Southeast Missouri State football faces fast-starting Racers

If Southeast Missouri State and Murray State put on anything close to last year's show, then fans are in for a treat at Houck Stadium on Saturday.

The Redhawks rallied from a 35-21 fourth-quarter deficit before the host Racers scored on a long kickoff return with under three minutes left to break a 35-35 tie. They held on for a 42-35 season-ending win.

Southeast will get a chance to avenge that setback this weekend, but revenge is probably the furthest thing from the Redhawks' minds. They are desperately seeking their first win during a frustrating season that is fast slipping away from them.

Southeast is 0-5 overall and 0-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play, while MSU is 4-2 and off to its first 2-0 OVC start since 1998. The Racers' only losses have been to FBS programs Missouri and Bowling Green.

"It's a big one for us," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "We need to get off this cold streak."

It won't be easy against an MSU squad that is surging despite entering fall camp with no established or experienced quarterback after the graduation of All-American Casey Brockman.

"We've taken care of business against the teams on our level," MSU coach Chris Hatcher said. "The one quality our team has right now is they're finding a way to win the game."

The Racers' quarterback dilemma was solved when sophomore Maikhail Miller transferred from Mississippi just before fall camp.

"I really thought they were fortunate to get this quarterback so late in the game," Samuel said.

MSU's high-powered offense hasn't missed a beat with Miller at the helm. The Racers are averaging 35.8 points and 404.3 yards per game to rank third and fourth in the nine-team OVC, respectively.

Miller, who saw little action at Mississippi as a freshman last year, has completed 66.7 percent of his passes (124 of 186) for 1,206 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He is second in the OVC in passing yards and touchdown passes.

The 6-foot-3, 234-pound Miller is also MSU's leading rusher with 325 yards while averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

"He's got a good arm, good size, he can run. He fits their system," Samuel said.

While Miller has been a perfect fit, the Racers' headliner continues to be All-American senior wide receiver/return man Walter Powell.

Powell ranks fourth in the OVC with 33 catches for 14.7-yard average and 10 touchdowns. He has also has scored touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns to lead the OVC with 12 total TDs.

Powell is averaging 34.4 yards in kickoff returns and 10.5 yards in punt returns. Last year he was second in the OVC with 94 receptions and led the league in kickoff return average.

The St. Louis native, considered an NFL prospect, recently set the MSU modern-day record with 30 career touchdowns. His 26 career receiving touchdowns are tied for the school record.

"He's a great receiver. He's one of those guys with the great speed and route-running combination," Samuel said. "Of course he's great on special teams, too."

Powell scored twice in the 2012 win over Southeast, including on a 100-yard punt return.

"Last year after the game I shook his hand. I thought he was a senior then, but he's back," Samuel said with a laugh.

Six players have caught at least 13 passes for the Racers, led by Powell.

Three players share carries at running back for MSU, and all are productive.

Senior Duane Brady leads with 314 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Senior Jaamal Berry (262 yards, 5.7 ypc) and redshirt freshman Marcus Holliday (158 yards, 5.6 ypc) are also main contributors.

Brady provided last season's winning play against Southeast, his 85-yard kickoff return with 2:55 left breaking a 35-35 tie.

Defense continues to statistically be the Racers' weakest area -- they are allowing an OVC-worst 539.3 yards per game and rank eighth in scoring defense at 36 points per contest -- but Samuel said that might be misleading since MSU played those two FBS programs.

The Racers are second in the OVC with 15 quarterback sacks.

"They're very aggressive on defense," Samuel said. "They fly around pretty good. I see them as much improved from last season [on defense]."

Hatcher, despite Southeast's struggles so far this year, sees a team ready to break out.

"When you watch the film, the film doesn't coincide with the record," Hatcher said. "They've played a very difficult schedule. I think they've got a very good football team. It's going to be a tough test for out football team."

"One thing SEMO likes to do, they like to run the ball and that's something that's plagued us all season."