Southern Illinois University
1-0
Southeast Missouri
0-1
Football Handles Southeast Missouri State, 58-23
09/01/2005 | 12:00:00 | Football
Sept. 1, 2005
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.-Southern Illinois continued its recent football dominance over Southeast Missouri State with a 58-23 victory at Houck Stadium Thursday night. The #5-ranked Salukis have won the last three meetings against the Redhawks by a combined total of 128-33.
Saluki quarterback Joel Sambursky showed why he is a leading candidate for the Payton Award, which goes to the nation's best I-AA player. The senior passed for a career-high 276 yards and also surpassed Rick Johnson to become the school's career passing leader with 5,475 yards.
Special teams were a key for Southern Illinois (1-0) early in the game, as it blocked two, first quarter punts. Braden Jones got the first block, allowing teammate A.J. Wallace to scoop up the football and run 19 yards for a score to give Southern a 10-0 lead. Brad Brachear blocked the other punt, though it did not result in points for SIU.
"We really work hard in special teams, and Coach (Jay) Sawvel has probably set the record (for blocked punts) since he has been here," Saluki coach Jerry Kill said. "I don't know how many punts we have blocked in the past five years, but it is unbelievable. He has a good scheme, and the players believe in it, and they make plays.
Sandwiched between a pair of TD passes from Sambursky to Kellen Allen was yet another SEMO special teams miscue. After the Redhawks' D'Eldrick Taylor mis-handled a fake punt attempt, Jones recovered for the Salukis and took it 26 yards for a touchdown.
Southern Illinois found itself comfortably ahead, 37-3, with four minutes left in the first half.
Maybe, the Salukis were too comfortable.
The Redhawks rallied for a pair of touchdowns and trailed 37-17 after Monroe Hicks returned a Sambursky interception 47 yards for a score with 12:25 to go in the third quarter.
"It's human nature to relax a little bit," Sambursky admitted. "But we needed to hit adversity tonight, and I'm glad we did. We weren't taking SEMO lightly at all. We have tons of respect for their coaches and program."
Sambursky completed 20-of-33 passes, but was disappointed with his one interception and the team's three turnovers on the evening.
"We can't turn the ball over, obviously," he said. "But it is going to be fun to watch our offense, and I'm excited about the potential of our offense. We've just got to be consistent."
The Salukis put the game away by scoring three-straight fourth-quarter touchdowns. The first one came on an Arkee Whitlock one-yard plunge. He finished with a game-high 126 yards. Antione Jackson added a six-yard TD scamper, and back-up quarterback Nick Hill came off the bench to throw a pretty, 57-yard pass to Ryan Beeler. Although Beeler fumbled the ball, teammate Quorey Payne picked up the pigskin and carried it the last 11 yards for the score.
"I've said all along that this team is going to get better as the year goes on, and we have a lot of room for improvement," Kill said. "Now we have some film, and we can evaluate where we are at."
The Salukis still trail in the all-time series against SEMO, 36-30-8, but have won three-straight.
"I think (the Redhawks) are a much better football team than they were a year ago, there is no question about that," Kill said. "They have some athletes. I think our kids are finding ways to win, and they believe they can make plays, and that is a good thing."
Team Stats
SIU 3, SEMO 0
SIU - Coffin,Craig 25 yd field goal 10 plays, 50 yards, TOP 4:23
SIU 10, SEMO 0
SIU - Wallace, A.J. 19 yd punt return (Coffin,Craig kick)
SIU 16, SEMO 0
SIU - Jackson,Antione 3 yd run (Coffin,Craig kickfailed), 11 plays, 60 yards, TOP 4:53
SIU 23, SEMO 0
SIU - Allen,Kellen 14 yd pass from Sambursky,Joel (Coffin,Craig kick) 1 plays, 14 yards, TOP 0:04
SIU 23, SEMO 3
SEMO - SCHERMANN, Coli 32 yd field goal 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:34
SIU 30, SEMO 3
SIU - Jones, Braden 26 yd fumble recovery (Coffin,Craig kick)
SIU 37, SEMO 3
SIU - Allen,Kellen 8 yd pass from Sambursky,Joel (Coffin,Craig kick) 7 plays, 46 yards, TOP 2:18
SIU 37, SEMO 10
SEMO - MILCIC, T.J. 71 yd pass from HALEY, Mike (SCHERMANN, Coli kick) 3 plays, 79 yards, TOP 1:09
SIU 37, SEMO 17
SEMO - HICKS, Monroe 47 yd interception (SCHERMANN, Coli kick)
SIU 44, SEMO 17
SIU - Whitlock,Arkee 1 yd run (Coffin,Craig kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:42
SIU 51, SEMO 17
SIU - Jackson,Antione 6 yd run (Coffin,Craig kick), 11 plays, 88 yards, TOP 4:55
SIU 58, SEMO 17
SIU - Payne,Quorey 11 yd pass from Hill,Nick (Coffin,Craig kick) 3 plays, 77 yards, TOP 0:57
SIU 58, SEMO 23
SEMO - NESSMITH, Scott 24 yd pass from BALLATORE, Kevi (SCHERMANN, Coli kickblocked) 10 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:54