Bears claw past SE

The way Southeast Missouri State University's offense was lighting things up in the first half Saturday night, Southwest Missouri State coach Randy Ball knew his defense would have to step up or else the Bears might be run out of Houck Stadium.

Ball got his wish -- and the Bears were able to escape Cape Girardeau with a hard-earned 31-28 victory, thanks mainly to the fact SMS was able to hold Southeast scoreless over the final two quarters.

On a night when all the players, coaches and 8,680 fans felt a heavy heart because of the national tragedy earlier in the week, the teams put on an exciting show that wasn't decided until the closing moments.

"It was a great game," said Ball. "It was a shame anybody had to lose it."

The pained look Southeast coach Tim Billings wore on his face following the contest told the story of just how frustrating things have been for the highly improved Indians so far this season.

Southeast fell to 1-2, but the Indians could very easily be 3-0. They lost to Division I-A Eastern Michigan 16-12 in the season opener as the Eagles converted on a fourth-and-10 on their way to the game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes.

And Saturday night, the Indians appeared to control the contest -- they outgained the Bears in total yardage 510 to 378 -- but second-half turnovers doomed the Tribe.

The Indians turned the ball over on all four of their second-half possessions -- three interceptions and a fumble -- with three of those miscues stopping golden scoring opportunities after Southeast had advanced deep into SMS territory.

"We have to become consistent and execute," said Billings. "We have to put two good halves together.

"I told the kids I was disappointed in the way we played, in our execution, but that we have a chance to have a really fine football team."

Added Billings, whose squad is extremely young, "We played young tonight."

Although he threw three second-half interceptions and acted his age a bit, Southeast redshirt freshman quarterback Jeremy McDowell put on quite an impressive first-half display, thanks to plenty of help from the acrobatic exploits of wide receiver Willie Ponder.

Ponder, a highly-touted junior-college transfer, tied a school record for touchdown receptions in a game as he hauled in three, on plays of 26, 58 and 21 yards. The shorter TDs came on jump-ball-type situations in the end zone when Ponder appeared to be blanketed by two defenders but somehow came down with the football. The longer TD came on a short crossing pattern in which Ponder showed off his speed by shooting up the middle and outrunning several defenders to the end zone.

"Ponder is a great player, no doubt about it," said Ball.

Ponder finished the game with eight receptions for 170 yards.

McDowell, who is closing in on the 1,000-yard mark for the season already, completed 22 of 41 passes for 322 yards. In the first half, he was 16 of 22 for 257 yards.

"You can't expect Jeremy to be flawless," Billings said. "But he wasn't the only one. We had too many errors."

Southeast also got a big game from running back Curtis Cooper, who romped for 194 yards on 27 carries and also caught seven passes for 67 yards.

SMS got 98 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Steve Ennis, a transfer from Purdue. Quarterback Austin Moherman, who transferred from Ohio State two years ago, completed 12 of 23 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.

The first half was a wild shootout, with the teams trading touchdowns, but Southeast never trailed. Tied 21-21, the Indians went into halftime with the lead thanks to an 11-play, 80-yard drive in the closing minutes. Ponder went high in the end zone to somehow haul in a 21-yard TD strike from McDowell and Derek Kutz added his fourth PAT of the half, sending the Indians into the locker room with a 28-21 lead.

"They came out and they were on fire," said Ball. "I thought in the second half we were able to get a little more pressure on McDowell and our guys did a little better breaking on the ball."

Although the Indians had just 187 yards in the second half, they put some decent drives together but those four turnovers spoiled their chance to score more points.

SMS pulled to within 28-24 on a field goal in the third quarter.

Southeast still clung to a 28-24 lead midway through the final period and the Indians were driving for what might have been a clinching touchdown. But on third-and-seven from the SMS, McDowell's pass was intercepted in the end zone by Keyon Camejo with less than seven minutes left.

The Bears proceeded to drive 80 yards for the go-ahead score and their only lead of the night. Demetrius Smith went over from a yard out with 2:40 left.

Southeast was able to pick up one first down on its last-ditch effort, but the Indians could only advance to their own 30 before having to turn the ball over. SMS was then able to run out the clock.