Southern Illinois University
Youngstown St.
Saluki Football at Youngstown State notes & links
10/02/2018 | 1:20:00 | Football
| Southern Illinois (1-3, 0-1Â MVFC) at Youngstown State (1-3, 0-1) | |
| Date & Time | Oct. 6, 2018 | 5 p.m. CTÂ |
| Location | Youngstown, Ohio |Â Stambaugh Stadium (20,630) |
| TV/Video Stream | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | Provided by YSU |
| Radio | Saluki Radio Network with Mike Reis (play-by-play), Gene Green (analysis) and Connor James (analysis) |
| Radio Stream | TuneIn (free) |
| Southern Illinois | Game Notes | Stats | Media Guide |
| Youngstown State | Game Notes | Stats | Media Guide |
| MVFC | Weekly Notes | Stats |
| All-Time Series        | Salukis trail, 12-16-1 (H: 7-7-1, A: 5-9) |
| Social Media | @SIU_Football    |  @SIUSalukis    |  Saluki Football  |
Series versus Youngstown State
The teams have met every season since Youngstown State joined the Gateway Conference in 1997, and the Penguins own a 12-9 series advantage during that span, including six wins in the last eight meetings. The last time SIU won at Youngstown State was in 2012, Â a game in which the Salukis scored three defensive touchdowns (Courtney Richmond and Tyler Williamson both recovered fumbles in the end zone, and Anthony Thompson set a school record with a 100-yard interception return for a TD).
Saluki offense posting historic numbers
- SIU has 1,703 yards of total offense in the last three games combined — the most yards in a three-game span in school history.Â
- SIU has topped 500 yards of total offense in three-straight games, the longest streak since the 2002 squad did it four-straight games.
- SIU has recorded 70 first downs in the last two games. The 37 versus SEMO was a school record and the 33 versus South Dakota ranked fourth all-time.
- SIU has rushed for 200+ yards in four-straight games for the first time since the start of the 2011 season.
- QB Sam Straub has passed for more than 300 yards three times this season. He now has eight 300-yard passing games in his career — a school record.
- Twelve different players have scored touchdowns for SIU this season, including three players on defense.
Salukis in the FCS rankings
The Salukis are in the top 10 in four statistical categories among 116 FCS programs — First Downs (5th, 126) Scoring Offense (8th, 39.5), Total Offense (5th, 537.3) and Time of Possession (2nd, 35:06).
RB D.J. Davis four-straight consecutive 100-yard games
RB D.J. Davis (5-8, 168, Jr.) has become SIU's feature back, surpassing 100 yards in all four games this season. The last Saluki to do that was Deji Karim, who had five-straight 100-yard games in 2009. Also a prolific receiver and return man, Davis is seventh all-time at SIU with 3,340 all-purpose yards.
WR Raphael Leonard leads MVFC in catches
WR Raphael Leonard (6-2, 193, Sr.) leads the MVFC with 24 catches and ranks second in touchdown catches with four. He has caught at least one pass in 15-straight games. Prior to SIU, Â Leonard
played at East Mississippi Community College football team in 2016, where he was part of Season 2 of the popular Netflix documentary Last Chance U.
S Jeremy Chinn has created 11 turnovers in the last 16 games
In the last 16 games, S Jeremy Chinn (6-2, 211, Jr.) has five interceptions and six forced fumbles. A preseason All-MVC pick, he is tied for second all-time at Southern in forced fumbles (6), trailing only Tyler Williamson (8, 2012-14). Chinn has started 21-straight games at safety for SIU — the longest active starting streak on the team. He is second on the team in tackles (26) this season.
QB Sam Straub on CFPA Watch List for Player of Year
QB Sam Straub (6-4, 247, Sr.) is one of 36 FCS players on the College Football Performance Awards preseason watch list for its National Performer of the Year Trophy. Straub has a 7-8 career record as a starter. He missed the last three games in 2017, before a season-ending wrist injury. Straub is the only quarterback in school history to complete 30+ passes in a game four times. His career best in passing was a school-record 450 yards against Western Illinois on Nov. 19, 2016.
Anthony Knighton averaging a sack per game
DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 253, So.) leads SIU with 4.0 sacks in four games. The only player in school history to average at least one sack per game is James Phillips, who had 12.0 sacks in 11 games in 1978. Knighton has started all 15 games of his SIU career and has 10.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. In 2017, he was runner-up for MVFC Freshman of the Year.Â
Saluki offensive line protects its QB
The Saluki offensive line surrendered just 10 sacks in 2017 for an average of 0.91 sacks per game. That mark led the MVFC and ranked 10th in the nation. The Salukis have allowed just four sacks through four games in 2018, which ranks 17th in the nation. They've allowed a sack once in every 46 passing attempts.
Darrell James climbing career receiving list
With 1,719 career receiving yards, WR Darrell James (6-0, 209, Sr) needs 91 yards to pass Justin Roebuck into fourth place all time at SIU. James has caught at least one pass in 21-straight games — the team's longest active streak.
WR Landon Lenoir with breakout season
Entering the year with nine catches, slot receiver Landon Lenoir (5-11, 190, So.) has already caught 21 passes this season and is second on the team in catches. Lenoir has two relatives currently in the NFL. Brother Lance Lenoir (age 23), who holds the Western Illinois school record for career touchdown catches (28), is currently a member the Dallas Cowboys. Cousin Laquon Treadwell (age 23) is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
No seniors in starting lineup on defense
SIU's starting defense features six juniors, four sophomores, one redshirt freshman and no seniors. Of the 22 players on the two-deep, only two are seniors (LB Withney Simon and CB C.J. Jennings).
Versus South Dakota last week...
- SIU's defense held South Dakota to 111 yards and a 2.8 yard average on the ground, forced 11 punts, and stopped the Coyotes' offense on all nine 3rd-down conversion attempts in the first half.
- FB Jaylon Graham (6-3, 254, Sr.) and TE Logan Crouse (6-6, 265, Fr.) both made their first-career starts.
- QB Javon Williams (6-2, 234, Fr.) became the first true freshman at SIU to score a touchdown since Daquan Isom in 2015.Â
- TE Nigel Kilby (6-8, 250, Jr.) caught 7 passes for 109 yards, becoming the first Salukis tight end with 100 yards receiving since Adam Fuehne had 130 at Indiana in 2015.
- QB Sam Straub (32-of-59) set career highs for completions and attempts.
Dawg Bites
- SIU has run 96 more plays than its opponents this season (379-283) and has nearly 41 minutes more possession time than its opponents.
- SIU is 12th in the nation in sacks per game (3.25).
- The Salukis are +31 in scoring in the first half and -39 in the second half.
- After starting the season +4 in the turnover battle at Murray State, the Salukis are -8 in the last three games.
Did you know? SIU ....
- TE Nigel Kilby has caught 10 passes this year and four have been for TDs.Â
- TE Logan Crouse is a 22-year-old true freshman who played three seasons of pro baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system prior to SIU.
- K Nico Gualdoni (6-0, 227, So.) remains perfect in his kicking career. He is 8-for-8 on field goals and 28-for-28 on PATs. His career long is 39 yards.
