Defense puts together stingiest effort of season

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Despite missing four injured starters for at least a good part of Saturday's game, Southeast Missouri State's defense had its top statistical performance of the season.

While the Redhawks' defenders were encouraged about that, they said the feeling was bittersweet because Southeast suffered a 24-21 loss to host Eastern Illinois.

"We made some plays on defense," senior end Ben Gugler said. "But we still fell short."

Southeast allowed an average of 435 yards through the first six games -- last in the Ohio Valley Conference -- but gave up a season-low 275 yards to EIU.

"I haven't looked at the film, but I think we did play really good," senior linebacker Nick Stauffer said. "We sucked it up."

EIU had only two scoring drives of substance, marching 80 and 64 yards for touchdowns.

The Panthers' other touchdown came after they recovered a muffed punt at the Southeast 20-yard line.

EIU's field goal, which put Southeast in a 24-14 hole with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, came after the Panthers intercepted a pass at the Redhawks' 36-yard line.

"The defense did some good things," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said.

That despite missing several key players.

Junior starting linebacker Marvin Anderson suffered an apparent shoulder injury early in the game and did not return.

Senior starting cornerback Kendall Magana suffered what appeared to be a neck stinger in the second quarter and did not return.

Sophomore rover Bryan Blanfort appeared to injure an ankle in the second half, while senior starting tackle Brandon McCrary is feared lost for the season after injuring a foot in the previous game.

Stauffer, who entered play 15th nationally in tackles with an average of 10.5 per game, led the Redhawks with 13 stops.

True freshman linebacker Nick Klaproth followed with 12 tackles.

Gugler, who came into the contest tied for the Ohio Valley Conference lead with four quarterback sacks, added one against EIU.

Junior cornerback Josh Woods had Southeast's other sack, while senior safety Vincent Anderson intercepted a pass.

Offensive problems

While Southeast's defense allowed a season-low yardage total, the Redhawks' offense gained a season-low 197 yards.

Southeast, which had not been held below 295 yards in a game, put up just 73 second-half yards.

The Redhawks entered with the OVC's top passing offense at 274.3 yards per game, but threw for 64 yards Saturday.

Senior quarterback Houston Lillard started, but was pulled for true freshman Matt Scheible after throwing an interception on Southeast's second offensive series.

Scheible played most of the rest of the way, although Lillard did return for a series early in the fourth quarter and tossed another interception.

Lillard, who came in as the OVC's top passer with nearly 1,500 yards, was 3-of-5 for 10 yards.

Scheible was 6-of-16 for 54 yards, but did rush for 40 yards on six carries.

"I thought Houston was trying to do too much," Samuel said in explaining Lillard's lack of playing time. "If you're trying to force it ... it happens to everybody. You have to let the game come to you."

Of Scheible, Samuel said: "He made some mistakes, but for a true freshman he did a lot of good things. I think he's going to be a very good quarterback."

Senior tailback Timmy Holloman led Southeast rushers with 84 yards on 23 carries. He scored two touchdowns.

Holloman played his second game after returning from a one-year NCAA suspension. He had 44 yards on 16 carries at Jacksonville State in his season debut.

"I feel like I got the rust out of the way, but I'm not where I want to be," said Holloman, fourth on Southeast's career rushing list.

Noteworthy

• Southeast still has not scored a first-quarter point this season. The Redhawks, outscored 73-0 in the opening period, nearly ended that drought as their first touchdown Saturday came on the opening play of the second quarter.

But by being tied 14-14 at halftime, the Redhawks entered a second half not trailing for the first time all season.