Box Score

Springfield, Mo. (September 21, 2002) - If games were decided on the total stats and not on points scored, Southeast would have won tonight's game at Southwest Missouri State by a landslide. But so is life, and the Tribe fell to the Bears 28-21 and moved their season record to 2-2.

Southeast won the coin flip and optioned to defer to the second half. That decision looked to be a brilliant one, as two plays into Southwest's opening drive, running back Zach Dechant fumbled the ball and Southeast recovered. The Tribe took the ball all the way down the field, only to throw an interception in the end zone.

SMS, off that turnover, marched the ball down the field and scored the first points of the game as Dechant made up for his previous turnover and scored on an 11-yard run. He added another four-yard run with ten minutes left in the half to make the score 14-0 SMS.

Southeast answered back, however. Junior quarterback Jack Tomco connected with senior receiver Willie Ponder on a 42-yard pass for a touchdown and sophomore kicker Derek Kutz completed the point after to bring the score at halftime to 14-7.

Dechant started the second half with another score of his own as with 4:41 left in the third quarter he marched in on another four-yard touchdown run. The score was part of a Bears drive that was ten plays for 51 yards and took up 4:46 on the clock. That brought the score to 21-7, SMS.

Southeast opened the fourth quarter with a score of its own as Chris NesSmith ran in a score and Kutz put home the point after to cut the score to 21-14. The drive was the second-longest of the game for Southeast as they pounded out 79 yards on 15 plays and knocked an amazing seven and a half minutes off the game clock.

Dechant, however was the star of the game he scored each one of Southwest's touchdowns and added his fourth of the game with 7:44 left in as he lumbered in for a 14-yard touchdown run. Southeast was now down 28-14.

The Tribe got their final score as Tomco connected for his second touchdown of the game on a 22-yard strike to Tariq Simpson. Kutz added the point after, but a final hail mary pass attempt was no good as Southwest beat the Indians 28-21.

Southeast led in almost every statistical category with the exception of the one that matters most, points. They had 27 first downs to Southwest's 18. They out passed the Bears 321 to 198, but Dechant and the Bears out rushed the Tribe 191 to 129. Southeast had 412 yards to the Bears 380 and it dominated time of possession by a margin of 33:58 to 24:20.

The Tribe was led offensively by Tomco who had 297 yards on 27-54 in the air. He threw two costly interceptions, but had two touchdowns, as well. Corey Kinsey had 22 rushes for 108 yards and Willie Ponder had nine catches for 137 yards and a touchdown.

Southeast head coach Tim Billings was really proud of his team's effort, but thought they just couldn't get the big play.

"They were stronger offensively than we were defensively in the game," Billings said. "Offensively we didn't have any problems moving the ball, but we just turned it over a few times. A crucial penalty hurt us and we didn't have a chance to get back into the game.

"I felt physically we had to stop the run, and we had opportunities to, but just couldn't make the plays. Our defensive coaches had a great game plan and we'll get better. We're just young. We played as hard as we've played all year long and they had all the effort needed, but just couldn't capitalize on our opportunities."

Southeast will complete its month-long road trip next weekend as they travel to Division I-A Middle Tennessee State to take on the Blue Raiders. MTSU is 0-3 on the season after a loss to Kentucky today.