Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Prepares for West Virginia Tech Game Without Koutsos
09/16/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football
Sept. 16, 2002
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Southern Illinois (1-2) will host West Virginia Tech (1-2) Saturday night at 7 p.m. at McAndrew Stadium. The Salukis will be without RB Tom Koutsos, who broke his right wrist Saturday against Murray State.
Koutsos Breaks Wrist
Payton Award finalist Tom Koutsos (5-11, 220, Sr.) broke his wrist on the second play of the game Saturday against Murray State. He will be evaluated by a specialist on Monday to determine whether or not he can return this season.
Koutsos Will Be Missed
To say Koutsos presence will be missed would be an understatement. He is the school's career rushing leader with 3,747 yards and is third all-time in Gateway rushing, just 485 yards shy of the conference record. In addition to holding every major rushing record at Southern, his six touchdowns in SIU's first two games made him the school's career touchdowns leader.
Abdulqaadir Looks to Fill Big Shoes
Sidelined throughout two-a-days with a hamstring injury, RB Mo Abdulqaadir (5-7, 190, Jr.) is healthy just in time to take the place of Koutsos. A dominating performer at Coffeyville Community College, he was being recruited by Division I schools such as Washington State until he injured a knee in the seventh game last season. He missed the rest of the season and subsequently signed with SIU. Abdulqaadir had an impressive showing against Murray State with 168 yards on 27 carries, a 6.2 yard average. On the first play after Koutsos left with an injury, Abdulqaadir raced 63 yards to the MSU five yardline. He scored on the next play. His 168 yards were the most by an SIU back since Koutsos ran for 168 yards against Northern Iowa on Sept. 16, 2000.
Sambursky Yet to Throw Interception
Redshirt freshman Joel Sambursky (6-0, 185, Fr.) emerged as the Salukis' starting quarterback after winning the job over fellow redshirt freshman Stanley Bryant (6-1, 190, Fr.). In three games, he has guided the Salukis to more than 1,000 yards of total offense and 116 points. He is also yet to throw an interception in 29 pass attempts.
Most Rushing Yards in Three Years
The team's 292 rushing yards against Murray State Saturday were the most by an SIU offense since Nov. 20, 1999, when the Saluki offense piled up 369 rushing yards against Western Kentucky. Southern Illinois has been extremely productive in the running game this season, averaging 265.7 yards per game and 5.9 yards per carry.
Kellen Allen Makes Debut
WR Kellen Allen (6-1, 185, Fr.) played in a real football game for the first time in four years when he started at wideout for SIU on Saturday. Allen is a redshirt freshman who starred in high school as a track athlete. However, he has not played organized football since his sophomore year of high school. He missed the first two games of 2002 with a pulled hamstring. Allen caught one pass for four yards against MSU.
New Guards
The coaching staff made some changes to the starting offensive line, inserting Zach Schumacher (6-2, 260, Fr.) and Matt Miller (6-4, 280, So.) into the lineup at left and right guard. Schumacher is a walk-on from nearby Carterville H.S.
Roster Note
Of the 67 players who have played for the Salukis this year, 36 did not play for SIU last year.
Everhart Fourth in Nation in Punting
K Scott Everhart (6-1, 190, Sr.) has assumed both the kicking and punting duties after K Craig Coffin (6-0, 210, Fr.) broke his kicking toe last week during practice. Prior to Coffin's injury, Everhart was the starting punter and split the kicking chores with Coffin. Everhart, who had not punted since his freshman year, has done an extraordinary job in that role this season. He is averaging 43.9 yards per punt and the Salukis are fourth in the nation in punting.
Moreland Takes Charge of Secondary
S Alexis Moreland (6-1, 200, So.), a preseason All-Gateway pick, has lived up to his billing with a team-high 27 tackles in the first three games. He also has a pair of pass break-ups. Moreland is coming off a career-high 13 tackle performance against Murray State.
Everhart Nears Career FG Record
Everhart, who hit a career-long 47 yarder against Murray State, needs just two field goals to become the school's career record holder.
SIU Field Goals in a Career
1. Ron Miller, 1983-86 32
1. Paul Molla, 1978-81 32
3. Scott Everhart, 1999-Present 31
Salukis Versus Division II
When Southern Illinois hosts West Virginia Tech Saturday, it will play its second Division II opponent of the season and fifth since joining the Division IAA ranks in 1983.
