Scheible sees plenty of first-half action

COLUMBIA, Mo. — True freshman quarterback Matt Scheible showed Southeast Missouri State coaches enough during fall camp to move into the backup role behind Houston Lillard.

Scheible saw the first action of his college career Saturday night during Southeast's 52-3 loss at sixth-ranked Missouri.

Scheible took a snap on several of the Redhawks' first-half offensive series, which was the plan going in.

Late in the third quarter, Lillard went to the bench for good and Scheible played the next several series before giving way late to Dustin Powell, a junior college transfer also receiving his first playing time at Southeast.

"I knew I was going to get in some [during the first half]," Scheible said. "I didn't know I was going to play that much in the second half."

Scheible gave a solid account of himself against the powerful Tigers in front of more than 62,000 fans at Faurot Field.

An all-stater last year at Washington (Mo.) High School, Scheible completed 5 of 13 passes for 46 yards. He also was Southeast's second-leading rusher with 18 yards on three carries.

AARON EISENHAUER ~ aeisenhauer@semissourian.com The Southeast football team takes to Faurot Field before their game against Missouri on Saturday, September 6, 2008.

Scheible directed Southeast's only scoring drive, a 56-yard march that ended in Doug Spada's 31-yard field goal with 11:33 left in the game.

"We needed to see what he can do and I thought he handled himself extremely well out there," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said of Scheible.

Said Southeast wide receiver Mike Williamson: "He showed a lot of composure. He stood in there."

Scheible said it was a thrill to play against a national powerhouse in front of so many fans.

"To get in there in front of all those people, it was cool," Scheible said. "I wasn't overly nervous."

Scheible knows that Lillard has a firm grasp on the quarterback position. Scheible realizes his opportunities likely will be limited this season, but he also knows he has to be ready in case something unexpected happens.

"Coach always says you're one play away," Scheible said.

Peoples stands out

Walter Peoples led Southeast receivers with eight catches for 80 yards.

Those are career highs for the junior, breaking his previous Southeast bests of five receptions for 40 yards during last week's season-opening win over Southwest Baptist.

Not bad for a guy who spent his first 1 1/2 seasons at Southeast in the defensive secondary.

Peoples was moved to receiver midway through last season and finished the year with five catches for 69 yards. Now he is one of the Redhawks' featured targets.

"I always knew I could play receiver," said Peoples of his preferred position. "When I came here, the coaches asked me to play defense.

"When they moved me back [to receiver], it was the best day of my life."

Other Southeast stats

Another Southeast receiver also reached a career high for catches for the second straight week as Williamson — a senior — grabbed seven balls for 48 yards.

Chantae Ahamefule — a 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman receiver — had the first catches of his Southeast career as he grabbed four balls for 63 yards.

Sophomore tailback Mike Jones led Southeast rushers with 56 yards on 12 carries.

Defensively, senior free safety Vincent Anderson led Southeast in tackles with six.

Senior linebacker Nick Stauffer and true freshman Philip Klaproth — making his first college start — both had 5.5 tackles. Stauffer had Southeast's only sack.

True freshman Jacob McKinley averaged just over 26 yards on four kickoff returns — including a long of 39 — and gained 11 yards on his lone punt return.

Spada, a junior, averaged 53 yards on seven punts.

Noteworthy

• MU walk-on redshirt freshman punter/kicker Grant Ressel, a Jackson High School product, saw the first action of his college career.

Late in the game, Ressel was called on to punt. The boot went 43 yards and was not returned.