Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Set To Host E. Washington In Playoff
11/25/2004 | 12:00:00 | Football
Nov. 25, 2004
By Scott Mees
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - All of the rankings, awards and small talk will be put to rest Saturday when top-ranked Southern Illinois University hosts
The kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at McAndrew Stadium, and it is the first home playoff game for SIU in 21 years. The contest also features two of the nation's preeminent quarterbacks - EWU's Erik Meyer and SIU's Joel Sambursky.
Meyer - the nation's top-rated passer - threw 28 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in the 2004 regular season. The junior QB racked up 3,037 passing yards and completed 67.2-percent of his attempts. Meyer led the country with a 175.5 quarterback rating.
Sambursky - with a 175.3 passer rating - tossed 19 TDs and only four picks for the Salukis (10-1). The junior threw for 2,061 passing yards and had a 63.1 completion percentage.
The Eagles (8-3) enter the playoffs out of the Big Sky Conference, where they were co-champs with
"They are without question probably the most complete football team that we will have seen this year," Wulff said. "And, one of the better teams we have seen on film in the past few years."
EWU featured 10 players on the Big Sky All-Conference Teams this season. Obviously, Meyer was at the top of the list, but his primary target, wide receiver Eric Kimble, earned a spot as well. Kimble caught 68 passes for 1,207 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Eagles.
Running back Darius
The Saluki running back duo of senior Brandon Jacobs and sophomore Arkee Whitlock combined for 1,700 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. Their individual numbers are almost identical and either player would be the featured back on most other teams in the country. Also, both players sat out the second halves of numerous Saluki wins this season due to the one-sided nature of those football games.
"We need to stop the run; there is no question about it," Wulff said. "But, we also have to be very leery of their passing game because they are just very talented there.
"They have the ability to hit you so many ways."
Sambursky's principal receiver is Brent Little - who caught 31 passes for 760 yards. Little is explosively fast once he catches the ball and can simply outrun most defensive backs. The senior averaged 24.5 yards per catch this year.
The key for SIU could end up being "Big Play" Quorey Payne. The junior made 19 receptions for 458 yards and six TDs - but he also averaged 24 yards per catch. Almost one third of Payne's catches end up going for touchdowns - the swift receiver also has that burst of speed that allows him to blow by most defensive backs.
EWU defensive end Tom Finnerty (6-1, 250) leads the team with six sacks. Linebacker Joey Cwik comes in second with five sacks. Both players were honored by the Big Sky Conference for their 2004 performances. The Eagle secondary features three all-conference selections in Isaiah Trufant (CB), Ryan Phillips (CB) and Brandon Keeler (S). Phillips picked off five passes this season while Trufant added three interceptions.
The Saluki defense features All-American safety Alexis Moreland. The senior intercepted five passes and recovered a pair of fumbles for SIU. Linebacker Royal Whitaker led all Salukis with 84 tackles during the regular season, followed by safety Frank Johnson with 68. SIU's defensive line has played well all season and will attempt to apply pressure to EWU's Meyer.
The home team usually wins about 80 percent of home playoff games, but last season three out of eight road teams won first-round games. The most eye-opening upset was Northern Arizona's demolishing of top-seeded
The Salukis will look to jump out on top as they have in most contests this season, but
"We feel like we have that kind of capability to catch up on people if we need to," Wulff said. "We also have to do something on offense to try to neutralize their explosive power on offense."
The winner of the playoff game will meet up with either Western Kentucky or Sam Houston State.
