Nov. 8, 2009

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - After leading the third-ranked Salukis to a 35-14 victory at No. 9 South Dakota State, senior running back Deji Karim and senior safety Lance Caldwell were selected Sunday as the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.

This is the second offensive player of the week award this season for Karim, but the first in Caldwell's career. SIU, meanwhile, became the first league team to ever win at South Dakota State, and with the win secured at least a share of the league title and an automatic berth into the FCS playoffs.

Southern Illinois has had a player of the week in each of the past five weeks and 11 overall on the year, which leads the conference.

Karim became the first running back all season to rush for over 100 yards against South Dakota State, as he had 127 yards on 21 carries. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry and had long runs of 27 and 41 yards. The Jackrabbits came into the game only allowing 89 rushing yards a game, but behind Karim the Salukis marched to the tune of 280 yards on the ground. He went over 1,500 career yards rushing in the game, as he became the 19th Saluki ever to do so.

Caldwell accounted for both of SIU's interceptions in Saturday's victory. His first one came late in the second quarter and he was able to return it 75 yards for a TD. It was the fifth-longest interception return for a TD in Saluki history. Caldwell's second interception came in the third quarter when SDSU had the ball in the red zone. On a fourth-and-five at the SIU nine, Caldwell picked off Thomas O'Brien in the end zone to keep the Jacks off the scoreboard. Caldwell's interceptions extended SIU's streak to 10-straight games with at least on pick.