Southern Illinois University
6-2 , 3-2
Western Illinois
0-8 , 0-5
Football blanks Western Illinois, 63-0
10/28/2023 | 6:49:00 | Football
The No. 11-ranked Salukis (6-2, 3-2) scored early and often, as running back Lashaun Lester took a handoff 64 yards to the house on his first carry of the game. He rushed for a career-high 139 yards and three touchdowns.
SIU pushed the lead to 35-0 at halftime behind three Nic Baker touchdown passes — one each to Zach Gibson (3 yards), Vinson Davis III (27 yards) and Izaiah Hartrup (26 yards). Baker completed 11-of-17 passes for 186 yards in 30 minutes of work.
"I felt like our guys came out with energy, effort, emotion on kind of a gloomy day, not many fans," SIU head coach Nick Hill said. "I was proud that they held themselves to a high standard and played good football today."
Hill pulled most of his starters in the second half, and the backups also had their way with the Leathernecks (0-8, 0-5).
Quarterback Hunter Simmons came off the bench to throw his first-career TD pass — a 17-yard strike to Allen Middleton in the third quarter.
"Playing a top-5 strength of schedule, there's not a lot of games that you get to play (backups), even if it's a series or two," Hill said. "Those (reps) are so valuable for everybody on our team. That's how you grow, that's how you develop."
Southern's defense, which ranks among the top-10 in the nation in multiple statistical categories, continues to dominate opponents. Before the starters were removed at halftime, the unit allowed just 22 rushing yards.
Linebacker Ben Bogle led the team with eight tackles, and safety Desman Hearns had a 43-yard scoop and score in the fourth quarter.
The shutout was SIU's first against an MVFC foe since blanking Western, 35-0, in 2012.
"It's hard to shut somebody out," Hill said. "It's a credit to those guys, like I say every week, they play with a ton of passion."
SIU has won its last eight games against in-state schools (Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Illinois State twice, Western Illinois four times).
The Salukis host No. 4-ranked South Dakota next Saturday in a marquee matchup with playoff implications. It's the annual Blackout Cancer game, and SIU is running a $5 ticket special in which fans can buy a $5 ticket with the promo code "BLACKOUT".
"You want to put your team in position for meaningful games in November," Hill said. "I tell our guys, these are all one-game seasons. We have to put all of our focus on South Dakota. Our guys continue to believe in each other and believe in the process."
Team Stats
SIU 7, WIU 0
SIU - Lester,Lashaun 64 yd run (Baumgarte,Jake kick), 1 plays, 64 yards, TOP 00:11
SIU 14, WIU 0
SIU - Gibson,Zach 3 yd pass from Baker,Nic (Baumgarte,Jake kick) 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 02:05
SIU 21, WIU 0
SIU - Strong,Justin 1 yd run (Baumgarte,Jake kick), 4 plays, 57 yards, TOP 01:55
SIU 28, WIU 0
SIU - Davis III,Vinson 27 yd pass from Baker,Nic (Baumgarte,Jake kick) 4 plays, 42 yards, TOP 01:08
SIU 35, WIU 0
SIU - Hartrup,Izaiah 26 yd pass from Baker,Nic (Baumgarte,Jake kick) 2 plays, 33 yards, TOP 00:13
SIU 42, WIU 0
SIU - Lester,Lashaun 12 yd run (Baumgarte,Jake kick), 9 plays, 44 yards, TOP 04:09
SIU 49, WIU 0
SIU - Middleton,Allen 13 yd pass from Simmons,Hunter (Baumgarte,Jake kick) 4 plays, 33 yards, TOP 01:21
SIU 56, WIU 0
SIU - Lester,Lashaun 39 yd run (Baumgarte,Jake kick), 2 plays, 40 yards, TOP 00:56
SIU 63, WIU 0
SIU - Hearns,Desman 43 yd fumble recovery (Baumgarte,Jake kick)
