SIU falls in another close one, 22-14, to Indiana State

Saturday, October 22

Carbondale, Ill.

2:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

2-5 , 0-4

Indiana St.

4-4 , 2-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Indiana State	3	7	6	6	22
Southern Illinois	7	0	0	7	14

10/22/2016 | 9:16:00 | Football

Box Score

By: John Lock, SIUSalukis.com

Photo Gallery

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois football team lost a mistake-filled Homecoming game with Indiana State on Saturday afternoon at Saluki Stadium, 22-14.

SIU (2-5, 0-4 MVFC) dropped its fourth-straight game. Asked after the game about the adversity the team is facing, first-year SIU head coach Nick Hill gave a lengthy reply on how he intends to build the program:

"The test of program is when things aren't going right," he said. "It's not the warm fuzzy feeling. You have to figure out a way to come back here on Monday, start it all over again and go back to work and try to fix the things that are getting us beat. That's part of life. I told them Friday night in the team meeting, that's why football teaches you most about life outside of anything that you can do—any class, anything. Because it's times like these. You go to work so hard all week long, and you battle and you rely on other people. And you don't want to let your teammate down. And those guys are out there battling. And when things don't go your way, what are you going to do in life? Are you going to quit? Are start making excuses or not do the right thing? The motto of this program is to be a man. That's what you have to do in these times. Things aren't easy. You feel like you've been kicked in the gut. You've got to get back up. You got to be a man. You can't act wrong off the field. You have to stare it in the eye. You go back to work, and you have to get better. And that's what we will do."

Indiana State (4-4, 2-3 MVFC) gave the Salukis chances in the game. In the early going, the Sycamores had an unforced fumble and a bad snap on a punt that forced the punter to his knees. SIU took advantage of the fumble with a touchdown but left points on the field after the low punt, missing a field goal and a chance for a two-score lead.

The Trees got a field goal late in the first quarter to climb within 7-3. Late in the first half, SIU starting quarterback Josh Straughan missed two series with a minor injury, and Southern's offense couldn't get outside the shadow of its own end zone. Indiana State took advantage with a touchdown in the final seconds of the half to head into the break up 10-7.

The Sycamores eventually took a 22-7 lead in the second half; but as it has all season long, SIU battled back. Matt DeSomer ran in his second touchdown of the game with 10 minutes left in the game to get within one score.

SIU's defense, which was outstanding nearly all game, came through with a 3-and-out stop. The Saluki offense twice had the ball in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie the game but came up short on both occasions.

"We've talked about it that we've got to be able to get in a game and win it--24-22, 17-10, or 14-10," Hill said. "I mean good teams win these games all the time, and for whatever reason we weren't able to do that. Again, our defense is playing good enough to win games. They are. We put them in bad spots again today."

Southern Illinois fell to 2-10 in its last 12 one-possession games over the last two seasons.

Up next, SIU travels to Missouri State on Saturday, October 29. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.