Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU vs. LU: Game Notes & Links
09/22/2015 | 12:00:00 | Football
Sept. 22, 2015
| Southern Illinois (0-2, 0-0 MVFC) vs. No. 10/10 Liberty (2-1, 0-0 Big South) | |
| Date & Time | Sept. 26, 2015 | 6 p.m. CT |
| Location | Carbondale, Ill. | Saluki Stadium (15,000, FieldTurf) | Weather |
| Tickets | SIUSalukis.com | 877-SALUKIS | Full Promotional List |
| Video Stream | ESPN3 with Mike Tilley (pbp) and Matt Warner (analysis) and Monika McKenzie (reporter) |
| 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) | Fall Camp Central |
| Liberty | Game Notes | Stats | Media Guide (PDF) |
| MVFC | Weekly Notes | Stats |
| All-Time Series | First Meeting |
| Social Media | @SIU_Football  | @SIUSalukis  | Saluki Football  |
QUICK HITS
- The Salukis host the Liberty Flames in the home opener of the 2015 season. SIU and Liberty are meeting for the first time in program history.
- Southern Illinois has won 12 of its last 13 home openers, including last year's 45-0 win over Taylor. SIU's lone loss in home openers since 2002 came in a 40-37 double-overtime loss to Jimmy Garoppolo and Eastern Illinois in 2013.
- The game marks the fifth annual Black Out Cancer game and the fourth year partnering with Southern Illinois Heathcare. The team will wear special black jerseys, and 80 winning bidders have placed the names of their choosing on the backs. This year's jersey auction raised $29,031, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to SIH. In the four-year parternship with SIH, the Black Out Cancer game has raised more than $160,000.
- Quarterback Mark Iannotti leads the nation in total offense per game and points responsible for per game. He also ranks second nationally in passing yards per game (352.5), third in completion percentage (73%) and fourth in passing efficiency (178.3).
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Southern Illinois' offense ranks sixth nationally in total offense per game (564.0).
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SALUKIS HOST LIBERTY
- The Salukis host Liberty on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. CT in Saluki Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN3.
- SIU and Liberty are meeting for the first time in school history.
- The game is the home opener for the Salukis. SIU has won 12 of its last 13 home openers, including last year's 45-0 win over Taylor.
- The Salukis are 27-7 in home night games since lights were reinstalled in McAndrew Stadium for the 2002 season.
- SIU went 3-1 in home night games last year, with all three wins coming by at least 17 points.
SALUKIS BLACK OUT CANCER
- Southern Illinois is hosting the Black Out Cancer game against Liberty.
- The game marks the fifth annual Black Out Cancer game and the fourth year partnering with Southern Illinois Heathcare. The team will wear special black jerseys, and 80 winning bidders have placed the names of their choosing on the backs. This year's jersey auction raised $29,031, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to SIH.
- In the four-year parternship with SIH, the Black Out Cancer game has raised more than $160,000.
- For more information or to donate, visit SalukisBlackOutCancer.com.
SALUKI OFFENSE AMONG NATION'S BEST
- Southern Illinois offense ranks sixth nationally in total offense per game (564.0).
- SIU's offense ranks in the top-10 nationally in passing efficiency (175.74, 6th), passing offense (352.5, 5th) and third-down conversion percentage (55.2 percent, 4th).
- Southern Illinois piled up 659 yards of total offense at Indiana, seventh most in the nation this year.
- Southern's 659 yards at Indiana is third-most in school history and most against a Division I opponent since 1970.
- SIU has recorded at least 250 yards of total offense in three of four halves this year, including 394 yards of total offense in the first half at Indiana.
- The Salukis have only punted seven times in 2015; but punter Derek Mathewson is averaging 46.3 yards on those seven punts, and the converage unit's net punting (40.3 yards) ranks 10th nationally.
- Mathewson hasn't punted enough to qualify for national rankings (min. is 3.6 punts per game), but his 46.3 average would be tied for fourth nationally.
IANNOTTI LEADS NATION
- Southern Illinois quarterback Mark Iannotti leads the nation in total offense per game and also points responsible for per game.
- He also ranks second nationally in passing yards per game (352.5), third in completion percentage (73%) and four in passing efficiency (178.3).
- 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.
- The senior followed that up with 335 yards of total offense, including 294 passing yards, at SEMO in the second game of the season.
YOUNG GUNS
- Nineteen true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or new transfers played in the season opener at Indiana last weekend: RB Aaron Stanton, CB Jefferson Vea, RB Daquan Isom, WR Matt DeSomer, QB Matt McIntosh, CB Torian Lewis, S Chris Adkins, CB Andrew McCrea, WR Jimmy Jones, CB Tareq Abulebbeh, RB Chris Perkins, LB Cody Crider, RB Jonathan Mixon, LB Deondre Barnett, LB Tori Millender, LB Withney Simon, OL Reid Sealby, DE Nate Sylvester and WR Darrell James.
- Six true freshmen have played already: RB Daquan Isom, RB Chris Perkins, LB Cody Crider, LB Withney Simon, DE Nate Sylvester and CB Torian Lewis.
- SIU returned just 26 percent of its rushing yards from 2014 (454 yards 1,717) and five of 17 rushing touchdowns. SIU's top returning rusher by yards is Cameron Walter (323 yards last year).
- At least seven players have recorded a rush and 10 players have caught a pass in each of the first two games.
- Six Salukis had at least 10 yards rushing at Indiana, with four of those six being first-year SIU players: WR Matt DeSomer, QB Matt McIntosh, RB Jonathan Mixon and RB Aaron Stanton.
- Four of the 10 players to record a reption were true freshmen, redshirt freshman or new transfers: RB Daquan Isom, WR Jimmy Jones, WR Darrell James and RB Aaron Stanton.
- Three of the team's top four rushers in 2015 are first-year Salukis. Six of the top eight pass-catchers will return next season.
- Isom, a true freshman, has led the team in all-purpose yards in each of the first two weeks.
- Five of SIU's top seven tacklers in the season opener will be back in 2016, including sophomores Kenny James, Markese Jackson and Ryan Neal.
TOUGH SCHEDULE AWAITS
- Southern Illinois has the toughest schedule in the nation. SIU's FCS opponents are 15-3 against FCS competition this year (.833), tied with Western Illinois for toughest in the country.
- SIU's nine remaining opponents are 15-2 (.882), the toughest mark in the nation.
- Liberty enters the game ranked 10th in both polls. SIU is 3-4 against top-10 teams in the last three years.
- The Salukis have won six games over top-10 teams under head coach Dale Lennon, including back-to-back top-10 road wins in 2013.
- Southern Illinois is playing a ranked team in non-conference play for the third year in a row. Eastern Illinois has been ranked each of the last two years when it played SIU, with the teams splitting the two meetings.
- Six of SIU's remaining nine games come against teams currently ranked in the top-25.
- Four of SIU's five home games are against opponents currently ranked in the top-25. Liberty, North Dakota State and Illinois State are all teams ranked in the top-10 nationally that SIU will face in Saluki Stadium.
- SIU has won at least one game against a ranked team in all seven of head coach Dale Lennon's seasons in Carbondale.
- SIU has 14 wins over top-25 teams under Lennon.
View the complete game notes in PDF Format by clicking here.
#SIUC19, join a #Saluki tradition & "sprint" across the field at this weekend's football game! http://t.co/i431Wrrngk pic.twitter.com/Zmo1jm0v5F
-- SIUC (@SIUC) September 22, 2015
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