Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford has talked repeatedly about the character and attitude of his 1998 Indians.

And those traits served the Indians well during Saturday's stirring second-half comeback at nationally-ranked Eastern Illinois -- even though Southeast wound up losing 35-33 on a late field goal.

"I've said all along that I really like this team and just love coaching them," said Mumford during his weekly media conference Monday morning. "They've got great character and a great attitude.

"They've got a strong will. If they continue to play together and support themselves, then I believe good things will happen."

It's hard to imagine a tougher defeat than what the Indians suffered Saturday in Charleston, Ill.

After falling behind 29-3 in the first half and still trailing 32-13 in the fourth quarter, the Indians scored 20 straight points to go ahead 33-32 in the closing minutes.

Eastern Illinois completed a 4th-and-20 bomb that carried 53 yards to Southeast's 2-yard line. With 14 seconds left, the Panthers kicked a 17-yard field goal to take the lead.

Southeast still had one more crack but a long field-goal attempt was wide as the game ended.

"It was a very tough loss, a very emotional one," said Mumford. "But this team has a lot of character and heart. That we had a last shot to win at the end is a great testament to this team."

Of course, Mumford said that, while he was proud of the comeback, there is not much comfort in playing a powerful team close yet still losing.

"This team has put in all the hard work necessary, but what they need to do is believe they can win," he said. "I don't think they did when the game started. But I think the second half showed them they can."

Southeast (2-3 overall, 1-2 Ohio Valley Conference) will get another crack at a big road win Saturday when the Indians face Tennessee Tech (1-3, 0-2) in a 1 p.m. kickoff in Cookeville, Tenn.

The Golden Eagles, 6-5 last season, were a trendy pick as a possible OVC darkhorse contender this season but they have suffered two consecutive narrow league losses, 13-6 at Eastern Illinois and 19-16 at home against Middle Tennessee State.

"Tech is coming off some of the same frustrations we are," Mumford said. "They've got a tremendous defense and both teams are looking at this as really an important game. It's going to be a huge challenge for us."

* Mumford, while singing the praises of redshirt freshman quarterback Bobby Brune for his play against Eastern Illinois, would not go so far as say that Brune would make his first collegiate start Saturday.

A former Cape Girardeau Central High standout, Brune played the entire second half and compiled 292 yards of total offense, which marks the best half of total offense by a Southeast player since the Indians moved up to Division I-AA in 1991.

Brune completed 12 of 18 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns and he also rushed for 80 yards on eight carries. He was named OVC Newcomer of the Week and has moved into second place in OVC passing efficiency with a rating of 181.6.

Mumford said that Kevin Seto, who has started the past three games and played the entire first half against Eastern Illinois, and Jeff Shaw, who started the first two games, would continue to join Brune in the quarterback mix during practice, with a decision on the starter being made later in the week.

"Bobby had a great performance," Mumford said. "But let's not put a savior label on a redshirt freshman yet.

"Teams will still have to prepare for three quarterbacks. We'll work all three in practice so they stay sharp. All three are different types of quarterbacks and I think it puts a tremendous burden on a defensive coordinator to have to prepare for all three."

* Southeast has rolled up more than 950 yards of offense in the last two games and Mumford had plenty of praise for the Indians' offensive line.

"They played well again, with no sacks against Eastern Illinois, which is a tremendous accomplishment," he said. "They've got a lot of pride and they're really working well together."

* Senior linebacker Kevin Meachem continues to shine for the Indians' defense, which ranks second in the OVC.

Meachem had 12 tackles, including three for losses, and a quarterback sack against Eastern Illinois. He leads the squad in sacks with three and is second in total tackles with 41.

"Kevin had a great spring and he's really playing well," said Mumford. "He runs very well and he has a good nose for the ball."

* On the injury front, there is a chance tailback Corey Williams -- the squad's leading rusher with 340 yards -- could return to action Saturday.

Williams suffered a dislocated elbow two weeks ago and did not dress against Eastern Illinois.

"It's just a day to day thing," Mumford said. "I don't know if he'll play this week or not. You never want to rush a kid back too soon."

Fullback Britt Mirgaux continues to be out indefinitely with a knee injury suffered in the season opener.