Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Looks To Maintain No. 1 Ranking This Weekend
10/28/2004 | 12:00:00 | Football
By Scott Mees
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University football team returns home Saturday - riding a six-game winning streak - to take on Gateway Conference rival Western Illinois at 6 p.m.
The Salukis (7-1, 4-0) remain the top-ranked team in Division I-AA and will attempt to win their 11th consecutive home game, against the Leathernecks (4-4, 2-2). Northern Iowa defeated WIU 36-13 last week at the UNI-Dome. SIU beat SMS on the road 27-3 after racking up 500 yards of total offense.
"If you're going to win in the conference you have to win the home games," said SIU head coach Jerry Kill. "We've got a nice streak going at home, and we certainly want to continue it."
Even though the Salukis are the top-ranked team in the nation, Kill wants to maintain that edge by taking one game at a time.
"I've never been comfortable in my life," Kill said. "When you get comfortable that's when you get fired."
Kill is pleased with the way the team is mixing together as it enters the final third of the regular season.
"I think our chemistry has developed and is very good," Kill said. "I think we're coming together as a team at a good time."
Western Illinois averages 35.8 points per game, but it gives up 33. SIU averages just under 40 points per contest while it allows only 10.8 points a game. The Leatherneck defense also allows 415 yards per game and has allowed at least 30 points in six of its eight games.
"We want their defense to be preparing for us in a lot of ways," said SIU quarterback Joel Sambursky. "We try to exploit the weaknesses of any defense, and that's what we're going to try to do this week."
Running back Travis Glasford has rushed for 933 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead WIU this season. Glasford also leads the team in receiving with 39 receptions for 441 yards.
WIU quarterback Steve LaFalce is 96-for-172 with 12 TD and nine interceptions in 2004. The sophomore has thrown for 1,441 yards. Split end James Norris and flanker Reggie Gray have 28 and 27 catches respectively this year. Norris has scored five TD and nets 20 yards per reception.
Free safety Michael Woods and cornerback Marlon McLaughlin have four interceptions apiece for WIU, and eight other Leathernecks have picked off passes. Linebackers Wyatt Green (6-0, 210) and Drew Kocsis (6-2, 235) have made 71 and 60 tackles respectively this season.
Sambursky is sixth in the nation in passing efficiency (161.07) with 10 TD and just three interceptions. Sambursky is 92-of-147 with 1,402 passing yards. Brent Little - despite being shutout at SMS - continues to lead SIU in receiving with 22 receptions for 416 yards. Little and Quorey Payne have each scored four receiving TD for the Salukis.
Arkee Whitlock and Brandon Jacobs are the Gateway's most dominant offensive force this year. Whitlock leads Southern with 720 yards, and Jacobs has added 564. Both men have scored 10 TD apiece on the ground. Terry Jackson's status for this weekend's game remains a question mark. The senior transfer did not play at SMS due to injury.
Defensive tackle Jeff Jones and backup linebacker Phillip Doyle lead Southern with four sacks each. Backup defensive tackle Mark Philipp has three sacks as well. Linebacker Royal Whitaker has recorded 67 tackles for SIU, and safety Frank Johnson is second with 53.
The SIU defense has maintained its dominance inside the red zone for the entire season. Opposing teams have only scored three TD in 16 trips inside the Salukis' 20-yard-line. The defense remains the No. 2 team in the country in fewest points allowed.
Head coach Don Patterson is 45-22 at Western Illinois, and SIU's Jerry Kill is 22-21 in his fourth season. Kill has a record of 17-3 since the beginning of the 2003 season at SIU.
"I feel good about where we're at in this program, but I think we'll continue to try to get better," Kill said.
The Salukis are in charge of how their season turns out. A win over Western Illinois and the team will be on the verge of clinching at least a share of the Gateway Conference title.
"The great thing is that we control our destiny," Sambursky said. "We're in a good situation right now, and we don't need (other teams) to lose.
"We just need to win out, and I think every game is going to be competitive," Sambursky said.
SIU will travel to Illinois State Nov. 6 and finish the season with a home game against Indiana State on Nov. 13.
