Saturday, November 23
Carbondale, IL
2:00 PM
Southern Illinois University
vs
North Dakota St.
Winning streaks on the line when No. 25 Salukis host No. 1 Bison on Senior Day
11/19/2019 | 11:26:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Two of the nation's longest winning streaks are on the line Saturday when No. 25 Southern Illinois hosts No. 1 North Dakota State in the regular-season finale for both teams. The Salukis (7-4, 5-2) have the eighth-longest FCS winning streak at five games, while the Bison (11-0, 7-0) have won 32 straight games.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the 2 p.m. game for a special pre-game ceremony to recognize the team's 14 seniors. Making their final appearance at a regular-season game at Saluki Stadium are seniors Sam Bonansinga, Jeremy Chinn, Cody Crider, D.J. Davis, Ernest Dye Jr., Madre Harper, Malik Haynes, Nigel Kilby, Hayden LaPointe, Jacob Marnin, Blake Parzych, Nick Raby, Kyonta Stallworth and Tre Strong.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Series versus North Dakota State
North Dakota State holds an 8-3 advantage in the all-time series between the schools, including an active seven-game winning streak. Last year, the Bison won, 65-17, in the regular-season finale in Fargo. SIU scored first on a 100-yard kickoff return by JeQuan Burton, and the game was tied, 14-14, midway through the first quarter, before NDSU reeled off five unanswered touchdowns.
Salukis ranked for first time since 2014
The Salukis entered the FCS Coaches poll at No. 25 this week, marking the first week SIU has been ranked since Nov. 10, 2014. Southern moved up three spots to No. 15 in this week's Massey Power Rating. They have FCS wins over No. 36 UT Martin, No. 44 South Dakota, No. 49 Youngstown State, No. 56 Indiana State, No. 75 Missouri State and No. 99 Western Illinois. Their FCS losses came against No. 6 South Dakota State, No. 11 Illinois State and No. 23 SEMO. SIU played without it's top offensive and defensive players (D.J. Davis and Jeremy Chinn) versus SDSU and Illinois State.
5-game win streak longest since 2009
The Salukis are having their best season since 2009, when the team went 11-2 and won 11-straight games. During Southern's current five-game winning streak, it has out-scored opponents by an average margin of 20.2 points. The 24-point win at Western Illinois was the team's largest road margin in school history.
Salukis versus ranked FCS opponents
On Oct. 19, the Salukis beat No. 18 Youngstown State to snap an eight-game losing streak versus ranked FCS opponents. SIU is 1-4 all-time against No. 1 ranked teams. The win came at Western Kentucky on Oct. 27, 2005 when Jerry Kill was the team's head coach. The losses were to Northern Iowa in 1992 and to North Dakota State in 2013, 2014 and 2018.
Salukis are one of three FCS teams with an FBS win
Southern Illlinois is one of only three FCS teams to beat an FBS opponent in 2019. The Salukis beat UMass, 45-20, on Sept. 7. The other FCS wins were Central Arkansas over Western Kentucky, and The Citadel over Georgia Tech.
Buck Buchanan award finalist Jeremy Chinn invited to Senior Bowl
Buck Buchanan award finalist S Jeremy Chinn (6-3, 212, Sr.) has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl on Jan. 25, 2020. He will be just the third player in school history, joining TE Damon Jones (1996) and DB Dennis Harmon (1963) to play in the postseason all-star game.
Chinn is coming off a career-high 15-tackle performance at Western Illinois and has four interceptions this season. He ranks fifth at SIU in career interceptions (13), second in pass breakups (27) and second in forced fumbles (6). A starter since his freshman season and with 34 career starts, Chinn was named the "Top FCS Target" by the Senior Bowl heading into the season.
Javon Williams Jr. sets MVFC freshman record with 18 touchdowns
Jerry Rice Award watch list RB Javon Williams Jr. (6-1, 239, rFr.) has scored 18 touchdowns on the season (16 rushing, 2 receiving) — the most by a freshman in Division I and seventh overall in the FCS. The 18 TDs is an MVFC freshman record. He has also thrown two TD passes. In the game against Youngstown State, Williams Jr. became the first player in school history to rush for a TD, catch at TD and pass for a TD in the same game. Frequently operating out of the Wildcat formation, Williams averages 6.6 yards per carry and his 921 rushing yards ranks second among freshmen in SIU history. Tom Koutsos holds the mark with 1,052 in 1999.
RB D.J. Davis surpasses 5,000 all-purpose yards
RB D.J. Davis (5-8, 170, Sr.) ranks second at SIU and 7th in the MVFC with 5,349 career all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, return yardage). Arkee Whitlock holds the school record and is fourth all-time in the MVFC with 5,601. Davis, who missed two games this season with a dislocated elbow, has recorded 11 100-yard rushing games in his last 20 outings. Davis ranks fifth in career rushing at SIU (2,627). He is on the 2019 watch list for the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year trophy.
1,000-yard backfields
In SIU history, Saluki running backs have rushed for 1,000 yards in a season 20 times. The feat has never been done by two players in the same season. Heading into Saturday's game, D.J. Davis (956 yards) and Javon Williams Jr. (921 yards) are closing in on the coveted 1,000-yard mark. Davis rushed for 1,118 yards last season and could become the first Saluki since Arkee Whitlock (2005, 2006) to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Other Saluki players with multiple 1,000-yard seasons are Tom Koutsos (1999, 2000, 2001) and Muhammad Abdulqaadir (2002, 2003).
Defense much improved
In conference games, SIU's defense is improved across every statistical category vs. 2018.
Conference-Only Games 2018 2019
Scoring Defense 39.2 (10th) 19.4 (4th)
Total Defense 483.4 (10th) 323.3 (4th)
Rushing Defense 228.5 (8th) 145.3 (4th)
Pass Defense 254.9 (10th) 178.0 (4th)
Pass Defense Efficiency 147.7 (9th) 127.1 (5th)
Sacks 2.1/game (3rd) 3.57/game (1st)
3rd Down Conversions 42.3 (8th) 27.2 (1st)
Salukis 6th in the nation in sacks, 4th in 3rd Down Percentage
SIU's defense ranks 6th in the nation, averaging 3.36 sacks per game. Twelve different players have recorded sacks. Southern tied a school record with nine sacks versus Youngstown State. The unit is 4th in 3rd down percentage, allowing a 30.3 conversion rate, which leads the MVFC.
DE Anthony Knighton climbs to 3rd in career sacks
DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 260, Jr.) has started every game (33) of his Saluki career and is third all-time in sacks at SIU with 21.0, including 6.0 this season. He is 3.0 sacks shy of breaking the school record held by James Phillips (1977-80). 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 33.5 tackles for loss in his career, which is sixth all-time at SIU.
Makel Calhoun 2nd in MVFC-only games with 6.0 sacks
OLB Makel Calhoun (6-3, 216, So.) is second in MVFC-only games with 6.0 sacks and is averaging one sack per conference game (he missed the Missouri State game with a concussion). For the season, he leads the team with 7.0 sacks. Calhoun recorded 2.0 sacks in both the Youngstown State and Indiana State games.
OLB Cody Crider — the Comeback Kid
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 80 tackles (2nd on the team), 12.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks. All of those numbers have surpassed his previous single-season career highs.
WR Landon Lenoir closing in on 100 career catches
WR Landon Lenoir (6-0, 190, Jr.) has 96 career catches for 1,125 receiving yards. He needs four more catches to become only the 14th player in school history with 100 receptions. 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.
WR Avante Cox leads team with 39 catches, 5 TDs
WR Avante Cox (5-10, 175, So.) leads the team in receiving this year with 45 catches for 592 yards and five TDs. The Wyoming transfer has five touchdowns and also has 199 rushing yards (9.9 ave). He was named both the MVFC Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week vs. South Dakota (113 receiving yards, 80 rushing yards, 3 TDs) and Newcomer of the Week against Arkansas State (142 receiving yards).
QB Karé Lyles posts impressive stats during win streak
After losing his first three starts, junior college transfer Karé Lyles (6-1, 225, Jr.) has won five-straight. During the winning streak, he has completed 59-of-91 (.648) passes for 812 yards, 9 TDs and 3 interceptions. Lyles replaced injured starter QB Stone Labanowitz (5-10, 187, So.) during the first series of the UT Martin game on Sept. 14 (SIU went on to win). Labanowitz, who hurt his right shoulder but his healthy again, won a three-way competition during training camp, in which redshirt freshman Nic Baker (5-8, 191, rFr.) was the leader at the start of camp.
Dawg Bites
• Eight different players have caught at least one TD pass for the Salukis this year. Last year, only five different players caught touchdowns.
• SIU leads the league and ranks 5th in the nation in kickoff return coverage yardage (15.39).
• K Nico Gualdoni (6-0, 228, Jr.), who handles kickoffs, replaced injured Griffin Cerra as place kicker three games ago. In two seasons, Gualdoni is a combined 14-of-17 on field goals with a long of 45 yards, and 45-of-46 on PATs.
• True freshmen who have played key roles this season include RB Romeir Elliott (5-5, 188, Fr.), WR Tanner Corum (5-11, 185, Fr.) and CB PJ Jules (6-2, 233, Fr.). Elliott has rushed for 476 yards and a 5.9 yard average. Jules leads the team in special teams tackles with 8. True freshmen can play up to four games and still apply for a redshirt.
Qua Brown 4th 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 fourth in the nation in solo tackles per game (6.3). He had 16 tackles at SEMO and 14 at UMass. He also has eight pass breakups to his credit
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the 2 p.m. game for a special pre-game ceremony to recognize the team's 14 seniors. Making their final appearance at a regular-season game at Saluki Stadium are seniors Sam Bonansinga, Jeremy Chinn, Cody Crider, D.J. Davis, Ernest Dye Jr., Madre Harper, Malik Haynes, Nigel Kilby, Hayden LaPointe, Jacob Marnin, Blake Parzych, Nick Raby, Kyonta Stallworth and Tre Strong.
PURCHASE TICKETS
| No. 1 North Dakota State (11-0, 7-0) at No. 25 Southern Illinois (7-4, 5-2) | |
| Date & Time | Nov. 23, 2019 | 2 p.m. CT |
| Location | Carbondale, Ill. | Saluki Stadium (15,000) |
| TV/Video Stream | ESPN+, Brian Shawn, Lee Timmerman |
| Live Stats | Provided by SIU |
| Radio | Saluki Radio Network Connor Onion, Gene Green, Connor James |
| Radio Stream | TuneIn (free) |
| Southern Illinois | Game Notes (PDF) | Stats | Media Guide |
| North Dakota State | Game Notes (PDF) | Stats | Media Guide |
| MVFC | Weekly Notes | Stats |
| All-Time Series | Series: Salukis trail, 3-8 (H: 3-3, A: 0-5) |
| Social Media | @SIU_Football  | @SIUSalukis  | Saluki Football  |
| Video Channel | Vimeo |
Series versus North Dakota State
North Dakota State holds an 8-3 advantage in the all-time series between the schools, including an active seven-game winning streak. Last year, the Bison won, 65-17, in the regular-season finale in Fargo. SIU scored first on a 100-yard kickoff return by JeQuan Burton, and the game was tied, 14-14, midway through the first quarter, before NDSU reeled off five unanswered touchdowns.
Salukis ranked for first time since 2014
The Salukis entered the FCS Coaches poll at No. 25 this week, marking the first week SIU has been ranked since Nov. 10, 2014. Southern moved up three spots to No. 15 in this week's Massey Power Rating. They have FCS wins over No. 36 UT Martin, No. 44 South Dakota, No. 49 Youngstown State, No. 56 Indiana State, No. 75 Missouri State and No. 99 Western Illinois. Their FCS losses came against No. 6 South Dakota State, No. 11 Illinois State and No. 23 SEMO. SIU played without it's top offensive and defensive players (D.J. Davis and Jeremy Chinn) versus SDSU and Illinois State.
5-game win streak longest since 2009
The Salukis are having their best season since 2009, when the team went 11-2 and won 11-straight games. During Southern's current five-game winning streak, it has out-scored opponents by an average margin of 20.2 points. The 24-point win at Western Illinois was the team's largest road margin in school history.
Salukis versus ranked FCS opponents
On Oct. 19, the Salukis beat No. 18 Youngstown State to snap an eight-game losing streak versus ranked FCS opponents. SIU is 1-4 all-time against No. 1 ranked teams. The win came at Western Kentucky on Oct. 27, 2005 when Jerry Kill was the team's head coach. The losses were to Northern Iowa in 1992 and to North Dakota State in 2013, 2014 and 2018.
Salukis are one of three FCS teams with an FBS win
Southern Illlinois is one of only three FCS teams to beat an FBS opponent in 2019. The Salukis beat UMass, 45-20, on Sept. 7. The other FCS wins were Central Arkansas over Western Kentucky, and The Citadel over Georgia Tech.
Buck Buchanan award finalist Jeremy Chinn invited to Senior Bowl
Buck Buchanan award finalist S Jeremy Chinn (6-3, 212, Sr.) has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl on Jan. 25, 2020. He will be just the third player in school history, joining TE Damon Jones (1996) and DB Dennis Harmon (1963) to play in the postseason all-star game.
Chinn is coming off a career-high 15-tackle performance at Western Illinois and has four interceptions this season. He ranks fifth at SIU in career interceptions (13), second in pass breakups (27) and second in forced fumbles (6). A starter since his freshman season and with 34 career starts, Chinn was named the "Top FCS Target" by the Senior Bowl heading into the season.
Javon Williams Jr. sets MVFC freshman record with 18 touchdowns
Jerry Rice Award watch list RB Javon Williams Jr. (6-1, 239, rFr.) has scored 18 touchdowns on the season (16 rushing, 2 receiving) — the most by a freshman in Division I and seventh overall in the FCS. The 18 TDs is an MVFC freshman record. He has also thrown two TD passes. In the game against Youngstown State, Williams Jr. became the first player in school history to rush for a TD, catch at TD and pass for a TD in the same game. Frequently operating out of the Wildcat formation, Williams averages 6.6 yards per carry and his 921 rushing yards ranks second among freshmen in SIU history. Tom Koutsos holds the mark with 1,052 in 1999.
RB D.J. Davis surpasses 5,000 all-purpose yards
RB D.J. Davis (5-8, 170, Sr.) ranks second at SIU and 7th in the MVFC with 5,349 career all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, return yardage). Arkee Whitlock holds the school record and is fourth all-time in the MVFC with 5,601. Davis, who missed two games this season with a dislocated elbow, has recorded 11 100-yard rushing games in his last 20 outings. Davis ranks fifth in career rushing at SIU (2,627). He is on the 2019 watch list for the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year trophy.
1,000-yard backfields
In SIU history, Saluki running backs have rushed for 1,000 yards in a season 20 times. The feat has never been done by two players in the same season. Heading into Saturday's game, D.J. Davis (956 yards) and Javon Williams Jr. (921 yards) are closing in on the coveted 1,000-yard mark. Davis rushed for 1,118 yards last season and could become the first Saluki since Arkee Whitlock (2005, 2006) to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Other Saluki players with multiple 1,000-yard seasons are Tom Koutsos (1999, 2000, 2001) and Muhammad Abdulqaadir (2002, 2003).
Defense much improved
In conference games, SIU's defense is improved across every statistical category vs. 2018.
Conference-Only Games 2018 2019
Scoring Defense 39.2 (10th) 19.4 (4th)
Total Defense 483.4 (10th) 323.3 (4th)
Rushing Defense 228.5 (8th) 145.3 (4th)
Pass Defense 254.9 (10th) 178.0 (4th)
Pass Defense Efficiency 147.7 (9th) 127.1 (5th)
Sacks 2.1/game (3rd) 3.57/game (1st)
3rd Down Conversions 42.3 (8th) 27.2 (1st)
Salukis 6th in the nation in sacks, 4th in 3rd Down Percentage
SIU's defense ranks 6th in the nation, averaging 3.36 sacks per game. Twelve different players have recorded sacks. Southern tied a school record with nine sacks versus Youngstown State. The unit is 4th in 3rd down percentage, allowing a 30.3 conversion rate, which leads the MVFC.
DE Anthony Knighton climbs to 3rd in career sacks
DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 260, Jr.) has started every game (33) of his Saluki career and is third all-time in sacks at SIU with 21.0, including 6.0 this season. He is 3.0 sacks shy of breaking the school record held by James Phillips (1977-80). 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 33.5 tackles for loss in his career, which is sixth all-time at SIU.
Makel Calhoun 2nd in MVFC-only games with 6.0 sacks
OLB Makel Calhoun (6-3, 216, So.) is second in MVFC-only games with 6.0 sacks and is averaging one sack per conference game (he missed the Missouri State game with a concussion). For the season, he leads the team with 7.0 sacks. Calhoun recorded 2.0 sacks in both the Youngstown State and Indiana State games.
OLB Cody Crider — the Comeback Kid
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 80 tackles (2nd on the team), 12.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks. All of those numbers have surpassed his previous single-season career highs.
WR Landon Lenoir closing in on 100 career catches
WR Landon Lenoir (6-0, 190, Jr.) has 96 career catches for 1,125 receiving yards. He needs four more catches to become only the 14th player in school history with 100 receptions. 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.
WR Avante Cox leads team with 39 catches, 5 TDs
WR Avante Cox (5-10, 175, So.) leads the team in receiving this year with 45 catches for 592 yards and five TDs. The Wyoming transfer has five touchdowns and also has 199 rushing yards (9.9 ave). He was named both the MVFC Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week vs. South Dakota (113 receiving yards, 80 rushing yards, 3 TDs) and Newcomer of the Week against Arkansas State (142 receiving yards).
QB Karé Lyles posts impressive stats during win streak
After losing his first three starts, junior college transfer Karé Lyles (6-1, 225, Jr.) has won five-straight. During the winning streak, he has completed 59-of-91 (.648) passes for 812 yards, 9 TDs and 3 interceptions. Lyles replaced injured starter QB Stone Labanowitz (5-10, 187, So.) during the first series of the UT Martin game on Sept. 14 (SIU went on to win). Labanowitz, who hurt his right shoulder but his healthy again, won a three-way competition during training camp, in which redshirt freshman Nic Baker (5-8, 191, rFr.) was the leader at the start of camp.
Dawg Bites
• Eight different players have caught at least one TD pass for the Salukis this year. Last year, only five different players caught touchdowns.
• SIU leads the league and ranks 5th in the nation in kickoff return coverage yardage (15.39).
• K Nico Gualdoni (6-0, 228, Jr.), who handles kickoffs, replaced injured Griffin Cerra as place kicker three games ago. In two seasons, Gualdoni is a combined 14-of-17 on field goals with a long of 45 yards, and 45-of-46 on PATs.
• True freshmen who have played key roles this season include RB Romeir Elliott (5-5, 188, Fr.), WR Tanner Corum (5-11, 185, Fr.) and CB PJ Jules (6-2, 233, Fr.). Elliott has rushed for 476 yards and a 5.9 yard average. Jules leads the team in special teams tackles with 8. True freshmen can play up to four games and still apply for a redshirt.
Qua Brown 4th 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 fourth in the nation in solo tackles per game (6.3). He had 16 tackles at SEMO and 14 at UMass. He also has eight pass breakups to his credit
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