Sept. 21, 2000

Date: Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Houck Stadium (10,000)
2000 Records: Western Kentucky 2-0 (1-0 OVC), Southeast Missouri 2-1 (0-0 OVC)
National Ranking: WKU is ranked 24th nationally by The Sport Network Southeast Missouri is ranked 27th nationally by The Sport Network
1999 Records: Western Kentucky 6-5 (4-3 OVC), Southeast Missouri 3-8 (2-5 OVC)
The Coaches: Tim Billings is 2-1 in his first year at Southeast
Jack Harbaugh is 62-59 in his 12th year at WKU, 87-86-3 in 17th year
Radio: Southeast Radio Network anchored by K-103 FM in Cape Girardeau. Other network stations include KSIM in Sikeston and KWOC in Poplar Bluff. Erik Sean will do play-by-play with Rick Wieser and Mike Legg providing color.
Internet: Southeast Radio Network broadcast can be heard over the internet at www.k103fm.com. Launching Sept. 28 ... www.gosoutheast.com

Game Day Notes

The Teams: Southeast Missouri is 2-1 after a loss to Marshall, a road win over Southern Illinois and a home win over nationally ranked Illinois State.

Western Kentucky is 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the OVC. The Hilltoppers have beaten Tennessee-Martin 71-0 and nationally ranked Elon 23-0.

In the Sagarin Ratings of all Division I teams (I-A and I-AA) Western Kentucky is the highest rated OVC team ranking 97th nationally. Southeast ranks 162nd. Under the Sagarin formula, Western Kentucky rates as a 13-point favorite in Saturday night's game.

The Sport Network ranks Western Kentucky 24th nationally while Southeast Missouri received enough votes to be ranked 27th nationally.

The USA Today/ESPN poll ranks Western Kentucky 26th and Southeast 37th.

Extra Entertainment: Following the Western Kentucky game there will be a concert featuring Davy Jones of the Monkees. The stage will be located just beyond the west end zone.

Series Record: Western Kentucky leads the series 9-1. The only Southeast win was 28-19 in 1960. The last time the teams met at Houck Stadium, Western Kentucky won 40-7 in 1963.

The Coaches: Tim Billings, an assistant at Marshall the past 10 seasons, is 2-1 in his first year as head coach at Southeast. He also served as an assistant at Missouri and Oklahoma. As an assistant, Billings coached in five I-AA title games and in four bowl games.

Jack Harbaugh is 62-59 in his 12th year at Western Kentucky and is 87-86-3 in his 17th season as a collegiate head coach.

Last Season: Western Kentucky beat Southeast 21-10 in Bowling Green. The Hilltoppers had 224 yards rushing but no yards passing. Southeast had 233 yards in total offense.

Last Week: Southeast opened the home season with a thrilling 28-25 win over nationally ranked Illinois State. The Indians won on big plays including a 46-yard touchdown on an interception return by Isaac Huddleston, a 55-yard faked punt run by Curtis Cooper and an 80-yard touchdown fumble return by Rodney Woodall.

Western Kentucky went on the road and whipped nationally ranked Elon 23-0. Elon had been ranked 24th nationally in the USA Today/ESPN poll.

Western Kentucky Dominates OVC Team Stats: The Hilltopper lead the OVC in nine different team statitistical categories including rushing defense, pass defense, total defense, pass efficency defense, rushing offense, passing efficency, scoring offense, scoring defense, and turnover margin. WKU allows just 159 yards per game in total defense while rushing for an average of 343.5 yards per game and scoring 47 points per game.

The Hilltoppers are ranked first nationally in scoring defense having allowed no points this season. They are the only Division I-AA team that has not allowed a point this season.

Witczak is OVC Special Teams Player of the Week: Southeast punter Jason Witczak is the OVC Special Teams Player of the Week after booming 11 punts 473 yards in Saturday night's win over Illinois State.

Witczak had four punts over 50 yards including one 63-yard punt.

Witczak ranks fourth in OVC punting and 11th nationally in Division I-AA.

Southeast Ranks Nationally In Punt Returns and Turnover Margin: The Indians are ranked 11th nationally in punt returns with an average of 15.5 yards per return. Southeast ranks 18th nationally in turnover margin with a plus 1.33.

Sortor Leads OVC In Tackles for Loss: Defensive end Charles Sortor leads the OVC in tackles for losses with eight behind the line tackles for 26 yards in losses. He is also tied for the lead in sacks with three for 22 yards in losses.

Powell Leads Defense vs. Illinois State: Senior Isaac Powell had 20 tackles in the Illinois State game to move him into second place on the seasonal tackle list for the Indians.

Joe Williams leads Southeast tacklers with 40, Powell has 39 and Charlie Sortor has 37.

Huddleston Intercepts: Junior corner Isaac Huddleston had two interceptions against Illinois State including one returned 46-yards for a touchdown.

He is now tied for the OVC lead in interceptions and is tied for 26th nationally in interceptions with two.

Multiple Receivers: A total of 12 Southeast players have had catches in the first three games. Leslie Weaver and Corey Chester lead the way with seven catches each. Others with receptions include Tarik Simpson, Curtis Cooper, Ryan Roth, Jerl Huling, Andy Dunaway, Jake Hill, Iven Brown, Byron White, Charles McElroy and offensive lineman Jonathan Jensen who caught a deflected pass in the SIU game.

Injury Update: Freshman linebacker Travion Brock suffered a broken arm in the Illinois State game and underwent surgery on Sunday.

Another freshman, Justin Hayes suffered a sprained knee and is probable vs. Western Kentucky.

Quarterback Rashad West missed the Illinois State game with an ankle sprain, but is probable for this week's game with Western Kentucky.

Southeast is 2-0 vs. Gateway: The Indians are 2-0 against Gateway Conference schools with wins over Southern Illinois and Illinois State. Southeast has one more Gateway foe on the schedule this season with a Nov. 11 game at Southwest Missouri.

Prior to this season, Southeast was 3-13 vs. Gateway teams since the Indians move to Division I-AA in 1991.

Six Captains: The Southeast players have elected six captains, three on offense and three on defense.

Offensive captains are quarterback Rashad West, offensive guard David Fielder and wide receiver Leslie Weaver.

Defensive captains are safety Isaac Powell, defensive end Asim Thomas and strong safety Joe Williams.

OVC HONORS:
9-11 - Bobby Brune, Offensive Player of the Week.
9-11 - Curtis Cooper, Newcomer of the Week.
9-18 - Jason Witczak, Specialist of the Week.

Preseason All-OVC: Senior safety Isaac Powell, junior quarterback Rashad West and sophomore defensive lineman James Jennette received honorable mention preseason all-OVC.

Southeast was picked to finish seventh in a preseason poll of OVC football coaches and sports information directors.

Next Week: Southeast will go on the road to go against Eastern Kentucky, the preseason favorite in the OVC.

Western Kentucky plays at Murray State on Sept. 30.

Around the OVC: In other OVC action Saturday, Eastern Illinois plays at Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee Tech plays at Eastern Kentucky, Tennesssee State meets Florida A & M in Atlanta and Indiana State plays at Murray State.