
Football's winning streak snapped at South Dakota
10/22/2022 | 6:24:00 | Football
The Salukis (5-3, 4-1) dominated the first quarter, rolling up a 172-18 advantage in total yards. Javon Williams Jr. capped the opening 13-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge — his seventh TD in the last three games.
The first warning sign for Southern hit when wide receiver Bryce Miller fumbled on the team's next drive. The ball was scooped up by South Dakota's Brock Mogensen, who returned it 37 yards to the SIU 6. Two plays later, Travis Theis put the Coyotes (2-5, 1-3) on the board with a six-yard TD run.
SIU came right back with a 74-yard touchdown drive that featured a Ro Elliott 39-yard run, before Nic Baker scrambled to his left and found Avante Cox for a 16-yard touchdown pass.
The Salukis extended their lead to 21-7 on a Baker to Miller nine-yard TD strike with 2:51 left in the half.
Momentum shifted to South Dakota just before halftime, when Eddie Ogamba drilled a 46-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 21-10.
The Coyotes took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 78 yards in nine plays for a touchdown that made it 21-17.
South Dakota became the first team to run the ball effectively against Southern's defense this season, which came into the game ranked No. 9 against the run. Theis and Shomari Lawrence both surpassed 100 yards rushing in the game for the Coyotes.
"It was a bunch of inside and outside zone," explained SIU head coach Nick Hill. "They hit a couple counters on us, the backs ran hard. We weren't getting them in those tough down-and-distances."
Southern was out-gained, 140-74, in the third quarter, and 102-36 in the fourth.
"We couldn't sustain drives, couldn't hit that big play," Hill said. "I think we've gotten used to our defense shutting teams down."
Southern's only scoring in the second half was a 21-yard field goal by Jake Baumgarte midway through the third quarter that put the Salukis ahead, 24-17. Lawrence then scored on a 29-yard run for USD early in the fourth to tie the game, 24-24.
The Salukis had two missed opportunities in the fourth quarter. After the defense rose up to stop South Dakota on 4th-and-1 near midfield, the offense couldn't capitalize. SIU's own 4th-and-1 opportunity was spoiled by a false start penalty that forced a punt.
After SIU's defense delivered a three-and-out, the offense drove to the South Dakota 42, but Baker was picked off on 4th-and-6 with 5:00 left in the game.
"You've got to put it in your offense's hand," Hill said, of his decision to go for it on fourth down. "We're trying to win the game. We're not trying to play for ties, so at that point, we're going to have to score."
USD's game-winning drive went 41 yards and set up Ogamba's 44-yard field goal with 2:31 remaining for the final margin of victory.
"We have to be humble in our victories and humble in our defeats, as well," Hill said. "Every team we're playing the rest of the season beat us last year. That should have our attention. Coming back home, we need a big win."
The Salukis host Northern Iowa next Saturday at 2 p.m. It's Youth Day at SIU, and kids 12-and-younger get in free. Brown Dawg's Kids Club members can line the pregame tunnel on the field.
Team Stats

SIU 7, USD 0
SIU - Williams Jr.,Javon 1 yd run (Baumgarte,Jake kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:37

SIU 7, USD 7
USD - Theis,Travis 6 yd run (Ogamba,Eddie kick), 2 plays, 6 yards, TOP 00:53

SIU 14, USD 7
SIU - Cox,Avante 16 yd pass from Baker,Nic (Baumgarte,Jake kick) 7 plays, 74 yards, TOP 02:57

SIU 21, USD 7
SIU - Miller,Bryce 9 yd pass from Baker,Nic (Baumgarte,Jake kick) 11 plays, 45 yards, TOP 05:39

SIU 21, USD 10
USD - Ogamba,Eddie 46 yd field goal 10 plays, 43 yards, TOP 02:22

SIU 21, USD 17
USD - Eliodor,Wesley 15 yd pass from Bouman,Aidan (Ogamba,Eddie kick) 9 plays, 78 yards, TOP 04:10

SIU 24, USD 17
SIU - Baumgarte,Jake 21 yd field goal 9 plays, 72 yards, TOP 03:22

SIU 24, USD 24
USD - Lawrence,Shomari 29 yd run (Ogamba,Eddie kick), 6 plays, 69 yards, TOP 01:56

SIU 24, USD 27
USD - Ogamba,Eddie 44 yd field goal 6 plays, 41 yards, TOP 02:29