Southern Illinois University
3-3 , 1-0
Western Illinois
4-1 , 0-1
Football Stuns #8 Western Illinois, 54-52
10/05/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football
Oct. 5, 2002
Box Score?|? Photo Gallery | Postgame Photos
CARBONDALE, Ill. - In an extraordinary, heart-stopping comeback, Southern Illinois rallied to beat Western Illinois, 54-52, on a Joel Sambursky six-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Robinson as time expired in the game.
Fans stormed the field as the Salukis (3-3, 1-0) stunned the #8-ranked Leathernecks (4-1, 0-1), snapping an 18-game losing streak to Western that dates back to 1983.
The improbable winning score culminated a 10-play, 80-yard drive that consumed the final 1:11 of the game. The biggest play of the drive was a 30-yard pass from Sambursky to Robinson on fourth-and-16 at the Southern 39.
That set up a 25-yard completion to Courtney Abbott to put the ball at the WIU 6 with nine seconds remaining. On first down, Sambursky lobbed an incomplete pass to Abbott in the corner of the endzone. On second down, he was flushed from the pocket and scrambled toward the right sideline, where he found Robinson in the corner of the endzone. Robinson stutter-stepped both feet in bounds, and a wild celebration ensued.
Before the final game-winning drive, it appeared Southern was headed to another heart-breaking defeat. The Salukis squandered a 48-31 lead in the fourth quarter as Russ Michna threw three touchdown passes to rally Western. His nine-yard touchdown pass to Stacy Coleman with 1:11 left appeared to put WIU safely ahead, 52-48.
In addition to 100 points, the game featured more than 1,000 yards of total offense. Saluki running back Muhammad Abdulqaadir had his third-straight 200-yard game with 261 yards on 31 carries and four touchdowns.
Postgame Quotes
Sambursky: "I think a lot of people grew up today and it was just a huge win. I just don't know what to say.
"We kept fighting and making adjustments throughout the game, and for it to pay off - it's unbeleivable.
On the last play _ "I went down, then the crowd went nuts, and it was all euphoria."
Abdulqaadir: "I got kind of scared at first with all the people. I've never been in a game like this. Very emotional.'' "We just kept pounding and pounding. Coach Kill told us to keep pounding them and eventually they would break.'' "They have unbelievable strength and talent. It seemed like they could score at will.'' On his total rushing yardage _ "Really?" That is definitely an achievement. On the 80-yard TD run _ "First of all, I was tired as hell. I had the ball, made a move, and then all the suden I was in the open field.''
K Scott Everhart: "It's is a good feeling. I can't really describe it.'' "He (Kill) told us there were two streaks that were intact (going into the game), our losing streak against Western Illinois, and that he has never lost a game on his dad's birthday."
Note: Kill's father is deceased.
On the big punt on a bad snap - "I just thought I'd get the ball off before he gets to me'. I got annhialated when he did get to me, but it worked out. I was just glad to help my team out and help us get a win.''
Robinson: On the game-winner "I was on a bow route, and I saw Joel starting to run the ball, so I just drifted back and he hit me. "It was a great team win. Our coaches called a perfect game.''
Head Coach Jerry Kill:
"All I can say is that this is all of the fans and media that have been through all the frustration over the years, we owe you guys. We haven't been doing our jobs. Today we did our jobs - this one is for you baby.
"If you are a fan, it was a heck of a football game. If you are a coach it was stresful."
"We tried to trick them a little bit. They are bigger and stronger than us."
"We just did something that hasn't been done in 18 years. We made history.
Team Stats
WIU 7, SIU 0
WIU - R.J. Luke 39 yd pass from Russ Michna (Justin Langan kick) 10 plays, 77 yards, TOP 4:09
WIU 7, SIU 7
SIU - Mo Abdulqaadir 1 yd run (Scott Everhart kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:30
WIU 7, SIU 14
SIU - Mo Abdulqaadir 1 yd run (Scott Everhart kick), 6 plays, 32 yards, TOP 1:48
WIU 7, SIU 21
SIU - B. Robinson 13 yd pass from Joel Sambursky (Scott Everhart kick) 1 plays, 8 yards, TOP 0:25
WIU 14, SIU 21
WIU - Attley Lawson 1 yd run (Justin Langan kick), 16 plays, 81 yards, TOP 5:28
WIU 14, SIU 28
SIU - Mo Abdulqaadir 1 yd run (Scott Everhart kick), 6 plays, 28 yards, TOP 3:14
WIU 14, SIU 31
SIU - Scott Everhart 37 yd field goal 7 plays, 26 yards, TOP 2:42
WIU 21, SIU 31
WIU - Attley Lawson 3 yd run (Justin Langan kick), 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:41
WIU 21, SIU 34
SIU - Scott Everhart 48 yd field goal 6 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:41
WIU 28, SIU 34
WIU - Stacy Coleman 9 yd pass from Russ Michna (Justin Langan kick) 9 plays, 81 yards, TOP 4:26
WIU 31, SIU 34
WIU - Justin Langan 23 yd field goal 12 plays, 69 yards, TOP 5:16
WIU 31, SIU 41
SIU - Brent Little 27 yd pass from Joel Sambursky (Scott Everhart kick) 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:53
WIU 31, SIU 48
SIU - Mo Abdulqaadir 80 yd run (Scott Everhart kick), 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:15
WIU 38, SIU 48
WIU - R.J. Luke 40 yd pass from Russ Michna (Justin Langan kick) 6 plays, 85 yards, TOP 1:17
WIU 45, SIU 48
WIU - R.J. Luke 5 yd pass from Russ Michna (Justin Langan kick) 3 plays, 76 yards, TOP 0:46
WIU 52, SIU 48
WIU - Stacy Coleman 9 yd pass from Russ Michna (Justin Langan kick) 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 1:47
WIU 52, SIU 54
SIU - B. Robinson 6 yd pass from Joel Sambursky () 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:11