Southern Illinois University
6-3 , 4-2
Missouri St.
6-3 , 5-2
Football falls to Missouri State, 38-28
11/06/2021 | 4:36:00 | Football
The No. 17-ranked Bears (6-3, 5-2) and the No. 7 Salukis (6-3, 4-2) are among four teams that each have two conference losses, as teams battle for coveted spots in the 24-team FCS Playoffs. The other two-loss teams are South Dakota (4-2) and South Dakota State (4-2). North Dakota State holds the top spot with a 5-1 mark.
Playing its fourth-straight ranked opponent, Southern took a 13-10 halftime lead on a career-long 55-yard field goal by Nico Gualdoni — his second boot from 50+ on the day.
"We were able to steal the momentum with the big kick coming into halftime," SIU head coach Nick Hill said. "We haven't been great getting points on that first drive (of the second half). We have to be able to go up two scores and put a team away."
Nic Baker completed 21-of-38 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns for the Salukis, but SIU was held to a season-low 36 yards rushing and struggled to sustain drives, with five 3-and-outs.
"We're not an offense that just mauls people," Hill said. "That's not how we're built across the front line. First down success is crucial. Drives that we were good on, we had first-down success."
After being sacked seven times in the first half, MSU quarterback Jason Shelley was dropped only once in the second half, and he gave the Bears a 17-13 lead on a 14-yard touchdown run with 3:14 left in the third quarter.
"Those 3rd-and-longs when no one's open and he's scrambling for his life, and he gets first downs," Hill said. "The kid made some plays."
Missouri State tacked on two more TDs early in the fourth quarter, including an 87-yard run by Kevon Latulas — a back-breaker that made the score 31-13.
The Salukis answered with a 19-yard TD pass from Baker to Izaiah Hartrup to pull within 31-20, but after getting the ball back, they were turned away on a crucial 4th-and-1 when Baker was dropped for a seven-yard loss with 8:16 to go. It was the second time on the day Southern was unable to convert on 4th-and-1, and Missouri State went on to score again.
"We've been terrible the last two weeks on fourth-and-short," Hill acknowledged. "It starts with me. We've tried it all as far as the play selection."
The Salukis have lost two straight and have critical games remaining at Indiana State and home versus Youngstown State.
"I know it seems like we may be in a slump, but I don't think we are," said wide receiver Landon Lenoir, who had seven catches for 100 yards. "I think we can turn this thing around quickly. I've been on this team a long time, and I've seen the losing side, the winning side. I believe in our team."
"We're just getting out-executed in critical moments, and we've got to find a way to flip that script," Hill said. "You show back up the next day and go to work, you have a good attitude and try to figure it out. We have a team that will do that."
Team Stats
MSU 7, SIU 0
MSU - Shelley,Jason 20 yd run (Pizano,Jose kick), 10 plays, 82 yards, TOP 5:09
MSU 7, SIU 7
SIU - Strong, Justin 17 yd pass from Baker, Nic (Gualdoni, Nico kick) 5 plays, 17 yards, TOP 0:00
MSU 10, SIU 7
MSU - Pizano,Jose 51 yd field goal 10 plays, 38 yards, TOP 5:37
MSU 10, SIU 10
SIU - Gualdoni, Nico 50 yd field goal 9 plays, 42 yards, TOP 3:21
MSU 10, SIU 13
SIU - Gualdoni, Nico 55 yd field goal 4 plays, 21 yards, TOP 0:18
MSU 17, SIU 13
MSU - Shelley,Jason 14 yd run (Pizano,Jose kick), 11 plays, 58 yards, TOP 4:37
MSU 24, SIU 13
MSU - Little,Tobias 1 yd run (Pizano,Jose kick), 8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:12
MSU 31, SIU 13
MSU - Latulas,Kevon 87 yd run (Pizano,Jose kick), 2 plays, 96 yards, TOP 0:47
MSU 31, SIU 20
SIU - Hartrup, Izaia 19 yd pass from Baker, Nic (Gualdoni, Nico kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:37
MSU 38, SIU 20
MSU - Scott,Tyrone 31 yd pass from Shelley,Jason (Pizano,Jose kick) 4 plays, 35 yards, TOP 1:39
MSU 38, SIU 28
SIU - Daniel, Tyce 11 yd pass from Baker, Nic (Hartrup, Izaia rush) 8 plays, 76 yards, TOP 2:24
