SIU at USD: Game Notes & Links

Nov. 3, 2015

RV Southern Illinois (3-5, 2-3 MVFC) at RV South Dakota (4-4, 2-3 MVFC)
Date & Time	Nov. 7, 2015 \| 1 p.m. CT
Location	Vermillion, S.D. \| DakotaDome (10,000, AstroTurf PureGrass
Video Stream	Free video stream via GoYotes.com
Live Stats	Via South Dakota
Radio	Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis (play-by-play), Gene Green (analysis) and Connor James (analysis)
Audio Stream	Saluki All-Access
Southern Illinois	Game Notes \| Stats \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Fall Camp Central
South Dakota	Game Notes \| Stats \| Media Guide
MVFC	Weekly Notes \| Stats
All-Time Series	SIU leads, 1-0 \| In Vermillion: First Meeting \| Streak: SIU W1 \| Last Meeting: SIU 41, USD 10 (10/4/14)
Social Media	@SIU_Football \| @SIUSalukis \| Saluki Football

QUICK HITS

SIU makes the program's first-ever trip to the DakotaDome on Saturday to face South Dakota. In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, SIU won 41-10 in Carbondale last year.
Quarterback Mark Iannotti leads the MVFC and ranks fourth nationally in total offense. Iannotti has 2,887 yards total offense, which is 924 yards more than second-most in the MVFC (Matt Adam, Indiana State). Iannotti is averaging 115 yards more per game than anyone else in the conference in total offense.
Iannotti will likely become the 18th player in MVFC history and third Saluki to reach 3,000 yards total offense in a single season. He is already third in single-season SIU history for total offense and on pace to become the second-ever 4,000-yard quarterback in MVFC history.
Kenny James, Chase Allen and Markese Jackson all rank in the top-5 of the MVFC and top-25 nationally in tackles per game.
Jimmy Jones leads all MVFC freshmen in receptions, receiving yards and total touchdowns.

SALUKIS HEAD TO VERMILLION, S.D., FOR FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY

Southern Illinois will travel to Vermillion, S.D., for a matchup with the South Dakota Coyotes on Nov. 7, 2015. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT.
Last year was the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Salukis won, 41-10, in Carbondale.
In last year's meeting, the teams were tied at 10 at halftime before the Salukis scored 31 unanswered points in the second half. SIU limited South Dakota to just three first downs in the second half.
Southern Illinois is seeking its first road win of the season. SIU is 3-1 at home and 0-4 on the road.
Head coach Dale Lennon announced on Monday that DE Adam Brandt has been dismissed from the team and RB Daquan Isomhas been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.

SALUKI OFFENSE AMONG NATION'S BEST

The Southern Illinois offense leads the conference total offense, scoring offense and passing offense. The Salukis also rank in the top-10 nationally in all three categories.
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 16 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 14 of 16 halves this year, including 394 yards of total offense in the first half at Indiana and 408 in the first half vs. Missouri State.
Both Youngstown State and North Dakota State entered their games against SIU ranked No. 1 in the MVFC in total defense. SIU averaged 430 yards and 33.5 points over the two game.
North Dakota State had given up 29 points just twice in its previous 68 games before SIU scored that many last weekend.

IANNOTTI PLAYING LIKE A PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Southern Illinois quarterback Mark Iannotti leads the MVFC in total offense, passing yards, passing touchdowns, passing efficiency, completion percentage, and points responsible for per game.
Iannotti has nearly 1,000 yards total offense more than anyone else in the conference.
He ranks in the top-10 nationally in total offense (4th), passing yards (4th), completion percentage (5th), and points responsible for (8th).
He ranks fifth nationally in completion percentage while also ranking 15th in yards per attempt.
Iannotti ranks 11th nationally among quarterbacks (2nd in MVFC) in rushing yards per game (67.0).
Iannotti averaged more yards individually than three MVFC teams, including South Dakota.
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.
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.

O-LINE DOING WORK

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 five sacks all season. That leads the MVFC and ranks fifth 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 36 sacks, which is six fewer than any other team in the league.
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.

JAMES, ALLEN AND JACKSON AMONG MVFC TACKLE LEADERS

Junior Chase Allen and sophomores Kenny James and Markese Jackson are all among the MVFC and national tackle leaders.
Kenny James leads the team with 93 tackles, which ranks 10th nationally.
James (2nd), Allen (3rd) and Jackson (5th) all rank in the top-5 in the MVFC in tackles per game.
James, Allen and Jackson are all on pace to record 100 tackles in 2015. For perspective, SIU has only had one player in the last seven years record 100 tackles in a season (Bryan Presume, 2013).
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.

For a complete set of game notes in PDF format, click here.

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