Southern Illinois University
8-3
North Dakota St.
7-4
Football blanks North Dakota State, 9-0
11/19/2005 | 12:00:00 | Football
Nov. 19, 2005
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
Final Stats | Photo Gallery | Postgame Podcast
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois is most likely playoff bound after blanking North Dakota State Saturday, 9-0, on a brisk, windy day at McAndrew Stadium.
The Salukis (8-3) will find out for sure on Sunday when the I-AA Playoffs field of 16 is announced at 12 p.m. CT on ESPN News.
But judging by the smiles in the post-game press conference, the #11-ranked Salukis know they're in.
"I don't know how they can keep us out," Saluki head coach Jerry Kill said afterward. "If not, just go ahead and send me some roses, because you'll have to bury me."
Saluki quarterback Joel Sambursky was more diplomatic regarding the team's chances of making the playoffs for the third-straight year.
"With the quality of our conference and having a conference championship, I think we have a lot of evidence on our part that makes for a good case," he said.
Southern Illinois scored all nine of its points off of Bison miscues in the second quarter.
The Salukis' first score was set up by a botched North Dakota State punt. Punter Cory Vartanian fielded a bad snap on one bounce and could not get a kick off before he was tackled by Jamarquis Jordan at the NDSU 11.
Three plays later, Arkee Whitlock ran it in from one yard out for a Saluki touchdown. He finished as the game's leading rusher with 115 yards.
The extra point was no good, giving SIU a 6-0 lead.
Later in the second quarter, Saluki punter Craig Coffin hit a line-drive punt that went off the leg of Bison player David Earl. Craig Turner recovered the loose football for SIU at the North Dakota State 8.
Although, the Salukis were unable to move the ball, they settled for a Craig Coffin 26-yard field goal.
The windy playing conditions forced both teams to stick to short passes and the running game.
"This was an old-fashioned football game -- the way football should be played, in my opinion," Kill said. "It was a great game to be involved in."
Saluki linebacker Phillip Doyle said that SIU's front six is as good as any in the country, and a North Dakota State gameplan that attacked the strength of SIU's defense was destined to fail.
"We love playing that lock-down, smashmouth defense," Doyle said. "I think we proved today that if you want to run the A-gaps against us, get ready."
Southern's defense, which was allowing 243 passing yards per game, yielded only 112 yards through the air to the Bison. Safeties Frank Johnson and Marlon Heaston each recorded their first interception of the season.
"I think this was the best focus we've had on the Saluki defense in the past two or three years," Doyle said. "It was really fun to be a part of."
North Dakota State (7-4), ranked #20 in the nation in I-AA, had its best scoring opportunity on its first drive of the game. The Bison drove 67 yards in 10 plays, but quarterback Steve Walker's pass to A.J. Cooper fell incomplete on 4th-and-5 at the Saluki 13.
The shutout was Southern's first of the season and first since whitewashing Delware State, 49-0, last year.
"I guess we learned a little bit from (men's basketball coach) Chris Lowery -- that's how you play defense in basketball," Kill said. "If they don't score, they can't beat you."
The Salukis have lost in the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons, and Kill said his team is eager to get that monkey off its back.
"We're playing good football at the right time of the year," Kill said.
Team Stats
NDSU 0, SIU 6
SIU - Whitlock,Arkee 1 yd run (Coffin,Craig kickblocked), 3 plays, 11 yards, TOP 1:03
NDSU 0, SIU 9
SIU - Coffin,Craig 26 yd field goal 4 plays, 0 yards, TOP 0:25