Salukis surge past SEMO in Hill's first win

Saturday, September 10

Carbondale, Ill.

6:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

1-1

Southeast Missouri

0-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Southeast Missouri	6	3	0	13	22
Southern Illinois	3	7	17	3	30

09/10/2016 | 11:06:00 | Football

Box Score

By: By John Lock, SIUSalukis.com

| Photo Gallery

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Saluki Football program used a big third quarter to beat Southeast Missouri, 30-22, on Saturday night at Saluki Stadium. The win marks the first in the career for SIU head coach Nick Hill.

"I'll remember that for the rest of my life," Hill said after the win. "I'm sure we will win a few more football games around here but to get that first one under your belt, with the group of guys believing in each other, it felt great."

SEMO (0-2) controlled most of the first half. With less than four minutes to play in the half, the Redhawks had a 2:1 time-of-possession advantage, a 70-yard edge in total yards and a 9-3 lead on the scoreboard.

Southern (1-1) drove 60 yards on the final drive of the first half, getting to the one-yard line with three seconds left. Hill left his offense on the field, and Jonathan Mixon rumbled into the end zone as time expired to give Southern a 10-9 halftime lead.

SIU kept the momentum rolling into the second half. The defense opened the half by forcing a 3-and-out, and quarterback Josh Straughan found Connor Iwema for a 44-yard touchdown five plays later. When Southeast got the ball back, Chase Allen forced a fumble that true freshman James Ceasar picked up and ran 47 yards to the house.

"We went in the half and I told the guys that we have an opportunity to come out in the third quarter to change the perception of what we do," Hill said. "We came out fast a lot on offense. We had to grind it out and find a way to get a lead at halftime. We needed to prove that we have the momentum."

Over the course of Southern's surge, the Salukis went on a 21-0 scoring run in less than eight game minutes.

Matt Sotiropoulos hit a field goal at the end of the third quarter to extend the SIU's lead to 27-9, but SEMO came right back with a four-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. After another Sotiropoulos field goal, SEMO hit a 29-yard touchdown on 4^th-and-16 to get within 30-22 with five minutes to play.

SEMO got the ball back with a chance to tie, but SIU's defense held on 4^th-and-3 to preserve the victory.

Southern won the for the ninth time in the last 11 games against SEMO and avenged last year's 27-24 loss in Cape Girardeau. SIU also won a one-possession game; the Salukis had lost seven of their last eight games decided by eight points or fewer.

"It felt like we broke a curse today," linebacker Chase Allen said. "We were in it every single game last year and then something would happen at the end and we'd end up losing in a close game like that. It felt good to finally break that habit, and we found a way to win."

SIU Hall-of-Famer Jerry Kill was in attendance for much of the second half, and another SIU Hall-of-Famer, Carl Mauck, was in Carbondale all week and on the sideline for the game. Both Kill and Mauck joined the Salukis in the locker room after the win.

"I talk to Coach Kill daily," Hill said. "It was special to have Coach Kill and Coach Mauck there, probably the two biggest coaching mentors in my life, in the locker room for your first college win. Those two mean a lot to me, and I wouldn't be standing up here if it weren't for those two. To have them say how proud they are is special and means a lot."

Hill and the Salukis will go for Win No. 2 next Saturday when they host Murray State at 6 p.m. in Saluki Stadium for Family Weekend.

NOTES: SIU improves to 29-7 since 2002 in home night games. SIU has won four-straight night games at Saluki Stadium and eight of its last nine under its own lights...Matt Sotiropoulos made three field goals in the win, tying the school record for field goals made in a single-game. It marks the 24^th time in school history a kicker has made three field goals in a single contest...Chase Allen's eight tackles moves him past Clint Smothers (1990-93) for 18^th on SIU's all-time career list...Billy Reed's three receptions moves him past Wesley Yates (1986-89) for 17^th on SIU's all-time list.