaii, but he figures to see plenty of action for the Indians.

"He's a brute. He gives us another dimension," a smiling Billings said. "We've got three good running backs in Keiki, Iven Brown and Corey Kinsey."

The other two touchdowns were by local products. Tight end Ray Goodson (Jackson High School) hauled in a 10-yard pass from Jack Tomco and wide receiver Brandon Amick (Scott City) recorded probably the day's most spectacular receiving play when he took a short sideline pass from Tomco, made a quick spin move to avoid a defender and went on to score from 42 yards out.

Amick, a walk-on who did not play football during his first three years at Southeast, joined the team a few weeks ago to help out a depleted receiving corps. He is working with the second unit and figures to see quality action.

"He's been a good find for us," Billings said.

Even though the Indians lost several anticipated key receivers to academics and other defections, Billings said he thinks that group will be better than last year's unit.

While returning starters Willie Ponder and Tarik Simpson are proven commodities, Billings also likes the skills of Chris NesSmith and Bill Coleman. Those are Southeast's only scholarship wide outs, with NesSmith working on the first unit with Ponder and Simpson.

Billings also likes the potential of true freshman Jamel Oliver, who was recruited as a running back, along with the pass-receiving skills of Goodson and some of the Indians' other tight ends.

"We've got a lot of guys who can catch the ball," Billings said.

Noteworthy

n Along with quarterback Jeromy McDowell, two other returning starters missed Saturday's scrimmage, Simpson with a slightly pulled hamstring and safety Prince Anderson with a sore knee. Billings said Simpson and Anderson should be fine in a few days.

n With school starting Aug. 19, the Indians will begin their final week of two-a-days Monday. They will hold another intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at 5 p.m.