Saturday, October 12
Carbondale, IL
6:00 PM
Southern Illinois University
vs
Illinois St.
Saluki Football notebook versus Illinois State
10/08/2019 | 11:01:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois hosts Illinois State in the conference home opener on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Saluki Stadium. It's the annual Blackout Cancer game at SIU, where fans bid on the chance to name a jersey and proceeds go to SIH Foundation and the Coach Kill Cancer Fund. Fans are invited to join us in the Saluki Row Tailgate Zone, where the fun begins three hours prior to kickoff. Located in the fenced-in field just south of Saluki Stadium, Saluki Row offers free food, ice cream, music and games for all ages. Beer is available for $3. Kids can sign up for free membership in Brown Dawg's Kids Club and lead the team onto the field prior to kickoff.
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Road Warriors
The Salukis have played four of their first five games on the road this season. Since 1970, the only other times that's happened in school history came in 1993 and 1999. The 1974 team played its first five games on the road.
Salukis versus ranked FCS opponents
The Salukis have lost their last seven games versus ranked FCS opponents, with the last win over a ranked team coming on Oct. 14, 2017, when SIU beat No. 15 Illinois State, 42-7. Illinois State enters this week's game ranked No. 13 in the Coaches Poll.
Series versus Illinois State
The Redbirds have won four of the last five meetings with SIU, including a 51-3 decision in Normal in 2018, which was the largest margin of victory in the 81-game history of the series between the schools. Illinois State rushed for 409 yards in the contest. The Salukis' last win in the series was a 42-7 victory in Carbondale in 2017. In that game, Southern out-gained ISU, 549-375, as Sam Straub passed for 368 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those TD passes went to D.J. Davis.
RB Javon Williams Jr. has 7 TDs
RB Javon Williams Jr. (6-1, 239, rFr.) has scored seven touchdowns in five games and has already matched SIU's season leaders from 2018 (Matt DeSomer and Raphael Leonard). Frequently operating out of the Wildcat formation, Williams averages (6.00) yards per carry. At UMass, he had an 85-yard TD catch — the third-longest in school history. Williams is also a capable passer, having played quarterback in high school and beginning his career at SIU under center.
S Jeremy Chinn 7th in INTs
With two interceptions so far in 2019, preseason All-American S Jeremy Chinn (6-3, 212, Sr.) has moved into seventh place in interceptions at SIU with 11. He is also third in pass breakups (24) and second in forced fumbles (6). A starter since his freshman season and with 29 career starts, Chinn was named the "Top FCS Target" by the Senior Bowl heading into the season. A year ago Delaware's Nasir Adderley earned the Senior Bowl's distinction and ended up as a San Diego Chargers 2nd round pick. Chinn missed the South Dakota State game with a foot injury.
DE Anthony Knighton moves up sacks, TFL lists
DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 260, Jr.) has started every game (27) of his Saluki career and is sixth all-time in sacks at SIU with 18.5, including 3.5 this season. His 8.5 sacks in 2018 ranked seventh all-time at SIU and were the most by a Saluki since James Cloud had 8.5 in 2007. He also has 30.0 tackles for loss in his career, which is tied with ninth all-time at SIU.
Karé Lyles takes over at QB
Junior college transfer Karé Lyles (6-1, 225, Jr.) replaced injured starter QB Stone Labanowitz (5-10, 187, So.) during the first series of the UT Martin game. Labanowitz hurt his right shoulder. In three games, Lyles has completed 42-of-71 (.591) passes for 488 yards, 3 TDs and 3 interceptions.
WR Avante Cox has 12 catches in last two games
After catching five passes in his first three games, WR Avante Cox (5-10, 175, So.) has caught 12 passes for 196 yards in his last two games. His 142 receiving yards at Arkansas State were the most by a Saluki against an FBS opponent since Brent Little had 152 yards at Western Michigan in 2005. A transfer from Wyoming, Cox was named the MVFC's Newcomer of the Week for Week 4.
OLB Cody Crider bounces back
After undergoing the third knee surgery of his career in 2018, OLB Cody Crider (5-11, 218, Sr.) is back and having his best season at SIU with 34 tackles (2nd on the team), 2.5 TFLs and a sack.
WR Landon Lenoir is active leader in receptions
WR Landon Lenoir (6-0, 190, Jr.) is the team's active leader in receiving with 72 catches for 698 yards. Lenoir has two relatives currently in the NFL. Brother Lance Lenoir (age 24), who holds the Western Illinois school record for career touchdown catches (28), is currently a member the Dallas Cowboys. Cousin Laquon Treadwell (age 24) is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
Defense generating pressure
The Salukis rank 10th in the nation in sacks, averaging 3.2 per game. Last year, Southern averaged 2.3 sacks per contest. They are also making plays behind the line of scrimmage with 35 tackles for loss, including 12 last week at South Dakota State.
True freshman RB Romeir Elliott is next man up
With the injury to Davis, RB Romeir Elliott (5-5, 188, Fr.) has stepped up and leads the team with an average of 6.3 yards per carry. He has 240 yards on 38 attempts. He missed the UT Martin game due to injury. Elliott also has seven receptions for 37 yards and a TD.
Qua Brown 5th in the nation in solo tackles
Although Jeremy Chinn grabs the headlines as one of the nation's top safeties and NFL prospects, S Qua Brown (5-11, 203, Jr.) is fifth in the nation in solo tackles per game (7.2) and 18th in total tackles (10.0). He had 16 tackles at SEMO and 14 at UMass. He also has four pass breakups to his credit.
The Leg from Down Under
A native of Melbourne, Australia, P Jack Colquhoun (6-2, 190, Jr.) is the first Australian to play for the Salukis since Wayne Cowley punted in 1973. Colquhoun, who averages 41.2 yards per punt and has five kicks of 50+ yards this season, including an 80-yard boot at South Dakota State that was the third-longest in school history. He had never seen an American football game in person prior to his college debut at SEMO on Aug. 29. Colquhoun (pronounced KUH-hoon) was a decorated rugby player back home.
Dawg Bites
• OLB Makel Calhoun (6-3, 216, So.) has 10 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in the last two games.
• SIU's three, active running backs are all freshmen — redshirts Javon Williams Jr. and Tremayne Lee and true freshman Romeir Elliott.
• The Salukis rank 3rd in the nation in kickoff return defense, allowing 14.69 yards per return.
• DT Malik Haynes (5-11, 334, Sr.) matched his career high with 6 tackles at SDSU.
• SIU's 3rd down conversion percentage was .500 entering the South Dakota State game, but the offense went 1-for-14 on 3rd down at SDSU.
• In addition to Romeir Elliott, true freshmen WR Tanner Corum (5-11, 185, Fr.), CB PJ Jules (6-2, 233, Fr.) and CB Zay Frazier (6-3, 177, Fr.) have also played four games this season. True freshmen can play up to four games and still apply for a redshirt.
BUY TICKETS
| No. 13 Illinois State (3-2, 0-1) at Southern Illinois (2-3, 0-1) | |
| Date & Time | Oct. 12, 2019 | 6 p.m. CT |
| Location | Carbondale, Ill. | Saluki Stadium (15,000) |
| TV/Video Stream | ESPN3 |
| Live Stats | Provided by SIU |
| Radio | Saluki Radio Network Mike Reis, Gene Green |
| Radio Stream | TuneIn (free) |
| Southern Illinois | Game Notes (PDF) | Stats | Media Guide |
| Illinois State | Game Notes (PDF) | Stats | Media Guide (PDF) |
| MVFC | Weekly Notes | Stats |
| All-Time Series | Salukis lead, 41-37-3 (H: 24-16-1, A: 17-21-2) |
| Social Media | @SIU_Football  | @SIUSalukis  | Saluki Football  |
| Video Channel | Vimeo |
Road Warriors
The Salukis have played four of their first five games on the road this season. Since 1970, the only other times that's happened in school history came in 1993 and 1999. The 1974 team played its first five games on the road.
Salukis versus ranked FCS opponents
The Salukis have lost their last seven games versus ranked FCS opponents, with the last win over a ranked team coming on Oct. 14, 2017, when SIU beat No. 15 Illinois State, 42-7. Illinois State enters this week's game ranked No. 13 in the Coaches Poll.
Series versus Illinois State
The Redbirds have won four of the last five meetings with SIU, including a 51-3 decision in Normal in 2018, which was the largest margin of victory in the 81-game history of the series between the schools. Illinois State rushed for 409 yards in the contest. The Salukis' last win in the series was a 42-7 victory in Carbondale in 2017. In that game, Southern out-gained ISU, 549-375, as Sam Straub passed for 368 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those TD passes went to D.J. Davis.
RB Javon Williams Jr. has 7 TDs
RB Javon Williams Jr. (6-1, 239, rFr.) has scored seven touchdowns in five games and has already matched SIU's season leaders from 2018 (Matt DeSomer and Raphael Leonard). Frequently operating out of the Wildcat formation, Williams averages (6.00) yards per carry. At UMass, he had an 85-yard TD catch — the third-longest in school history. Williams is also a capable passer, having played quarterback in high school and beginning his career at SIU under center.
S Jeremy Chinn 7th in INTs
With two interceptions so far in 2019, preseason All-American S Jeremy Chinn (6-3, 212, Sr.) has moved into seventh place in interceptions at SIU with 11. He is also third in pass breakups (24) and second in forced fumbles (6). A starter since his freshman season and with 29 career starts, Chinn was named the "Top FCS Target" by the Senior Bowl heading into the season. A year ago Delaware's Nasir Adderley earned the Senior Bowl's distinction and ended up as a San Diego Chargers 2nd round pick. Chinn missed the South Dakota State game with a foot injury.
DE Anthony Knighton moves up sacks, TFL lists
DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 260, Jr.) has started every game (27) of his Saluki career and is sixth all-time in sacks at SIU with 18.5, including 3.5 this season. His 8.5 sacks in 2018 ranked seventh all-time at SIU and were the most by a Saluki since James Cloud had 8.5 in 2007. He also has 30.0 tackles for loss in his career, which is tied with ninth all-time at SIU.
Karé Lyles takes over at QB
Junior college transfer Karé Lyles (6-1, 225, Jr.) replaced injured starter QB Stone Labanowitz (5-10, 187, So.) during the first series of the UT Martin game. Labanowitz hurt his right shoulder. In three games, Lyles has completed 42-of-71 (.591) passes for 488 yards, 3 TDs and 3 interceptions.
WR Avante Cox has 12 catches in last two games
After catching five passes in his first three games, WR Avante Cox (5-10, 175, So.) has caught 12 passes for 196 yards in his last two games. His 142 receiving yards at Arkansas State were the most by a Saluki against an FBS opponent since Brent Little had 152 yards at Western Michigan in 2005. A transfer from Wyoming, Cox was named the MVFC's Newcomer of the Week for Week 4.
OLB Cody Crider bounces back
After undergoing the third knee surgery of his career in 2018, OLB Cody Crider (5-11, 218, Sr.) is back and having his best season at SIU with 34 tackles (2nd on the team), 2.5 TFLs and a sack.
WR Landon Lenoir is active leader in receptions
WR Landon Lenoir (6-0, 190, Jr.) is the team's active leader in receiving with 72 catches for 698 yards. Lenoir has two relatives currently in the NFL. Brother Lance Lenoir (age 24), who holds the Western Illinois school record for career touchdown catches (28), is currently a member the Dallas Cowboys. Cousin Laquon Treadwell (age 24) is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
Defense generating pressure
The Salukis rank 10th in the nation in sacks, averaging 3.2 per game. Last year, Southern averaged 2.3 sacks per contest. They are also making plays behind the line of scrimmage with 35 tackles for loss, including 12 last week at South Dakota State.
True freshman RB Romeir Elliott is next man up
With the injury to Davis, RB Romeir Elliott (5-5, 188, Fr.) has stepped up and leads the team with an average of 6.3 yards per carry. He has 240 yards on 38 attempts. He missed the UT Martin game due to injury. Elliott also has seven receptions for 37 yards and a TD.
Qua Brown 5th in the nation in solo tackles
Although Jeremy Chinn grabs the headlines as one of the nation's top safeties and NFL prospects, S Qua Brown (5-11, 203, Jr.) is fifth in the nation in solo tackles per game (7.2) and 18th in total tackles (10.0). He had 16 tackles at SEMO and 14 at UMass. He also has four pass breakups to his credit.
The Leg from Down Under
A native of Melbourne, Australia, P Jack Colquhoun (6-2, 190, Jr.) is the first Australian to play for the Salukis since Wayne Cowley punted in 1973. Colquhoun, who averages 41.2 yards per punt and has five kicks of 50+ yards this season, including an 80-yard boot at South Dakota State that was the third-longest in school history. He had never seen an American football game in person prior to his college debut at SEMO on Aug. 29. Colquhoun (pronounced KUH-hoon) was a decorated rugby player back home.
Dawg Bites
• OLB Makel Calhoun (6-3, 216, So.) has 10 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in the last two games.
• SIU's three, active running backs are all freshmen — redshirts Javon Williams Jr. and Tremayne Lee and true freshman Romeir Elliott.
• The Salukis rank 3rd in the nation in kickoff return defense, allowing 14.69 yards per return.
• DT Malik Haynes (5-11, 334, Sr.) matched his career high with 6 tackles at SDSU.
• SIU's 3rd down conversion percentage was .500 entering the South Dakota State game, but the offense went 1-for-14 on 3rd down at SDSU.
• In addition to Romeir Elliott, true freshmen WR Tanner Corum (5-11, 185, Fr.), CB PJ Jules (6-2, 233, Fr.) and CB Zay Frazier (6-3, 177, Fr.) have also played four games this season. True freshmen can play up to four games and still apply for a redshirt.
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