Saturday, October 8
Springfield, MO
2:00 PM
Southern Illinois University
at
Missouri St.
Football back on the road at Missouri State on Saturday
10/06/2022 | 10:24:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — For the fourth time in six games, Southern Illinois plays on the road, with a key matchup at No. 20-ranked Missouri State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a game televised on ESPN+.
The No.-17-ranked Salukis (3-2, 2-0) have won three-straight games and are 7-4 in their last 11 road trips. After allowing 96 points in the first two games, Southern's defense has yielded only 55 points in the last three games.
The Bears (2-3, 0-2) have won the last two meetings between the teams and four of the last six.
Two years ago in Springfield, Jose Pizano slipped a 33-yard field goal just inside the right upright as time expired to lift Missouri State to a 30-27 win. Last year in Carbondale, MSU reeled off three touchdowns in a six-minute span in the second half to turn a three-point deficit into a 38-28 win.
Saluki Notebook
On the 19-14 victory over Illinois State
"We did enough to win the football game. We got off to a good start in the first half, and really just held on in the second half. We needed to be better and that was the emphasis with the team. We looked at some of the things that could've cost us in that game. We've really just bought in since early in the season how each game was going to be different, and how each game is really a season of its own. The games have different flows, and the ultimate goal is to find a way to win, and we did that on Saturday night."
On this weeks opponent, Missouri State:
"They create a lot of challenges, they're a really good football team with some of the best skill that we will see. They have one of the more talented quarterbacks in the country. I have a lot of respect for him and the toughness that he shows. I have tons of respect for coach (Bobby) Petrino and just being able to coach against him. He has a good football team."
On playing four road games in the first six games:
"One good thing about that is we've got the experience of what the trips need to look like and how we need to prepare ourselves to play well on the road, and we've got to do that again this week if we want to have a chance down there on Saturday."
On containing Missouri State quarterback Jason Shelley:
"He's just such a great creator with his feet. Often-times that's a big part of his game, is making those big plays when there's a little bit of chaos around him. There's a fine balance on how you want to go after a quarterback like this. When you do bring pressure, then you're susceptible to different things. We've got to do a good job of changing up the pictures on him, and when we do get an opportunity to get him on the ground, we've got to tackle well."
The No.-17-ranked Salukis (3-2, 2-0) have won three-straight games and are 7-4 in their last 11 road trips. After allowing 96 points in the first two games, Southern's defense has yielded only 55 points in the last three games.
The Bears (2-3, 0-2) have won the last two meetings between the teams and four of the last six.
Two years ago in Springfield, Jose Pizano slipped a 33-yard field goal just inside the right upright as time expired to lift Missouri State to a 30-27 win. Last year in Carbondale, MSU reeled off three touchdowns in a six-minute span in the second half to turn a three-point deficit into a 38-28 win.
Saluki Notebook
- SIU is one of 13 FCS teams that have not lost a fumble this season. SIU's last fumble lost was on Nov. 20, 2021 versus Youngstown State (Javon Williams Jr. in 1st quarter) — a span of seven games.
- RBs Ro Elliott (1,543), Javon Williams Jr. (2,332) and Justin Strong (1,006) have combined for 4,881 career rushing yards and 52 rushing TDs.
- FB Jacob Garrett has 4 TD catches to lead the team this season. He now has 7 receiving TDs in his career.
- S PJ Jules leads the team in tackles (28) and is also the active career leader in tackles (133).
- Twelve different players have had sacks for SIU this season. Dewey Greene (3.5) and Richie Hagarty (3.0) are the sack leaders.
- Six Saluki players have played 40+ games in their Saluki careers — LB Ma'kel Calhoun (49), DT Keenan Agnew (49), RB Javon Williams Jr. (43), FB Jacob Garrett (42), RB Justin Strong (42) and DE Raquan Lindsey (41).
- LT Beau Branyan leads the team in consecutive games started (39)
- SIU has won its last five games against in-state schools (Northwestern, Illinois State twice, Western Illinois twice)
- The Salukis have the shortest C-QB-RB combination in school history. Center Jacob Caughell is 6-foot, quarterback Nic Baker is 5-foot-9, and running back Ro Elliott is 5-foot-6.
- With a catch on Saturday, WR Avante Cox will tie Cornell Craig's school record of 38-consecutive games played with at least one catch.
On the 19-14 victory over Illinois State
"We did enough to win the football game. We got off to a good start in the first half, and really just held on in the second half. We needed to be better and that was the emphasis with the team. We looked at some of the things that could've cost us in that game. We've really just bought in since early in the season how each game was going to be different, and how each game is really a season of its own. The games have different flows, and the ultimate goal is to find a way to win, and we did that on Saturday night."
On this weeks opponent, Missouri State:
"They create a lot of challenges, they're a really good football team with some of the best skill that we will see. They have one of the more talented quarterbacks in the country. I have a lot of respect for him and the toughness that he shows. I have tons of respect for coach (Bobby) Petrino and just being able to coach against him. He has a good football team."
On playing four road games in the first six games:
"One good thing about that is we've got the experience of what the trips need to look like and how we need to prepare ourselves to play well on the road, and we've got to do that again this week if we want to have a chance down there on Saturday."
On containing Missouri State quarterback Jason Shelley:
"He's just such a great creator with his feet. Often-times that's a big part of his game, is making those big plays when there's a little bit of chaos around him. There's a fine balance on how you want to go after a quarterback like this. When you do bring pressure, then you're susceptible to different things. We've got to do a good job of changing up the pictures on him, and when we do get an opportunity to get him on the ground, we've got to tackle well."
Players Mentioned
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QB
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