Football Edged by Southwest Missouri State, 25-24

Saturday, November 10

Carbondale, Ill.

12:30 PM

Southern Illinois University

1-8 , 1-5

Missouri St.

5-5 , 2-4

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Southwest Missouri	3	0	8	14	25
Southern Illinois	14	7	3	0	24

11/10/2001 | 12:00:00 | Football

Box Score

Nov 10, 2001

Final Stats

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) - Demetrius Smith scored three second-half touchdowns, including the winner with 11 seconds left, in leading Southwest Missouri State to a 25-24 victory over Southern Illinois Saturday at McAndrew Stadium.

The Bears (5-5, 2-4 Gateway Conference) trailed the entire game until the end and were behind 24-11 after Scott Everhart of the Salukis (1-8, 1-5) kicked a 37-yard field goal late in the third quarter.

Smith, who gained 10 yards on eight carries all afternoon, plunged 1 yard for a score with 11:12 remaining, then repeated the accomplishment 11:01 minutes later. His first TD was a 2-yarder in the third quarter.

"We fought to the bitter end," Southern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill said. "Our kids didn't have nothing left. We gave everything we had, and that wasn't good enough. It's frustrating to all of you and and all of our fans, but I am a battler and I am just going to keep competing and keep staying positive."

Tom Koutsos led SIU with 165 yards on 25 carries, including a 71-yard gallup for a TD on the Salukis' second play from scrimmage. He also surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the third consecutive season as he continues to add to his career rushing record.

The Salukis, playing with three true freshmen on the offensive line due to injuries, jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead behind the running of Koutsos and quarterback Madei Williams. Williams pulled a leg muscle in the third quarter, however, and left the game with 36 yards rushing and 22 passing.

From the Lockerroom

Bart Scott: "It's pretty tough. To be ahead, and be so close, yet so far away sometimes. That is the way life goes sometimes. Sometimes things just don't go your way, and you have to learn to deal with things like that.

"I think they know that we are a fast pursuing defense, so they set us up, and they cut back a lot. They just made some great plays, you know, so all of the credit goes to them.''

Andre King: "It is discouraging to know that they are going to run the ball, and it was obvious that today we didn't stop them, but all the credit to them. They had a game plan coming in, and even when they got down, they stuck with it. We played hard, and they played hard, but someone's got to lose."

"It hurts, you know. I'm not going to get another chance to play in front of you guys and the people I go to school with, friends, again. When you realize it is coming to an end, it is tough, I mean, how do you handle it."

"I was just hoping somebody would make a play, anybody, because we needed a stop. When they needed a first down, they got a first down. They just hammered it out."

"It just hurts that I am not going to be here to see it all come together."

Bryan Archibald: "We came out ready to play. Everyone was hyped up because it was senior day, and we wanted to go out with a game at home and just wanted to win. We were just in a groove in the first half."

"I think they just adjusted to our defense (in the second half) and what we were running. We tried rotating a few things different (to counter their adjustments), but we just didn't get it done today."