SIU vs. NDSU: Game Notes & Links

10/27/2015 | 12:00:00 | Football

Oct. 27, 2015

RV Southern Illinois (3-4, 2-2 MVFC) vs. No. 6 North Dakota State (5-2, 3-1 MVFC)
Date & Time	Oct. 31, 2015 \| 2 p.m. CT
Location	Carbondale, Ill. \| Saluki Stadium (15,000, FieldTurf) \| Weather
Tickets	SIUSalukis.com \| 877-SALUKIS \| Full Promotional List
Video Stream	ESPN3 with Brian Shawn (play-by-play), Lee Timmerman (analysis) and Beth Hoole (sideline)
Radio	Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis (play-by-play), Gene Green (analysis) and Connor James (analysis)
Audio Stream	Saluki All-Access
Live Stats	GameTracker
Southern Illinois	Game Notes \| Stats \| Media Guide (PDF)
North Dakota State	Game Notes \| Stats
MVFC	Weekly Notes \| Stats
All-Time Series	NDSU leads, 6-3 \| In Carbondale: SIU leads, 3-2 \| Streak: NDSU W5 \| Last Meeting: NDSU 38, SIU 10 (10/11/14)
Social Media	@SIU_Football \| @SIUSalukis \| Saluki Football

QUICK HITS

SIU hosts four-time defending national champion North Dakota State on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT in Saluki Stadium
SIU is 3-0 at home this year. Southern has won eight of its last 10 home games.
Last week, Mark Iannotti broke a school record for career total offense among two-year players.
SIU leads the nation in blocked kicks with seven, two more than anyone else in the FCS. Brandon Williams and Chase Allen are tied for the nation's lead with three blocked kicks apiece.
The Salukis already have 53 explosive plays through seven games in 2015 (plays of 20+ yards, kick returns of 35+ yards). That's already more than SIU had in all of 2014 (51 in 12 games). Southern has 13 plays of 50+ yards this year (nine for touchdowns).

SALUKIS HOST NO. 6 NORTH DAKOTA STATE

Southern Illinois hosts No. 6 North Dakota State on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. CT in Saluki Stadium. The game will be streamed through ESPN3.
NDSU has won five-straight in the series. SIU's last win over the Bison was in 2009.
This is the first time since 2010 that NDSU has not been ranked in the top-5 nationally when SIU faced the Bison.
The Salukis are 3-0 at home this year and have won eight of their last 10 games in Saluki Stadium.
Statistically, SIU has the top-ranked offense in the MVFC, while NDSU has the top-ranked defense.
Offensively, SIU leads the league in scoring, rushing, passing, total offense, third-down conversions and sacks allowed. Defensively, NDSU leads the league in rushing, total defense, and opponent third-down conversions.

PROMOTIONS

Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day. All SIU Faculty & Staff can receive one free ticket to the game by presenting their University employee ID. Additional tickets for family members are available for just $8 for adults and $6 for children. These tickets will provide seating in the south endzone sections. Please order tickets by visiting the SIU Ticket Office at the SIU Arena box office before the day of the game!
Military Appreciation Game
All military service men and women as well as veterans will receive free admission to the game. Additional tickets for family or friends can be purchased at a discounted price of just $8.
A Veterans Appreciation Tailgate will occur before the game from 10 a.m. - 2p.m. Shawnee Detachment 812 Marine Corps League, in conjunction with Saluki Athletics, is hosting a free tailgate for military veterans and active duty military members. Free food and beverages will be available to these individuals.
Military vehicles, both past and present will be on display during the tailgate. Stop by to take an up-close look.
A series of in-game recognitions and highlights surrounding military affiliated SIU students and faculty will take place. Please help us honor and recognize these individuals throughout the game.
A climbing wall will be present in the student tailgate area, hosted by the Veterans Adventure Programs of Touch of Nature. The climbing wall is open to all participants.
A flyover will take place before kickoff. Veterans pilots will take to the sky to honor America during the National Anthem.
The first 1,000 fans to enter Saluki Stadium will receive mini American Flags compliments of Saluki Athletics.
Children are encouraged to wear their costumes and go trick-or-treating in the Saluki Row and general tailgate areas prior to the game. Contest for best costume!
Scout Day
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts can attend the game for the discounted price of $8. Pregame tailgate and games included. Each scout in attendance will receive a SIU Scout Day patch. For more information please contact Travis Holtkamp at (618) 453-8714.

SIU TAKES DOWN NO. 17 YOUNGSTOWN STATE IN OVERTIME

Southern Illinois got its second ranked win over the year with a 38-31 win over Youngstown State in overtime last weekend.
SIU rallied from an 11 point deficit with less than six minutes remaining to force overtime.
The 'Guins entered that game with the MVFC's top defense in terms of yards allowed. SIU had 459 yards against a YSU defense that was allowing fewer than 300 yards per game.
YSU was leading the nation in pass defense, giving up just 91 yards per game through six games. SIU quarterback Mark Iannotti passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns on the Penguins.
Youngstown was averaging nearly five sacks per game, but SIU limited the 'Guins to just one.
YSU's sack broke an SIU streak of four-straight games without allowing a sack. SIU went more than 250 game minutes and 144 pass attempts between sacks allowed.

IANNOTTI WITH TOP TWO TOTAL OFFENSE GAMES IN SCHOOL HISTORY

Southern Illinois quarterback Mark Iannotti has the top two total offense games in school history.
Before this season, the school record for total offense was 443 yards by Nick Hill in 2007. Iannotti had 517 yards at Indiana and 471 yards at Indiana State.
Iannotti's 517 yards at Indiana rank second in MVFC history, and his 471 last week rank 10th in MVFC history. He is the only player with two of the top-10 total offense games in MVFC history.
In both games, Iannotti threw for more than 400 yards. Before this season, that feat had only been accomplished once (Hill in '07 vs. UNI).
Iannotti threw for 427 yards at Indiana State, just nine yards shy of Hill's school record.
Iannotti's 427 yards at INS were the most in the MVFC since 2012.
Iannotti's total offense and passing yardage totals from both games are the top two such games in the MVFC this year.

COMFORT OF HOME

Saluki Stadium opened in 2010 with a 70-7 win over Quincy. SIU went 4-2 at home that year, but the Salukis were 7-9 at home from 2011-13.
SIU won the final home game of the 2013 season, 24-17 over Illinois State. Starting with that game, the Salukis are 8-2 in Saluki Stadium, including a 3-0 mark this year.
Six of SIU's seven home wins since the start of the 2014 season have been by at least 17 points. In that span, SIU has wins of 45, 27, 31, and 47 points. Last week's seven-point overtime win over Youngstown State was the lone exception.
SIU is 18-13 all-time in Saluki Stadium (opened in 2010).

O-LINE DOING WORK

FEWEST SACKS ALLOWED SINCE 2013
TEAM	'13	'14	'15	TOT
Southern Illinois	14	17	4	35
Youngstown State	16	14	12	42
Western Illinois	21	20	5	46
North Dakota State	18	20	8	46
Missouri State	16	29	11	56
Northern Iowa	16	23	22	61
Illinois State	25	22	17	64
South Dakota	21	37	13	71
South Dakota State	47	34	20	101
Indiana State	45	40	29	114

The Southern Illinois offensive line has set the table for the explosive offensive numbers.
SIU's offensive line did not allow a sack in four-straight games earlier this year (vs. Liberty, @WIU, vs. MSU, @INS). That streak was snapped when Youngstown State got one sack on SIU.
SIU has allowed just four sacks all season. That leads the MVFC and ranks fourth nationally.
SIU has allowed the fewest sacks in the MVFC since assistant head coach Bill O'Boyle took over as the offensive line coach.
Since O'Boyle has been SIU's line coach (before 2013 season), the Salukis have given up 35 sacks.
The unit also paves the way for SIU's league-leading rushing attack (222.7 yards per game on the ground).
Both of SIU's tackles have earned MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors this season.
Left tackle Austin Olsen earned his first career MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week honor after SIU posted 673 yards of total offense vs. Missouri State.
Right tackle Ethan Wirth earned his second career MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week honor after SIU put up 659 yards of total offense at Indiana in the season opener.

SALUKI OFFENSE AMONG NATION'S BEST

SALUKI OFFENSE
STAT	MVFC	NAT'L
Completion percentage (.695)	1st	2nd
Fewest sacks allowed (4)	1st	4th
Total Offense (531.6 ypg)	1st	5th
3rd-Down Conversions (.510)	1st	7th
First Downs (180)	1st	7th
Passing Efficiency (163.44)	2nd	8th
Passing Offense (308.9 ypg)	1st	8th
Scoring Offense (41.7 ppg)	1st	9th
Rushing Offense (222.7 ypg)	1st	17th

The Southern Illinois offense leads the conference in every major statistical category.
The 2015 Salukis own two of the top four yardage games in school history. SIU had 659 yards of total offense at Indiana (4th) and 673 yards of total offense vs. Missouri State (3rd).
SIU has two of the top 15 total offense marks this season in the FCS. The only other schools with two of the top 15 are James Madison and Portland State.
SIU has recorded at least 200 yards of total offense in 11 of 12 halves this year, including 394 yards of total offense in the first half at Indiana and 408 in the first half vs. Missouri State.

YOUNG DAWGS CONTRIBUTING

Of SIU's league-leading 1,559 rushing yards this season, 695 have come from freshmen (44.6 percent).
True freshman Daquan Isom became the second Saluki freshman (along with Cameron Walter) since 2004 (Craig Turner) to rush for more than 100 yards in a game. Isom had 123 yards on only 10 carries against No. 10 Liberty.
Isom earned MVFC Newcomer of the Week after his 123-yard day against No. 10 Liberty.
Isom ranks second among all freshmen nationally in all-purpose yards per game (151.43). Isom ranks second in the MVFC and 14th in the nation overall in all-purpose yards per game.
Another true freshman running back, Chris Perkins, had 116 yards and two touchdown on only six carries against Missouri State.
Redshirt freshmen receivers Darrell James and Jimmy Jones are making a big impact for the receiving corps.
James led the team with 119 receiving yards at Indiana State. James is the first Saluki freshman since MyCole Pruitt in 2011 to record a 100-yard receiving game.
James is one of four freshmen in SIU history to get 100 yards receiving in a game, joining Pruitt, Melvin Dukes (1993) and John Roots (1989).
Jimmy Jones has 22 receptions for 321 yards and four touchdowns in the last three games alone--all conference games.
In MVFC games, Jones ranks second in the MVFC in receptions per game (5.5), fourth in receiving yards per game (75.2), and fifth in scoring TDs (4).
Nineteen true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or new transfers have played this season.

IANNOTTI'S IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS

Southern Illinois quarterback Mark Iannotti ranks sixth nationally in total offense per game (361.0 ypg).
Iannotti is second nationally in completion percentage (.697) while also ranking 10th nationally and leading the MVFC in yards per attempt (9.1).
Iannotti ranks 10th nationally in passing efficiency (164.0), eighth in yards per game (296.3) and fifth in points responsible for per game (20.0).
Iannotti ranks 12th nationally among quarterbacks in rushing yards per game (64.7).
Iannotti put up 517 yards of total offense at Indiana, a school record and second in MVFC history, earning him National and MVFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Iannotti broke the previous school record of 443 set by co-offensive coordinator Nick Hill in 2007.
He put up 411 yards passing and 106 yards rushing against Indiana, becoming the first player in school history with more than 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing in the same game.

ALLEN AND JAMES: DEFENSE'S 1-2 PUNCH

Chase Allen and Kenny James are tied for second in the MVFC and 11th nationally in tackles per game (11.3).
Allen and James already has 79 tackles through seven games in 2015. For perspective, Kayon Swanson led the 2011 team in tackles with 52 total tackles in 11 games.
Against Southeast Missouri, Chase Allen had 19 tackles and Kenny James and 15 tackles. Allen's 19 tackles are the most in the MVFC this season and the most by a Saluki since All-American Alexis Moreland in 2002.
James followed that game up with 16 tackles against No. 10 Liberty. James' back-to-back 15+ tackle games were also a first since Moreland in 2002.
James had 16 more tackles against Youngstown State. He's the first Saluki with three 15+ tackle games since Moreland in '02.

SPECIAL TEAMS, SPECIAL PLAYS

SIU leads the nation with seven blocked kicks in 2015. That's the most in the nation by two blocks.
Chase Allen and Brandon Williams are tied for the national lead with three blocked kicks apiece.
SIU has blocked four punts in 2015 and returned two for touchdowns.
Against Indiana, Chase Allen blocked a punt and Kenny James fell on it in the end zone for a TD. At Western Illinois, Brandon Williams blocked a punt, recovered it and ran in 27 yards for a touchdown.
Williams blocked another punt vs. Missouri State, and he blocked a field goal vs. Liberty.
Williams is one of two players nationally with three blocked kicks.
Chase Allen blocked two kicks in the fourth quarter against Youngstown State. He's one of nine players nationally to block two kicks in a game this year.
Austin Johnson hit a 51-yard field goal at Western Illinois, tied for the fifth-longest field goal in SIU history.
Johnson became the seventh kicker in school history to hit a field goal from 50+ yards.