SIU at SEMO Notes & Links

Saturday, September 16

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

6 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

Southeast Missouri

09/12/2017 | 1:40:00 | Football

Southern Illinois (1-0, 0-0 MVFC) at Southeast Missouri (0-2, 0-0 OVC)
Date & Time	Sept. 16, 2017 \| 6 p.m. CT
Location	Cape Girardeau, Mo. \| Houck Field (10,000 // FieldTurf) \| Weather
Stats	StatBroadcast via SEMO
Video	OVC Digital Network with Erik Sean, Rick Wieser and Rusty Hendricks
Radio	Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis (play-by-play), Gene Green (analysis) and Connor James (analysis)
Audio	Saluki All-Access (Free all season)
SIU	Game Notes \| Stats \| Media Guide
SEMO	Game Notes \| Stats
MVFC	Weekly Notes \| Stats
Series	SEMO leads, 40-36-8 \| In Cape: SEMO leads, 19-17-4 \| Streak: SIU W1 \| Last: SIU 30, SEMO 22 (9/10/16)
Social	@SIU_Football \| @SIUSalukis \| Saluki Football

QUICK HITS

Southern Illinois travels to Southeast Missouri for a 6 p.m. kickoff in Cape Girardeau on Saturday, Sept. 16.
SIU has won nine of the last 11 meetings with SEMO, but the Redhawks won the last time the teams played at Houck Field in 2015.
The Salukis are trying to snap a 12-game road losing streak. Southern's last road win was late in the 2014 season.
In regular season games since 2003, SIU is 34-4 against non-FBS, non-conference opponents. Two of the four losses are against SEMO. The other two are against Eastern Illinois in the Jimmy Garappolo era.
Southern's defense recorded six sacks and 16 tackles for loss in the season-opening 55-3 win over Mississippi Valley State. SIU held a Division I opponent without a touchdown for the first time since 2012.

SALUKIS HEAD TO SEMO

SIU and SEMO face off in a regional rivalry on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
The game will be streamed for free nationally through the OVC Digital Network.
The game will be the 85th meeting between SIU and SEMO. Southern Illinois has played SEMO more than any other program. (Illinois State is second with 79 meetings.)
SEMO leads the all-time series, 40-36-8. The Redhawks also lead the series in games played in Cape Girardeau, 19-17-4.
SIU is 5-1 in its last six games at SEMO, but Southeast won the last meeting in Cape Girardeau, 27-24. Southern Illinois committed seven turnovers in that game.
The Salukis are attempting to improve to 2-0 for just the second time since 2007. Southern started 3-0 in 2014.
Southern Illinois started the season with a 55-3 win over Mississippi Valley State last Saturday, the largest margin of victory in a season opener against a Division I opponent in program history.
Over the last three seasons, SIU is 12-6 at home (.667) and 2-15 on the road (.118).
In regular season games since 2003, Southern Illinois is 34-4 against non-FBS, non-conference opponents.

KEEPING THE MOMENTUM

Southern Illinois started the Nick Hill era 2-6 in the first eight games, but the Salukis are 3-1 in the four games since. The lone loss was 21-14 at Youngstown State, which went on to play in the national championship game last season.
Sam Straub started those four games at quarterback for SIU. He averaged 385 passing yards per game in his first three starts. He guided six touchdown drives on eight possessions in last week's season opener.
Southern erased a 17-point second-half deficit in the 2016 season finale to beat No. 23 Western Illinois, 44-34.
Straub set a program record with 450 passing yards in the WIU win. He broke Nick Hill's 10-year-old school record for passing yards in a game.
The 17-point comeback was also the biggest comeback for SIU since Hill led SIU to a 21-point comeback win at Northern Illinois in 2007.
The win over #23 WIU gave SIU a win over a ranked opponent for a 15th consecutive season.
Former WR Israel Lamprakes summed up the state of the program after the emotional win: "Everyone who is going to be here next year saw it; they saw what we're capable of. And just to end it that way, it is more than just tonight. This is going to go for the next few years. Everything is changing; and unfortunately, it didn't change fast enough for me, but it is changing. And that is all I've ever wanted. And it is happening. It's a blessing. It's a beautiful thing, and I'm just thankful."
Even before the season-ending win, SIU had gained momentum the previous two weeks. SIU beat South Dakota and lost a narrow 21-14 decision at Youngstown State.
SIU dominated the second half against Youngstown State, which went on to play the national championship game. SIU outgained the Penguins 301-124 after halftime and erased a 14-0 deficit.
YSU entered that game allowing 159 yards passing per game through the first nine games. Straub put up 366 yards through the air in the Ice House.

RUN THE ROCK / STOP THE RUN

Southern Illinois dominated the running game on both sides of the ball in the season opener. SIU rushed for 285 yards and held MVSU to negative-8 yards rushing.
Seven different Salukis had at least 10 yards rushing in the season opener, led by Daquan Isom's 97 yards.
Three different players had at least 50 yards rushing in the opener. Isom (97), D.J. Davis (58) and Cameron Walter (51) all had at least 50 yards.
That trio averaged 6.65 yards per rush.
Meanwhile, SIU held MVSU to negative-8 yards on the ground, thanks to six sacks. Only one Delta Devil had more than six yards rushing.
SIU held a Division I opponent to negative-8 yards rushing or better for the first time since 2000.
Southern's defense had a remarkable 16.0 tackles for loss in the season opener. Sixteen different players contributed to at leaast one TFL.