Football Wins MVFC Opener, 24-14

Saturday, September 26

Carbondale, Ill.

6:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

2-2 , 1-0

North Dakota St.

1-3 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

North Dakota State

Southern Illinois

09/26/2009 | 12:00:00 | Football

Box Score

Sept. 26, 2009

By Jason Clay
www.SIUSalukis.com

Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Behind a strong defensive effort, No. 8 Southern Illinois was able to win its eighth-straight Missouri Valley Football Conference opener with a 24-14 victory over North Dakota State, Saturday at McAndrew Stadium.

The two teams came into the game ranked in the top six nationally in scoring offense, but it was a clean game controlled by defense and field position.

The Salukis (2-1, 1-0 MVFC) held the Bison (1-3, 0-1) to just 14 points after they had averaged 40.3 points coming into the game. Senior linebacker Kyle Walker had three of SIU's four sacks in the game. He entered the contest with just two career sacks.

North Dakota State only managed just 14 points off of its 324 yards of total offense. Southern Illinois never trailed in the game and kept the Bison at bay, despite having the ball for 15 minutes less than NDSU had it.

"They were having success moving the ball, but we didn't give up any big plays," head coach Dale Lennon said. "Overall, I'm very proud of our defense and how they kept their composure. Things didn't necessarily go our way, but our guys just hung in there. It was a well played game on both sides."

The Saluki special teams had a big hand in the victory. Punter Scott Ravanesi backed the Bison back up towards their goal line all night long. He averaged 46.4 yards on eight punts and three were downed inside the NDSU 20-yard line. Kicker Kyle Dougherty added a 44-yard field goal in the first half.

The nation's top two rushers in terms of yards per game were featured Saturday. NDSU's Pat Paschall finished with 150 yards rushing on 28 carries, but never found the end zone. SIU's Deji Karim had 96 of his 127 yards in the second half and scored one touchdown.

His 35-yard run early in the fourth quarter set up SIU's last touchdown, a seven-yard Chris Dieker to Joe Allaria pass.

Dieker finished with 186 yards on 10-of-23 passing with two TDs. His 61-yard pass to Jeff Evans early in the second quarter started the scoring Saturday.

Allaria led all receivers in the game with six catches for 90 yards and that one score.

Senior linebacker Brandin Jordan and junior free safety Mike McElroy tied for a game-high 10 tackles. Jordan recorded his 300th career tackle Saturday and became the 13th Saluki ever to do so. SIU senior safety Marty Rodgers had an interception late in the fourth quarter, which was the only turnover in the game.

The first quarter was a scoreless one, as the two potent offensives were subdued with the sturdy defense. SIU and North Dakota State had just 57 and 56 yards, respectivel y, in the first 15 minutes and Dieker completed just 2-of-8 passes.

However, Dieker found his mark on SIU's first drive of the second quarter. That's where he completed both of his passes that he capped off with that 61-yard touchdown pass to Evans, giving the Salukis a 7-0 lead.

The Bison countered with a methodical, 10-play 60-yard drive. Running back D.J. McNorton scored on a one-yard run that tied the game up at seven.

Dougherty would give the Salukis a 10-7 lead going into the locker room with his 44-yard field goal with 2:51 to play.

Midway through the third quarter, Karim gave Southern Illinois a 10-point cushion with his 23-yard touchdown run. That rushing touchdown was his third of the season.

Early in the fourth quarter after a 13-play Bison drive, the Salukis blocked a 25-yard Shawn Bibeau field goal. However, SIU had touched the ball past the line of scrimmage, making the ball live and North Dakota State offensive lineman Gerry Ebel recovered it in the end zone for a Bison touchdown at 13:19.

The play was initially ruled a touchback, but after the officials huddled together, they confirmed the ball was touched past the line of scrimmage and thus a touchdown, cutting the SIU lead down to three.

Southern Illinois was not fazed by the strange turn of events and answered with a touchdown at 8:16. The Salukis drove 54 yards on five plays, with help from a Karim 35-yard run. Dieker found Allaria in the flat who ran it seven yards for the touchdown.

As was the theme in the game, SIU did not give up any big plays and shut down the Bison the rest of the way to secure the victory. Rodgers' interception on a tipped pass at 6:38 on the Saluki 19-yard line squashed the last good chance NDSU had to come from behind.

Southern Illinois hits the road next weekend to face Western Illinois, Saturday, Oct. 3 in Macomb, Ill. The game is televised by the Missouri Valley Football Conference and is the FCS national Radio Game of the Week.