Oct. 10, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Senior wide receiver Willie Ponder of Southeast Missouri State University leads the nation's I-AA teams in total receiving yards with 686.

Ponder has 45 catches for 686 yards and seven touchdowns. He leads the Ohio Valley Conference in all receiving categories and also ranks nationally in several categories. He is seventh in receptions per game (7.5), ninth in receiving yards per game (114.3) and 24th in all-purpose running (134.8 ypg).

Last week, Ponder was added to the Sports Network's 16-man Payton Watch list, a preliminary grouping of candidates for the Walter Payton Award - the Division I-AA football equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

Southeast Missouri, 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the OVC, plays a conference game at Tennessee-Martin on Saturday, 2 p.m., in Martin, Tenn.