Saturday, October 25, 1997

Indians face improving Austin College

By MARK WILSON / Abilene Reporter-News

SHERMAN -- A signal was sent out from Clinton, Miss. last Saturday, and the American Southwest Conference probably should take notice.

Austin College, which started off the season 1-3, knocked off high-flying Mississippi College last week in its conference opener. The Kangaroos trailed 15-14 late but recovered a fumble and kicked a field goal with one second left for a 17-15 victory -- their second win in a row.

Mississippi College entered that game with a 4-1 record, and still leads the ASC in total offense.

Today, McMurry University will face the improving Kangaroos as the Indians seek to forget their conference-opening 34-25 loss to Hardin-Simmons.

"They're more aggressive defensively than they have been," McMurry head coach Steve Keenum said of the Kangaroos. "They're playing at a really high level.

"Their quarterback, Joe Newton, is doing a great job. Their offensive line has improved. They beat Mississippi College, so they have to be feeling good about themselves.

"Since the beginning, I've been telling people it would be hard to go undefeated (in the ASC). You've got to get ready to play, week in and week out."

Keenum said his Indians must have intensity on their side against the upstart Kangaroos.

"It needs to be," Keenum said. "We need to play the best ballgame we've played."

Mississippi College wasn't at full strength, however, with starting quarterback Rodger Guy and the team's starting free safety were both out with injuries.

Even though the Kangaroos are still last in the conference in scoring offense, scoring defense and total defense, Keenum expects a battle.

"I expect them to play like a good football team," he said. "They never have made a lot of mistakes. We need to score when we have an opportunity and not give up the big play."

Keenum said Austin College has a fairly balanced offensive attack, with Newton ranked No. 4 in the conference in passing and freshman running back Dustin Barrett sixth in rushing. And Mike Olvera is third in the conference in receiving.

"(Olvera) is the kid that hurt us a little bit last year," Keenum said of Austin College's 19-7 win over the Indians last year.

In the loss to HSU, the Indians trailed 21-0 at halftime but rallied for 17 points to get within 10 points (27-17) late in the third quarter.

"Things didn't go well, and our confidence got down," Keenum said of the slow start in the game. "There was a stretch where we did everything we could, and did it well."

Keenum wants his team to at least have some influence in the ASC title hunt.

"They know the conference race is not over, and they want to have their say in it," Keenum said. "If we want to be a factor in the conference race, we have to win Saturday."

McMurry slotback Fred Rau still leads the ASC and is tied for No. 2 in the nation with 9.2 pass receptions per game. Quarterback Braxton Shaver, who passed for 323 yards last year against Austin College, is second in the ASC in passing with 207 yards per game.

Rau, a sophomore out of Cooper, has 113 career receptions and needs just three to set a McMurry record in that category. He is also only four shy of eclipsing his own school record for catches in a season (58).

McMurry wide receiver Reggie Sterns is still sidelined with an ankle injury.

Two injured McMurry players -- senior defensive end Andy Peveto and freshman linebacker Joseph Bermea -- have decided to apply for medical redshirt status for this season.

McMurry at Austin College

-- When: 1:30 p.m.

-- Where: Louis Calder Stadium, Sherman

-- Records: McMurry 3-3, 0-1 in ASC; AC 3-3, 1-0

-- Last meeting: AC 19, McMurry 7

-- Last week: Hardin-Simmons 34, McMurry 25; AC 17, Mississippi College 15

-- Injuries: McMurry: WR Reggie Sterns (ankle), out; DE Andy Peveto (knee), out for season; LB Joseph Bermea (shoulder), out for season.

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