Most prognosticators would’ve granted you the opinion of this contest being the most even match up in the Ohio Valley Conference but not for the expected reason.

Eastern will go for seven of its last eight against preseason conference favorite Southeast Missouri as the Panthers enter Houck Stadium to the take on an Indians squad currently on life support.

However, neither team has shot out of the starting block in the race for the OVC title.

Eastern has lost three straight contests and continues to search for its first victory in Division 1-AA. On the same path, SEMO started out in the OVC penthouse, but after five consecutive defeats, fans have begun to believe the Indians will miss the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season.

Both squad’s head coaches in Eastern’s Bob Spoo and SEMO’s Tim Billings could join the circus after having to juggle their lineups seemingly every week this season.

“When you have position situations that are iffy, everything else struggles as well,” Spoo said.

“You gotta go the backup no matter what position it may be,” Billings said.

Offense:

Sophomore junior college transfer Andrew Harris will make his first start under center this Saturday against the Indians. No, really, Spoo’s not kidding this time.

After offensive coordinator John Carr naming him the starter before the last home contest against Illinois State and suddenly having Spoo going with junior Andy Vincent, the 72-year-old head coach could just as easily change his mind this Saturday. However, Spoo seems insistent Harris is the guy this week.

“I think we’ll go with JC transfer Andrew Harris this week,” Spoo said.

“He’s taller, more mobile, starting to pick up things more.”

Harris has completed 22 of 45 passes for 165 yards (104 yards versus Indiana State) and two interceptions (both at the Sycamores) in a limited role.

However, Spoo didn’t leave out the possibility of bringing Vincent off the bench if the offense continues to struggle versus a SEMO defense allowing only 11 points per game.

“I won’t be afraid to turn to Andy again if we need a change,” Spoo said.

The biggest question mark may be who will line up behind Harris as the Panthers’ starting tailback. After Andre Raymond suffered an undetermined ankle injury and failed to return for the second half of Eastern’s 23-7 loss to Indiana State, it’s unclear on whether or not the senior tailback will start this Saturday.

“It’s kind of a day-to-day thing but I’d like to make a decision on it soon as possible,” Spoo said.

Raymond rushed nine times for negative seven yards last week and was upstaged by his backup that broke a big run early in the second half.

Red-shirt freshman Vincent Webb will start in the backfield if Raymond is unable to go.

Webb started the second half of last week’s contest by running 80 yards down the left sideline for the longest touchdown in the 2003 season by far. Webb ended the day with 108 yards rushing for the game and seemed to bring life into the Panther running game ranked 109th in the country.

“His playing time will depend greatly on whether or not Andre Raymond will be able to go, but we feel he brings another option to our attack,” Spoo said.

The Panther receiver corps is being led by true freshman Ryan Voss who is averaging 11.1 yards per catch and had the longest touchdown pass at 35 yards. However, the number one option and All-American candidate Nick Eller has been held in check for the last two weeks.

“Our offense is really struggling and we can’t win until we fix that,” Spoo said.

SEMO spent four weeks in offensive purgatory and averaged six points per game while going through a quarterback controversy itself.

The Indians have gone back and forth between Walter Payton candidate Jack Tomco and Jeremy McDowell with neither one establishing himself until last week against Samford.

Tomco went 23 of 32 for 291 yards and one touchdown in a 41-31 loss to the Bulldogs last week.

After his recent performance, Billings is confident Tomco can lead his team through the second half of the season.

“We’ll settle with him until he doesn’t play well,” Billings said. “The question is whether on nor he’s settled in.”

The Indians also have a problem at tailback, but this controversy was settled on Tuesday. It was announced that SEMO dismissed junior running back Corey Kinsey for violations of team rules. Kinsey rushed for over 1,000 yards last season but had struggled to gain 159 on 57 carries in 2003.

To solve this equation, Billings has designated former wide receiver Jamel Oliver to the starting tailback position for the rest of the season.

Oliver rushed 15 times for 98 yards and a touchdown last week against Samford.

“Oliver will start this week, and as he learns our system he can be a really good player in this league,” Billings said.

Advantage: SEMO

Defense

After earning an opening week shutout against Division II California (PA), the Panthers allowed 37, 21 and 23 points in their next three losses. Eastern now currently ranks 57th in total defense (345.5 yards per game), 42nd in scoring defense (20.25 points per game) and 84th against the pass (160.5 yards per game).

The Panthers recorded its first sack last week and have only forced 8 turnovers in four games this season.

“We have failed to get enough pressure on the quarterback all season long,” Spoo said.

The points per game aren’t an indication of the strength in defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni’s system because of field position. Only two of the Sycamore’s drives last week went longer than 50 yards and none in the first half.

The Panther defense held the nation’s leading rusher Jake Shields to only 77 yards rushing but allowed red-shirt freshman Jack Schiff to throw for 235 yards in his fourth collegiate start.

Inside linebacker leads the team in tackles and has the only defensive touchdown for the Panthers this season.

“I think we can defend the run, but with a guy like Tomco who’s big and capable, we have a tall order covering the pass,” Spoo said.

The SEMO defense was building confidence until it went to Samford.

Bulldogs signal caller Ray Nelson carved up the Indians for 22 of 35 for 246 yards and three touchdowns.

By allowing nearly 25 points per game and ranking 46th in total defense, the Indians crew has been forced to keep SEMO in its early games, while the offense struggled to find its identity. This Saturday, all indications point to the situation being very similar as well.

To further complicate things, defensive backs Mike Miller and Marco Tipton are out indefinitely with knee injuries.

“We have an all-conference cornerback and safety out and that just makes things work,” Billings said.

The key match up for the SEMO defense will be its front four that have only recorded one sack versus an inexperienced Eastern offensive line.

“We have good players but right now, we’re not a very good football team,” Billings said.

Advantage: Eastern

Final Score: Southeast Missouri – 28, Eastern – 13