CAPE GIRARDEAU - Southeast Missouri State University free safety Joe Williams is ranked second nationally in tackles per game in the first defensive stat report issued by NCAA Division I-AA.

Williams, a senior from Baton Rouge, La.(Tara High School), has 59 tackles in four games to average 14.75 tackles per game. Steve Norceni of Fairfield is the national leader with 30 tackles in two games for an average of 15 per game. The NCAA I-AA defensive leaders are released every four weeks.

Williams, one of the defensive captains for Southeast, had 19 tackles in last Saturday's 38-14 loss to Western Kentucky. His career high is 20 tackles in a 34-33 win earlier this season over Southern Illinois.

Isaac Powell, a senior strong safety from St. Louis (Hazelwood Central High School), ranks 18th nationally in tackles per game with a total of 47 tackles for an average of 11.75 per game.

Powell, also a defensive captain, had a career high 20 tackles in a 28-25 win over nationally ranked Illinois State.

Williams and Powell will both be in the starting lineup Saturday night when Southeast faces Eastern Kentucky at Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond, Ky. Game time will be 6 p.m. (CDT) with both teams looking for their first Ohio Valley Conference win of the year. Eastern Kentucky, ranked 20th nationally, is 2-1 overall and 0-1 in the OVC while Southeast Missouri is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the OVC.