Sept. 23, 2003

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Senior Jack Tomco will be the starting quarterback Saturday night when Southeast Missouri State University opens Ohio Valley Conference play at Samford.

Tomco, who passed for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns while establishing nine new Southeast passing records last season, started the first two games this season but had played behind Jeromy McDowell in the last two games.

Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Tomco is on the initial Sports Network Payton Watch List which profiles 16 potential candidates for the Walter Payton Award, the I-AA equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. Tomco is also among the first 50 players to be named to play in the inaugural I-AA College Football All-Star Classic on Dec. 30 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

This season, Tomco as completed 40-73 passes for 453 yards with six interceptions.

Southeast and Samford meet at 6 p.m., Saturday, at Seibert Stadium in Birmingham, Ala. It will be the OVC opener for both teams. Last season, Tomco completed 20-28 passes for 368 yards to lead Southeast to a 48-24 win over Samford.