Southern Illinois University
5-1 , 2-0
Youngstown St.
2-4 , 0-2
Football Tramples Youngstown State, 37-2
10/09/2004 | 12:00:00 | Football
Oct. 9, 2004
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The balance of power in the Gateway Conference has shifted in 2004 and is now tilting due south.
Southern Illinois paid no mind to the four National Championship flags whipping in the wind atop Stambaugh Stadium as it humbled a tradition-rich Youngstown State program, 37-2, Saturday night.
The biggest difference between the two teams was speed. The #1-ranked Salukis have it in abundance and used it to generate big play after big play. Four of Southern's touchdowns came from 45 yards or longer.
SIU's All-American safety Alexis Moreland set the tone for the game in the first quarter when he picked off a Tom Zetts pass and raced 95 yards for a score. It was the longest interception return by an SIU player in 40 years and the second-longest in school history.
"We're very fortunate to have some young kids with great athletic ability," Saluki head coach Jerry Kill said. "Alexis made a big play that got the game going in the right direction."
Later in the first quarter, fullback Craig Turner caught a screen pass from Joel Sambursky and, in the blink of an eye, motored through the secondary and into the endzone for a 56-yard touchdown. The true freshman has scored four touchdowns in the last three games, and all of them have been long-distance efforts.
"Offensively we have some skill players who can make some plays right now," Kill said. "We're very fortunate to have them, and that's why we're having success."
Youngstown, long known as a smash-mouth, Midwestern football team, could muster little offense. The Saluki defense was relentless in its pressure and pursuit, holding YSU to 26 rushing yards on 19 carries in the first half.
The Penguins' passing game didn't fare much better. With the Salukis leading 14-0 early in the second quarter, defensive tackle Mark Philipp sacked Zetts in the endzone for a safety. It was one of four sacks in the game for SIU's defense.
"Scoring two points was awesome," Philipp said. "I was excited to do that. The last time I scored was in high school."
Any doubts about the eventual outcome of the contest were laid to rest when the Salukis struck for two more big plays before halftime. On second-and-14 from the YSU 47, Sambursky hit a streaking Brent Little down the right sideline. Little turned on a burst of speed to outrun two defenders for a score that put SIU ahead 23-0 with 9:07 remaining before halftime.
After Youngstown's Nick Terracina missed a 43-yard field goal with 2:19 left, the Salukis needed just three plays to put more points on the board. Sambursky completed a 21-yard pass to Kellen Allen, which set up a 49-yard touchdown scamper by Arkee Whitlock.
The second half saw fewer fireworks, as Saluki coach Jerry Kill substituted liberally. Southern's hopes for a shutout were dashed when Sambursky was flagged for intentional grounding in the Saluki endzone. But SIU tacked on another score when Jon Cairns came off the bench to throw a 19-yard TD pass to walk-on receiver Alan Turner.
SIU dominated not just the scoreboard, but also the stats sheet. The Salukis outgained the Penguins, 468-204, and SIU averaged a stunning 7.2 yards per offensive play.
The Salukis (5-1, 2-0) are tied for first place with #6-ranked Western Kentucky and will host the Hilltoppers next week in a critical conference showdown. Youngstown State dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the Gateway.
Team Stats
SIU 7, YSU 0
SIU - Alexis Moreland 95 yd interception (Craig Coffin kick)
SIU 14, YSU 0
SIU - Craig Turner 56 yd pass from Joel Sambursky (Craig Coffin kick) 8 plays, 84 yards, TOP 5:08
SIU 16, YSU 0
SIU - TEAM 3 yd safety
SIU 23, YSU 0
SIU - Brent Little 47 yd pass from Joel Sambursky (Craig Coffin kick) 4 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:07
SIU 30, YSU 0
SIU - Arkee Whitlock 49 yd run (Craig Coffin kick), 3 plays, 74 yards, TOP 0:58
SIU 30, YSU 2
YSU - TEAM 0 yd safety
SIU 37, YSU 2
SIU - Alan Turner 19 yd pass from Jon Cairns (Craig Coffin kick) 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:09