Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Football Prepares for Illinois State
03/19/2001 | 12:00:00 | Football
October 26, 2000
Now needing to win their final four games . . . of the season in order to finish above the .500 mark, the Salukis face an uphill battle with games remaining this week at Illinois State and at Youngstown State and Western Kentucky the final two weeks. Sandwiched between is a home game with Indiana State (Saturday, Nov. 4) and even a single win over the Sycamores would allow SIU to complete their Gateway Conference season with a pair of victories for the first time since 1995.
Last week's 27-9 loss at Southwest Missouri State . . . was damaging to the Salukis for a number of reasons, most importantly as it dropped their season's record to 2-5 and 1-2 in league play. SIU appeared to be in control of the game going into the fourth quarter and protecting a slim 9-3 lead when the game's tempo changed following SMS' block of an attempted Scott Everhart field goal.
Bringing back memories of their early-season . . . 34-33 loss to Southeast Missouri State when the Indians outscored the Salukis 27-2 in the second half, the host Bears exploded for 24 fourth-quarter points and completely dominated the quarter after having shown little offense in the first three periods. SMS, after gaining only 35 yards in 15 carries in the first 46:34 of the game, bolted for 122 in their next 13 attempts. The Bears had been successful on 11 of 21 passing attempts early for a modest 90 yards, but hit on four of their next seven for 114 yards. The results were 24 unanswered points.
The SMS outburst increased SIU's opponents' . . . second-half scoring totals to 123 points as compared to SIU's 46, a difference of 77. And that figure is almost identical to the 76 which opponents have outscored the Salukis this season. In first half play, SIU has a one-point edge -- 102 to 101 -- over its seven opponents in 2000.
Still the Salukis have to be reasonably pleased . . . this season with their defensive efforts which shows opponents are gaining only 304.6 yards per game as opposed to the 485.2 they claimed in 1999. The key, however, is that SIU is averaging just 305.3 yards per game this season after last year's offense produced record numbers and the most points -- 424 -- ever scored by a SIU team in an 11-game season. After seven games a year ago, the Salukis were averaging 415.0 per game as compared to their opponent's 453.0.
The passing game is where the biggest . . . difference exists as the Salukis were getting 245 an outing there and this year are managing just 130.6. Rushing stats are approximately the same, 170 a year ago compared to this season's 174.7.
SIU leads Illinois State 31-28-3 in . . . the long series between the two teams which dates back to 1929. And, interestingly enough, ISU is the ONLY 2000 opponent of the Salukis which trails in all-time series records. The Redbirds will be entering the game with an overall 3-4 record and are 1-2 in Gateway play.
QB Sherard Poteete's career stats . . . which includ a four-touchdown, 305-yard passing performance against Illinois State a year ago, this season are considerably below last year's overall marks. The senior, who transferred into SIU from Oklahoma A&M, passed for more than 300 yards five games a year ago and had three others when he topped the 200-yard level. This season, Poteete's best single game has been a 181-yarder at Murray State and he has just 883 compared to his bottom-line 2777 figure of 1999.
Even more noticeable in SIU's offense . . . is the fact that Poteete has only five touchdown passes in SIU's first seven games this season after having connected for 24 six-pointers last season.
In SIU's last outing, Poteete challenged his . . . passing stats with a superb job of running the ball. At Southwest Missouri State last Saturday, he outdistanced teammate Tom Koutsos as the Salukis' leading ball-carrier with an 83-yard effort, 18 more than Koutsos finished with at 65.
Koutsos, nevertheless, is continuing his . . . strong bid to become SIU's all-time most productive running back. The sophomore from Oswego already has five 100-yard plus games this season and nine in his career with the Salukis. Only three other former SIU standouts have collected more and he continues to move up the charts in career rushing. An "average" day for him at Illinois State would move him into fifth place ahead of Walter poole and Byron Mitchell as he needs just 72 to manage that and he's presently averaging 128 a game this season.
Teddy Sims, a senior transfer from Florida, is . . . continuing his strong bid to become SIU's defensive leader this season. After seven games, Sims has 59 tackles, 23 more than runnerup Andre King's 36. Bart Scott, SIU's leading tackler for the past two seasons, now appears to be out of contention as he has not been on the field for SIU's last two games.
The momentum-turner in SIU's loss at . . . Southwest Missouri State last week appeared to be the Bears' block of a Scott Everhart field goal attempt just 90 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Tampa, Fla., sophomore had already kicked field goals of 33, 34 and 37 yards and had his attempt to add a 39-yarder been successful, he would have become the first player in SIU's history to hit four in a single game.
While having ball possession for 10 minutes . . . longer than SMS last week (35:00 to 25:00), the Salukis ran 72 plays to the Bears' 56. The victors had 333 yards in total offense, however, while the Salukis were managing only 284.
The Salukis also had larger numbers . . . in the penalty department, one head coach Jan Quarless is becoming more concerned with each week. SIU was whistled for 85 yards compared to the Bears' 55 and for the season has been penalized 615 yards on 61 infractions compared to opponent's 441 on 50 miscues.
