Southern Illinois University
1-1 , 0-1
North Dakota
1-0 , 1-0
Football falls at North Dakota, 44-21
02/20/2021 | 4:09:00 | Football
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — North Dakota reeled off 28 unanswered points in the second half to pull away from Southern Illinois, 44-21, on Saturday at the Alerus Center in the conference opener for both schools.
The No. 24-ranked Salukis (1-1, 0-1) took the opening kickoff and marched 84 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown, capped by an eight-yard pass from Kare Lyles to running back Justin Strong.
The fast start didn't last, however, as Southern's offense coughed up five turnovers in its final nine drives, including three first-half fumbles. Twice in the second quarter, Lyles was strip-sacked and both were costly. The first one stopped a promising drive at the UND 30, and the second resulted in a 36-yard touchdown return by Devon Krzanowski. Lyles took a blind-side hit on the play from UND cornerback C.J. Siegel. The senior QB left the game with a rib injury and did not return.
Sophomore Nic Baker replaced Lyles and led Southern on a 75-yard touchdown drive just before halftime, closing the deficit to 16-14 after a one-yard TD run by Romeir Elliott.
The third quarter belonged to the Fighting Hawks (1-0, 1-0) who scored 21 points and wore down Southern's defense with their ground game. North Dakota outgained SIU, 229-90, in rushing yardage on the day.
The Salukis were not the same crisp football team that beat No. 25 ranked SEMO 110 days ago. Practice time has been in short supply for Southern during the last 10 days, due to snow and ice-covered turf at Saluki Stadium.
"We've had some obstacles in the way, but honestly, our motto has been, the obstacles are the way," said SIU head coach Nick Hill. "You'll hear zero excuses from me. There's not asterisk about the weather was bad in Carbondale. We took the field expecting to win, and we didn't do that."
Southern's running game, considered a team strength, averaged just 2.6 yards per carry, as preseason All-American Javon Williams Jr. was bottled up for 29 yards on 13 attempts. Hill announced that Williams Jr. had surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle after the SEMO game and was just cleared to play on Thursday.
"Javon was pressing, trying to make a big play," Hill said. "His conditioning level, ball security — he hasn't been through a live situation — that's the first time Javon's been tackled since SEMO."
Meanwhile, the Fighting Hawks running game kept getting stronger as the game went on. UND averaged 5.9 yards per carry and piled up 186 rushing yards in the second half, compared to just 43 in the first half.
"They wore us out and dominated the second half, and I feel we're a better, more physical team than that," Hill acknowledged. "We're going to have to play into (football) shape. There's going to be some sore and tired guys that took a lot of snaps that haven't done that since SEMO. It showed up at the line of scrimmage in the second half.
Losing the turnover battle, 5-0, also led to field position woes for the Salukis. SIU's average drive start was its own 19, compared to UND's average start at its own 45.
Baker finished 12-of-23 passing for 153 yards and two interceptions. He led two scoring drives and made an impressive 39-yard throw on one play to Avante Cox after eluding a heavy rush. Cox had seven catches for 107 yards.
"I felt Nic brought a pretty good spark on the last series of the second half," Hill said. "Nic's teammates believe in Nic Baker."
The Salukis have a week to get ready for their conference home opener, and it won't get any easier with No. 1 North Dakota State coming to Carbondale.
"I felt good about our team and I still do," Hill said. "We have to get better in a lot of areas. We have a locker room that feels like it got punched in the gut. You really only have one choice — you have to show back up for work tomorrow."
Team Stats
SIU 7, UND 0
SIU - Strong, Justin 8 yd pass from Lyles, Kare (Gualdoni, Nico kick) 11 plays, 84 yards, TOP 5:33
SIU 7, UND 7
UND - Brett Finke 4 yd pass from Tommy Schuster (Adam Stage kick) 2 plays, 17 yards, TOP 0:38
SIU 7, UND 10
UND - Adam Stage 27 yd field goal 15 plays, 52 yards, TOP 7:17
SIU 7, UND 16
UND - D. Krzanowski 36 yd fumble recovery (Adam Stage kickfailed)
SIU 14, UND 16
SIU - Elliott, Romeir 1 yd run (Gualdoni, Nico kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:10
SIU 14, UND 23
UND - Otis Weah 1 yd run (Adam Stage kick), 10 plays, 69 yards, TOP 5:30
SIU 14, UND 30
UND - Dalton Gee 5 yd pass from Tommy Schuster (Adam Stage kick) 8 plays, 45 yards, TOP 3:42
SIU 14, UND 37
UND - Bo Belquist 9 yd pass from Tommy Schuster (Adam Stage kick) 2 plays, 12 yards, TOP 0:48
SIU 14, UND 44
UND - Luke Skokna 1 yd run (Adam Stage kick), 8 plays, 41 yards, TOP 2:32
SIU 21, UND 44
SIU - Williams Jr., J 1 yd run (Gualdoni, Nico kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:12
