Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis Get Ready for Indiana State
03/19/2001 | 12:00:00 | Football
October 31, 2000
Still searching for answers to . . . their second-half scoring problems, SIU's Salukis (2-6, 1-3) host Indiana State's winless Sycamores (0-9, 0-5) in McAndrew Stadium Saturday (Nov. 4). The game, SIU's final home contest of the 2000 season, is scheduled for a 12:30 kickoff.
Last week's 27-17 loss at Illinois State . . . was another difficult-to-accept decision for the Salukis who won the statistics battle, but were unable to make a 17-10 halftime lead stand up for what would have been their first two-win season in Gateway Conference play since 1996. Instead SIU has now lost its last 12 league road games.
With just three games remaining for the Salukis . . . to solve their second half offensive shutdowns, Saturday's loss at Illinois State was similar to those to Southeast Missouri State and Southwest Missouri State. Up 31-7 over SEMO at halftime, the Salukis lost 34-33. At Southwest Missouri State, the Salukis were ahead 6-3 only to be outscored 24-3 in the second half. At Illinois State the Salukis were ahead 17-10 and appeared to be in control until the Redbirds rallied for 17 second-half points while shutting out SIU.
For the season, opponents have outscored . . . SIU 140-46 in the second halves of games after the Salukis had won the cumulative first-half scoring duels 119 to 111.
Final statistics of the Illinois State game . . . showed the Salukis ahead in every major category. First downs: 20-14, net yards rushing: 95-93, net yards passing: 214-185, total offensive plays: 83-59, third-down conversions: 7 of 20 to 2 of 14, possession time: 34:22 to 25:38. But it also carried over to the negative categories which showed the Salukis were penalized 146 yards for 16 infractions as compared to ISU's 103 for 11 miscues.
Still the Salukis have to be somewhat pleased . . . this season with their defensive efforts which shows opponents are gaining only 301.3 yards per game as opposed to the 485.2 they claimed in 1999. The key, however, is that SIU is averaging just 305.8 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.
Which brings back memories of last year's . . . SIU-Indiana State spectacle at Terre Haute. The Sycamores won that one 66-45 while gaining more than 600 yards (632 actually) in total offense while the Salukis were claiming 487 themselves.
SIU trails Indiana State 17-19 in . . . the series between the two teams which dates back to 1944. More alarming, however, is that the Salukis have lost their last six meetings with the Sycamores including ISU's last three visits to McAndrew . . . 27-14 in 1994, 24-13 in 1996 and 27-21 in 1998.
QB Sherard Poteete was unable to . . . match his four-touchdown, 305-yard passing performance of 1999 against Illinois State last week, but he did have season highs in three major departments. The senior, who transferred into SIU from Oklahoma A&M, passed for 214 yards (the first time he's been over 200 this season) while completing 20 of 40 attempts. His previous 2000 highs for completions was 15 and attempts 36. This season he has passed for 1097 yards compared to his bottom-line 2777 figure of 1999. The total -- 3,874 yards -- moved him past Brian Downey and Jim Hart in his brief two-year career at SIU. And, with 300 career completions, he's almost certain to move into third place in SIU's all-time standings this week as he needs just eight to top Downey's 307.
Also noticeable in SIU's point production . . . is the fact that Poteete has only five touchdown passes in SIU's first eight games this season after having connected for 24 six-pointers last season.
Running back Tom Koutsos is continuing his . . . strong bid to become SIU's all-time most productive 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. At Illinois State last Saturday he collected 93 yards which allowed him to move into fifth place ahead of Walter poole and Byron Mitchell.
Koutsos also took another major step . . . forward in his drive to some day becoming SIU's all-time leader in touchdowns scored, a title now held by departed receiver Cornell Craig who finished his career with 37. Koutsos added two at Illinois State which gave him a career total of 23 and allowed him to tie Walter Poole for fifth place. Karlton Carpenter is fourth with 28.
Teddy Sims, a senior transfer from Florida, is . . . continuing his strong bid to become SIU's defensive leader this season. After eight games, Sims has 68 tackles, 26 more than runnerup Dante Stovall's 42.
Once again the momentum-turner in SIU's loss at . . . Illinois State was a missed field goal, the same happening as at Southwest Missouri State the previous week. For the season, however, sophomore Scott Everhart has hit on eight of 14 attempts.
Another similarity in SIU's last two games . . . was its possession time as compared to opponents. At SMS last week the Salukis had possession for 35:00 to the Bears' 25:00. At Illinois State the Salukis had the ball for 34:22 to ISU's 25:38.
The Salukis also increased their lead . . . over opponents in the penalty department, one head coach Jan Quarless is becoming more concerned with each passing week. SIU has now been whistled for 77 infractions costing the Salukis 761 yards (95.1 ypg) as compared to opponent's 61 for 544 yards (68.0 ypg).
