Aerial attack leads Salukis to 47-21 win over SEMO in War For The Wheel

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The ship's wheel is staying in Carbondale for another year. Southern Illinois maintained its grip in the War For The Wheel, beating SEMO, 47-21, on Thursday night in the annual rivalry game between two schools separated by 45 miles and the Mississippi River.

Sophomore quarterback Nic Baker set a school record with 460 passing yards in just over three quarters of work for the No. 7-ranked Salukis (1-0). His night started with a school-record 99-yard touchdown pass to Avante Cox on the offense's first play from scrimmage. His evening finished early in the fourth quarter with a 13-yard TD pass to Landon Lenoir that made the score 44-14 and put him over the top for the school passing yardage record.

"I think (Baker) proved to everybody why he can be an elite player in this league, this country," said SIU head coach Nick Hill.

Baker completed 25-of-34 passes with four touchdowns and one interception. A week after winning the quarterback battle over Stone Labanowitz, Baker was poised and in command of SIU's potent offense. He threw touchdowns to four different receivers and spread the ball to nine different players.

Coming off a playoff season and with 32 fifth and sixth-year seniors, Southern entered the game as the favorite. No one expected a blowout, though, of a SEMO squad that was picked to finish second in the Ohio Valley Conference. After the Redhawks (0-1) tied the game, 7-7, Southern ran off 31 unanswered points in the second and third quarters.

"It's a big game for us and (our players) respected that," Hill said. "We played hard and we played disciplined. Our guys were focused to win this football game. Our guys have goals for this season and this is step one."

Cox, a Payton Award watch list candidate, had five catches for 187 yards, but it was several lesser-known targets who also shined. Baker's second touchdown throw went to Memphis transfer Tyce Daniel, who made his Saluki debut at tight end with five catches for 62 yards. Baker then connected with Izaiah Hartrup for a 12-yard score — one of six catches for the sophomore receiver.

"The guys are just getting started with their chemistry," Hill said. "That's game four for (Baker) starting. Each week will create different challenges and obviously the next game is a huge challenge for us going to a Power 5 opponent (Kansas State), so we just have to keep growing as a team."

Baker is 4-0 as a starter at SIU.

"I think I have the right attitude and people believe in me and people want to get behind that," Baker said. "We want to win every game we play, and to do that, you have to win the first one."

Southern's defense held SEMO to 243 total yards, and a relentless pass rush made life miserable for quarterback CJ Ogbonna. In his Redhawk debut, he was sacked four times and hit several more times just as he released the ball. He finished the night 9-of-19 for 47 yards.

"We got after him," Hill said. "We got the lead early and put hits on the quarterback and made it tough on him."

San Diego transfer Kevin Glajchen had a sack in his Saluki debut, as did Miami of Ohio transfer Richie Hagarty. Veterans Keenan Agnew, Anthony Knighton and Bryce Notree were also credited with sacks.

"We're real physical up front — real big, real nasty," said Notree.

"We definitely controlled the line of scrimmages," added Hill.

A large contingent of Saluki fans made the trek over from Southern Illinois and had plenty to celebrate.

"To come out and win the way we did is a really big stepping stone for us moving forward," Notree said.

NOTES: Nic Baker's 99-yard touchdown pass to Avanté Cox broke a school record that had stood since 1983 (Rick Johnson to Cecil Ratcliff, vs. Drake) … Nic Baker also broke Sam Straub's 2016 school record for passing yards in a single game … his four touchdowns are tied for the third-most in a game in school history … it marks the 26th time in program history, and the the eighth time since Nick Hill became head coach in 2016 in which a quarterback has thrown for four or more touchdowns … Avante Cox's 187-yards receiving are the seventh-most in program history and are the most by a Saluki since 2016 (Israel Lamprakes, vs. WIU, 2016) … SIU's 4** passing yards are also a school record and it marked the fourth time in the Nick Hill era that the Salukis have thrown for 400 or more yards … Anthony Knighton's half sack gives him 22.5 for his career to move into sole possession of second on SIU's all-time career sacks list … Southern's 47 points in its season opening win marked the third time in six seasons under Hill that the Salukis have scored 47-plus points in a season-opening win … Southern's 47 points are the seventh-most in a game under Hill.

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