Redhawks to feature bruising backfield

Southeast Missouri State showed off its jumbo backfield during Saturday morning's intrasquad scrimmage at Houck Stadium.

Bruising seniors Mike Jones and Nathan Grass -- who tip the scales at close to 500 pounds combined -- should leave opposing defenses plenty sore this season.

"You look back there and see Mike Jones and Nathan Grass ... that's a load," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said.

Jones and Grass didn't get an abundance of carries during the session that lasted about 80 minutes and featured some 11-on-11 scrimmaging and some 7-on-7 situational work.

Samuel wanted to take a look at his entire roster during Southeast's initial scrimmage that concluded the Redhawks' first full week of fall practice.

Southeast Missouri State's Mike Jones scores a touchdown during Saturday's scrimmage at Houck Stadium. (Fred Lynch)

Samuel also wanted to stay fairly basic, which fit the bill for the physical style of running that Jones and Grass employ.

Jones was the day's leading rusher with 65 yards on 11 carries. Grass followed with 28 yards on nine attempts.

The majority of those carries came on the opening 11-on-11 series, when the offense used all running plays to march 70 yards. The drive culminated with Jones' 4-yard touchdown.

"We wanted to establish things, look at the fundamentals," said Samuel, whose starting quarterback Matt Scheible did not attempt a pass during the 11-on-11 work. "We'll have tricks, but we didn't want to do that today."

Jones, a 6 foot, 240-pounder from Paducah, Ky., and Grass, a 6-1, 235-pounder from Ste. Genevieve, Mo. -- they're probably a bit heavier than their listed weights -- are not about trickery.

Southeast coach Tony Samuel talks to his players after their scrimmage Saturday.

"We're straight smashmouth," Jones said.

Jones has been a key contributor at both fullback and tailback since his freshman season.

He was Southeast's third-leading rusher with 463 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and scoring three touchdowns last year.

"I'm just trying to get ready for the season," said Jones, who had 291 yards as a freshman and 174 as a sophomore. "I feel confident in the team."

Jones, who had two 100-yard games last season and has three in his career, forms a contrasting tailback combination with senior Henry Harris, the Ohio Valley Conference's No. 2 returning rusher.

Southeast Missouri State's Nathan Grass carries for the white team during a scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010 at Houck Stadium. (Fred Lynch)

Harris, who missed Saturday's scrimmage because he was the best man in a wedding in his hometown of Memphis, Tenn., is much smaller than Jones. The shifty, quick Harris led Southeast with 720 yards while averaging 4.8 yards per attempt last year.

"We're thunder and lightning," Jones said.

Grass, like Jones, is thunder. The former standout at Valle Catholic High School finally appears ready to make an impact at fullback after primarily playing on special teams his first three seasons.

"I've been waiting," said Grass, who has three career carries for six yards, all during his sophomore campaign. "It will be good to play a lot more."

Samuel said Grass can count on that.

Southeast Missouri State's Lennies McFerren is grabbed on a carry during a scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010 at Houck Stadium. (Fred Lynch)

"He's a whole new guy, the guy we've been waiting on to show up. He'll play a lot," Samuel said. "He's a great athlete, big as a house. He and Mike are both having really good camps."

Other highlights

Scheible threw a touchdown pass to redshirt freshman wide receiver D.J. Foster during 7-on-7 red-zone work.

Freshman quarterback Tyler Peoples threw a touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Chantae Ahamefule during 7-on-7 red-zone work.

Freshman cornerback Jordan Solomon returned a fumble 87 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the scrimmage.

Grass (Nathan)

Peoples completed 3 of 5 passes for 39 yards. Redshirt freshman quarterback Derek Gibson completed 6 of 6 for 16 yards.

"Tyler is very active and Derek made some nice plays," Samuel said.

The Redhawks will be off today before resuming their normal camp schedule Monday. Their second and final scrimmage will be Saturday.