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Football September 15, 2007 ISU Athletics

Miscues Prove Costly For Indiana State In Loss To Southeast Missouri

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. ? Three Indiana State turnovers plus a Southeast Missouri State touchdown late in the first half propelled the Redhawks to a 13-10 victory over the Sycamores Saturday night at Houck Stadium. Indiana State falls to 0-3 while SEMO improved to 2-1.

Despite losing three fumbles, and scoring once in three trips to the red zone, the Sycamores had the ball in the final three minutes trailing by just three points, 13-10. The offense was then unable to pick up a first down, and the defense allowed SEMO to run out the clock as ISU came tantalizingly close to its first victory of the season.

In the fourth quarter, following a 42-yard punt return by Ryan Patrick as well as a 15-yard SEMO penalty for a late hit out-of-bounds, Murphy found Rafael Price for a 34-yard touchdown strike with 4:12 left in the game to cut the lead down to 13-10 after Varnadore's PAT.

The Indiana State defense stiffened, forcing a SEMO punt with just over three minutes remaining in the game. The ISU offense could not engineer a first down and SEMO ran the clock after gaining a first down of their own to send the Sycamores to their third loss of the season.

After forcing a Southeast Missouri State punt on their first possession of the game, Jon Goodrich broke through the Redhawks' front to record the first blocked punt of his career with just over 12 minutes left in the opening period. It was all for naught as Reilly Murphy botched a handoff to Bryan McCulley three plays later to give the ball right back to SEMO with just over eight minutes left in the first stanza.

The Sycamore defense forced another Southeast punt on the next possession, but the offense put the ball on the ground again as Reilly Murphy was charged with his second fumble of the first quarter. After being pinned back near the end zone, the ISU defense came up with another stand, allowing just a Doug Spada 38-yard field goal with 3:49 left in the first quarter which gave SEMO a 3-0 advantage.

Indiana State answered back at the end of the first quarter with a drive which put freshman kicker Corey Varnadore well within his range at 39 yards. Varnadore's attempt had plenty of leg, but sailed wide right with just over 14 minutes left in the second quarter of play to keep SEMO out in front, 3-0.

The Redhawks extended its lead with 5:43 left before the half on a 25-yard field goal by Spada for the 6-0 lead. Southeast Missouri drove down to the Sycamore two-yard line, and considered going for a first down, needing just a yard to extend the drive or go in for a touchdown. On the ensuing play, SEMO was whistled for a false start which led to the Spada field goal.

Varnadore answered Spada's efforts by connecting on a 37-yard field with 1:27 left in the half to cut the Southeast lead to 6-3. The Sycamores connected on a pair of third down conversions to keep the drive alive, including a pass from Murphy to Alex Thomas on third-and-15 which gave ISU just enough to move the sticks and give Varnadore the chance to make it 6-3 later.

With just under a minute and a half left on the clock before intermission, the Sycamore defense was charged with holding the Redhawks to just a 6-3 advantage, but Southeast was able to move the ball effectively in the two minute drill. After burning their final timeout of the half, it appeared SEMO would attempt their third field goal of the contest, but following an Indiana State timeout, the Redhawks brought their offense back onto the field.

SEMO quarterback Houston Lillard found Miles Edwards at the goal line for a 22-yard scoring strike which sent the Redhawks into the locker room with a 13-3 lead.

On Southeast's first possession of the second half, the Sycamore defense held them to a three-and-out. The Sycamore offense moved the ball to the Redhawks' 11-yard line, but Varnadore missed a 32-yard field goal attempt with just over 12 minutes left in the third quarter to keep the score at 13-3.

Following yet another Redhawk punt, the Sycamores marched the ball down inside the 10-yard line, but a fumble by sophomore Robert Barcliff at the three gave SEMO yet another stop to stay ahead 13-3. Barcliff's fumble represented the third Indiana State turnover of the game to thwart the Sycamores' third trip into the red zone.

Indiana State head coach Lou West watched the game from the stands as part of the NCAA's ruling last December that stipulated he miss a game because of the Sycamores' use of an inadvertent ineligible player in three games last season. Per NCAA rules, West is still charged with a loss.

The game against SEMO is the first in the history of FCS football between two African-American head coaches. West leads the Sycamores while Tony Samuel is the head coach at Southeast Missouri.

Indiana State returns to action on Saturday, September 22 when they host Eastern Illinois in the final of three consecutive games against members of the Ohio Valley Conference. The game against the Panthers will open a three-game homestand at Memorial Stadium. Kick-off at Memorial Stadium is set for 6:05 p.m. (ET).

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Players Mentioned

#95 Jon Goodrich: DT; 6' 5"; Junior

#23 Bryan McCulley: RB; 6' 1"; Senior

#10 Reilly Murphy: QB; 6' 2"; Senior

#5 Ryan Patrick: DB; 5' 10"; Junior

#13 Rafael Price: WR; 6' 1"; Senior

#30 Corey Varnadore: PK; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#95 Jon Goodrich
: 6' 5"; Junior
: DT

#23 Bryan McCulley
: 6' 1"; Senior
: RB

#10 Reilly Murphy
: 6' 2"; Senior
: QB

#5 Ryan Patrick
: 5' 10"; Junior
: DB

#13 Rafael Price
: 6' 1"; Senior
: WR

#30 Corey Varnadore
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: PK