April 11, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.- It will be the Red vs. White in the annual spring football game on Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Houck Stadium.

The Southeast Missouri State University football team has been divided into two teams that will play four six-minute quarters in the finale of spring football drills at Southeast. Erik Sean of Zimmer Radio will serve as head coach of the Red squad while Steve Sotak of KFVS-12 will behead coach of the White squad.

"We had a draft and divided the team up for the scrimmage," said head coach Tim Billings. "We will have some players in black jersey because they will play on both teams. We will let Sean and Sotak call the plays. I am just going to watch from the stands."

Redshirt freshman Jeff East will quarterback the Red Team while junior college transfer Jack Tomco will quarterback the White Team. East will throw to receivers led by Adrian Sanders and Tarik Simpson while Tomco will have All-America candidate Willie Ponder as one of his targets. Sophomore Ben Arnold will see action at quarterback for both teams.

Jeromy McDowell, who established several freshman passing records last season, will be in uniform but will not play because of off-season shoulder surgery.

A pre-game tailgate party is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. with free hot dogs, soda and popcorn. There is also free admission to the game.