Football isn’t a hard sport to understand. There are only two options to move the ball downfield. Pass. Run. It’s simple to understand and fun to watch.

Granted, some aspects of football are more difficult to comprehend. Not everyone can explain the intricacies of a Cover 2 defense.

Very few people understand what zone blocking for an offensive line means.

But the average football game – basic football – is easy to grasp.

Eastern’s 24-21 win against Southeast Missouri wasn’t confusing because of defensive schemes and wild trick plays. It was confusing because of certain decisions made by coaching staffs and officials alike.

The most bewildering aspect of the game was SEMO’s quarterback carousel. Redhawks’ senior Houston Lillard started the game under center and rightfully so. Prior to Saturday’s game, Lillard led the Ohio Valley Conference in passing yards.

But Lillard only lasted to the 2 minute, 50 second mark of the first quarter. His stat line through the majority of the first 15 minutes of the game: two completions for 12 yards to his team and one completion for six yards to Eastern red-shirt sophomore cornerback Rashad Haynes.

Interceptions are bad. That’s a given. But to pull one of the top quarterbacks in the conference after two drives is absurd.

“Houston was trying to do too many things,” SEMO head coach Tony Samuel said. “We needed to sit him down and just let him watch the game from the side a little bit.”

SEMO’s backup quarterback, true freshman Matt Scheible, played until the 13:12 mark of the fourth quarter. He didn’t play spectacularly, but he wasn’t awful either.

“I was surprised I got in so early,” Scheible said. “If you don’t run the offense like coach says, he’s probably going to take you out and put someone else in.”

Samuel must not have liked all he saw from Scheible because he put Lillard back in the game with 13:12 left in the fourth quarter.

Lillard completed one pass to Holloman for a two-yard loss. Then he completed another pass to the Panthers. This time to senior cornerback Adrian Arrington.

Was Lillard done for the game? Well, no. And this is where it gets really confusing. Scheible started SEMO’s last drive at quarterback and rushed for five yards. Then Lillard came back in and rushed for two yards. Then it was back to Scheible to finish out the drive and the game.

Confused yet? Well, you should be. Throw in an odd kickoff return, a few suspicious late hit calls on the Panthers in the second half, and you have yourself one peculiar football game.

Football might superficially be a simple game, but a strange kickoff and a revolving door at quarterback make it a little more confusing.

Scott Richey can be reached at 581-7944 or at srrichey@eiu.edu.