Saturday, October 14
Murray, KY
2 PM
Southern Illinois University
5-1 , 2-1
27
at
6
Murray St.
2-4 , 1-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Southern Ill.
10
3
7
7
27
Murray St.
0
3
0
3
6
Big win at Murray State sets up Homecoming showdown with No. 1 South Dakota State
10/14/2023 | 5:48:00 | Football
MURRAY, Ky. — Southern Illinois ran for 270 yards, and Nic Baker became the school's career passing yardage leader during a 27-6 win over Murray State on Saturday.
However, it was the defense that stole the show for the No. 13-ranked Salukis (5-1, 2-1), as SIU held a conference opponent without a touchdown for the first time in 11 years.
Three times, the Racers (2-4, 1-2) had the ball inside the SIU 5, but could only manage three points. Southern's defense limited the Racers to 28 yards rushing and only 185 total yards on the day.
"It's something that we've come to expect out of (the defense) and they expect it out of themselves," said SIU head coach Nick Hill. "They've really played winning football the entire six-game schedule."
SIU jumped on top on the first play from scrimmage when running back Justin Strong sprinted 80 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. Then the defense took over.
Murray State's first drive advanced to the SIU 5 but was turned away by cornerback DJ Johnson, who intercepted a DJ Williams pass in the right corner of the end zone.
"Just complete heart and hustle — we just kept fighting and scratching no matter where we were on the field," Johnson said. "It's just what we do every single day."
With Southern leading, 10-3, the Saluki defense found itself in a bind late in the second quarter after punter Nathan Torney mis-handled a snap, giving MSU possession at the SIU 26. Two plays later, the Racers had the ball first-and-goal at the 2, with a chance to tie the game.
Southern's defense would have none of it, holding Cortezz Jones to one yard on first down, stuffing a pair of QB sneak attempts, and dropping Jones for a three-yard loss on fourth down.
The Saluki offense took over at its own 4 with 2:52 left in the half and marched 80 yards in 11 plays to set up a 33-yard Thomas Burks field goal just before the half ended, giving SIU a 13-3 lead.
"That's when you can really put a team away, when you take points off the board with them inside the five, and then go get points," Hill said. "Just a great effort by (the defense) all day."
Southern added two touchdowns in the second half. With 8:07 left in the third quarter, wide receiver Vinson Davis III took a direct snap from center and sprinted nine yards for a score. With 4:25 remaining in the fourth, running back Lashaun Lester punched it in from two yards out.
After rushing for just eight yards last week at Youngstown, SIU's run game was much improved this week. Strong finished with 128 yards, Lester added 85, and Jaelin Benefield returned from injury to net 39 yards.
"On Monday, I told them our goal was to rush for 250 yards as a unit," Hill said. "We stayed committed to it, rushed the ball 50 times. It's something to build off of for our guys."
Baker finished with 137 passing yards and eclipsed the mark of 7,867 career passing yards set by Joel Sambursky in 2005.
"What makes Nic special in my eyes is he's a complete team player, and these records are a by-product of him being a really good player," Hill said. "He's a sixth-year senior, he's not concerned about things like the NFL. It's about winning a championship. "
Today's win sets up a Week 7 showdown with No. 1-ranked South Dakota State next week in Carbondale.
"It will be a great test for us," Hill acknowledged. "I hope that Saluki Nation is excited and respects the opponent that's coming in. It should be a full house. We have to stay focused on what our job is, and that's playing well."
Added Baker, "it doesn't get any better — No. 1 at home, Homecoming. Do something special — we're excited."
However, it was the defense that stole the show for the No. 13-ranked Salukis (5-1, 2-1), as SIU held a conference opponent without a touchdown for the first time in 11 years.
Three times, the Racers (2-4, 1-2) had the ball inside the SIU 5, but could only manage three points. Southern's defense limited the Racers to 28 yards rushing and only 185 total yards on the day.
"It's something that we've come to expect out of (the defense) and they expect it out of themselves," said SIU head coach Nick Hill. "They've really played winning football the entire six-game schedule."
SIU jumped on top on the first play from scrimmage when running back Justin Strong sprinted 80 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. Then the defense took over.
Murray State's first drive advanced to the SIU 5 but was turned away by cornerback DJ Johnson, who intercepted a DJ Williams pass in the right corner of the end zone.
"Just complete heart and hustle — we just kept fighting and scratching no matter where we were on the field," Johnson said. "It's just what we do every single day."
With Southern leading, 10-3, the Saluki defense found itself in a bind late in the second quarter after punter Nathan Torney mis-handled a snap, giving MSU possession at the SIU 26. Two plays later, the Racers had the ball first-and-goal at the 2, with a chance to tie the game.
Southern's defense would have none of it, holding Cortezz Jones to one yard on first down, stuffing a pair of QB sneak attempts, and dropping Jones for a three-yard loss on fourth down.
The Saluki offense took over at its own 4 with 2:52 left in the half and marched 80 yards in 11 plays to set up a 33-yard Thomas Burks field goal just before the half ended, giving SIU a 13-3 lead.
"That's when you can really put a team away, when you take points off the board with them inside the five, and then go get points," Hill said. "Just a great effort by (the defense) all day."
Southern added two touchdowns in the second half. With 8:07 left in the third quarter, wide receiver Vinson Davis III took a direct snap from center and sprinted nine yards for a score. With 4:25 remaining in the fourth, running back Lashaun Lester punched it in from two yards out.
After rushing for just eight yards last week at Youngstown, SIU's run game was much improved this week. Strong finished with 128 yards, Lester added 85, and Jaelin Benefield returned from injury to net 39 yards.
"On Monday, I told them our goal was to rush for 250 yards as a unit," Hill said. "We stayed committed to it, rushed the ball 50 times. It's something to build off of for our guys."
Baker finished with 137 passing yards and eclipsed the mark of 7,867 career passing yards set by Joel Sambursky in 2005.
"What makes Nic special in my eyes is he's a complete team player, and these records are a by-product of him being a really good player," Hill said. "He's a sixth-year senior, he's not concerned about things like the NFL. It's about winning a championship. "
Today's win sets up a Week 7 showdown with No. 1-ranked South Dakota State next week in Carbondale.
"It will be a great test for us," Hill acknowledged. "I hope that Saluki Nation is excited and respects the opponent that's coming in. It should be a full house. We have to stay focused on what our job is, and that's playing well."
Added Baker, "it doesn't get any better — No. 1 at home, Homecoming. Do something special — we're excited."
Team Stats
SIU
MUR
Total Yards
407
185
Pass Yards
137
157
Rushing Yards
270
28
Penalty Yards
61
75
1st Downs
20
13
3rd Downs
9
3
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
32:41
25:33
1st Quarter
SIU 7, MUR 0
SIU - Strong,Justin 80 yd run (Baumgarte,Jake kick), 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:13
SIU 10, MUR 0
SIU - Burks,Thomas 21 yd field goal 16 plays, 76 yards, TOP 06:50
2nd Quarter
SIU 10, MUR 3
MUR - Maldonado,Matt 44 yd field goal 5 plays, 36 yards, TOP 00:00
SIU 13, MUR 3
SIU - Burks,Thomas 33 yd field goal 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:44
3rd Quarter
SIU 20, MUR 3
SIU - Davis,Vinson 9 yd run (Baumgarte,Jake kick), 6 plays, 48 yards, TOP 02:57
4th Quarter
SIU 20, MUR 6
MUR - Maldonado,Matt 29 yd field goal 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:00
SIU 27, MUR 6
SIU - Lester,Shaun 2 yd run (Baumgarte,Jake kick), 10 plays, 74 yards, TOP 05:39
Players Mentioned
RB
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K
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WR
/ Football
CB
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RB
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RB
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P
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