Southern Illinois University
1-0
Southeast Missouri
0-1
Southern Illinois Defeats SEMO, 42-3
09/02/2004 | 12:00:00 | Football
Sept. 2, 2004
By Scott Mees
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill, -- After all the preseason excitement, the Southern Illinois University football team demonstrated that it was well worth the hype. Once the fumes from the pre-game motorcycle parade wore off, the Salukis mercilessly trounced their opponent until it was barely running on fumes itself. Auburn transfer Brandon Jacobs rushed for 106 yards and four touchdowns as the second-ranked Salukis crushed Southeast Missouri State, Thursday, 42-3 in I-AA college football at McAndrew Stadium. "I expected to win this game," Jacobs said. "We've been beating up on each other for three weeks straight, and it felt good to get out there and beat up on someone else." The Salukis should be the nation's top-ranked team next week, due to the fact that No. 1 Delaware dropped a home game to New Hampshire. Jacobs scored on runs of 1 yard in the first quarter, 2 yards in the second and third quarters, and a 29-yard TD in the final frame. Clearly, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound running back, was a man among boys on the football field. After a slow start, the Salukis exploded for 28 points in the second half. "I think we were conservative in the first," said SIU head coach Jerry Kill. "We've got a new offense. We were trying to see what we can and can't do." SIU made no major mistakes, and all four running backs carried the ball at least five times. "We didn't have any turnovers," Kill said. "We had a couple of dumb penalties, but overall it wasn't too bad." SIU amassed a remarkable 554 total yards on offense. "I'm pleasantly surprised at our offense," Kill said. "I didn't realize we got 500 yards on offense, but I guess you can't complain about that as a coach." It looked as though the Indians began to tire as the game went into the second half. "They probably don't have as much depth as we do," Kill said. "That may be a problem for us at Northern (Illinois)." The Salukis accumulated 320 rushing yards to only 67 for SEMO. "We have a very good defensive line," said SIU cornerback Yemi Akisanya. "Those guys do all the dirty work, and we get to come in and clean up." With SIU leading 21-3 midway through the third quarter, Akisanya elevated and picked off SEMO quarterback Andrew Goodenough in the end zone. The turnover basically ended the Indians' chances of getting back into the game. SIU superback Arkee Whitlock, a sophomore, added a pair of touchdowns late in the game. Whitlock scored on a 2-yard run with 4:08 left in the third quarter. Then, Whitlock caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Joel Sambursky with 11:39 remaining in the game. At that point, the Salukis led 35-3 and were well on their way to a victory. "Our offense could not gain any momentum because SIU had a great defense," said SEMO head coach Tim Billings. "That's why they have the ranking they have." Sambursky completed 13-of-18 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Brent Little caught five passes for 72 yards, and tight end Chris Kupec added three receptions for 69 yards. The Saluki quarterback didn't turn the ball over and made some nice throws to a handful of receivers. "Joel Sambursky is a special players," Kill said. "He makes coach Kill look awfully good." SIU's Terry Jackson, a Minnesota transfer, rushed for 48 yards on 10 carries. Goodenough threw for 183 yards on 21-of-35 with one interception. Starting SEMO running back David Taufoou only ran for 36 yards on eight carries. The attendance was 11,314 at McAndrew, undoubtedly one of the best opening game crowds in school history. "I think we had a great crowd for a Thursday night," Kill said. "We need to have the motorcycles every game. That should be a tradition." The Salukis travel to Dekalb to face Northern Illinois Sept. 11 at 3 p.m.
Team Stats
SEMO 0, SIU 7
SIU - Jacobs, Brandon 1 yd run (Coffin, Craig kick), 10 plays, 92 yards, TOP 3:55
SEMO 3, SIU 7
SEMO - KUTZ, Derek 38 yd field goal 13 plays, 71 yards, TOP 4:46
SEMO 3, SIU 14
SIU - Jacobs, Brandon 2 yd run (Coffin, Craig kick), 11 plays, 66 yards, TOP 5:34
SEMO 3, SIU 21
SIU - Jacobs, Brandon 2 yd run (Coffin, Craig kick), 8 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:38
SEMO 3, SIU 28
SIU - Whitlock, Arkee 2 yd run (Coffin, Craig kick), 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:23
SEMO 3, SIU 35
SIU - Whitlock, Arkee 22 yd pass from Sambursky, Joel (Coffin, Craig kick) 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:21
SEMO 3, SIU 42
SIU - Jacobs, Brandon 29 yd run (Coffin, Craig kick), 5 plays, 48 yards, TOP 2:24