Redhawks retool offensive line

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Looking for positives in Southeast Missouri State's 52-3 loss, Redhawks fans?

The offensive line made some strides from the previous week, and it could have been disastrous with as many changes the unit made from opening week, when it gave up seven sacks to Division II Southwest Baptist.

Missouri, the sixth-ranked team in Division I-A, had just one sack Saturday, and the Redhawks compiled 334 yards of offense, including 199 in the first half when the starters played most of the way.

They put up just three points, in the fourth quarter.

But players on the reshuffled line felt they held their own with Mizzou.

"I'd say we definitely did," said sophomore John Schuller, who moved from right tackle to left tackle. "We worked on pass protection all week."

It's amazing the Redhawks were working on anything beyond introductions.

Schuller switched spots to protecting the quarterback's blind side due to an injury to senior Matt James, a Jackson High School graduate who sported a cast on his right ankle Saturday.

Next to Schuller was true freshman Matt Shannon, making his first collegiate start. He replaced Sean Middleton, though both saw time in the second half.

At center was Bryan Curry, who replaced an injured Paul McGuire.

The right side of the line featured right guard Jaunell Pugh, the only starter in his normal location, and right tackle Jason Brown, in his first year at Southeast after transferring in from junior college.

"It's a little different next to Matt, obviously, who had no experience until today, and Sean," Schuller said of the adjustments. "All three guards play different ways and I got used to Jaunell."

The line got so slim that defensive tackle Errick Aliifua moved over to the offense.

"We knew that they were going to be fast," Shannon said. "We had to make some changes [from last week]. Our footwork was a little off in that first game.

"I felt like we were moving the ball good today. Especially, we had the one drive when we were really moving and just a couple dropped balls halted that drive."

Southeast actually had four drives into Missouri territory in the first half, but one resulted in a blocked field goal, one in an interception return for a Mizzou touchdown and another ended with a missed field goal.

"It was really heartbreaking," Schuller said about the blocked field goal. "We wanted to put up some points against them, show people and get some respect from last week."

The Redhawks nearly lost last week's opener. And while there was little hope they would win Saturday, they had to find other positives and ways to stay motivated, even after falling into a 42-0 deficit before Tony Samuel's halftime speech.

"He said, 'Don't look at the scoreboard anymore,'" Shannon said. "'Do your job, do your technique.'"

Shannon wasn't certain whether he or Middleton would be the starter Thursday.

"I guess it's just up to practice and who works harder," Shannon said.

Schuller expects he will be at left tackle for a little while. And he was impressed with the freshman.

"He stepped it up," Schuller said. "He got beat a couple times, but all of us did. We did the best we could."

That wasn't particularly easy under the circumstances. Shannon, who played high school ball last year at St. Francis Borgia, admitted he was caught up in the atmosphere.

"It was unbelievable," Shannon said. "My first college game and I couldn't ask for a better atmosphere, a better stage.

"I caught myself star-gazing at the players across the field and listening to the chants."