
Recap | Saluki Football falls to Idaho in overtime, 20-17
12/03/2023 | 1:15:00 | Football
MOSCOW, Idaho — Before a packed house and a nationally televised audience on ESPN2, Idaho rallied to beat Southern Illinois in overtime, 20-17, on a 29-yard field goal by Ricardo Chavez.
The Salukis (8-5) had a chance to win it on the final play of regulation, but Jake Baumgarte missed a 41-yard field goal attempt when Idaho's Xe'ree Alexander slipped through the line of scrimmage to tip a kick that landed just short of the uprights.
Southern never trailed in the game until the final play of overtime, and led by as many as 10 points. There were a couple of key third-quarter momentum swings that went against the Salukis, including a fumble by Justin Strong at the Idaho 21, and an 86-yard punt return for a TD by Idaho's Jermaine Jackson.
The Vandals (9-3) tied the game, 17-17, with 4:17 remaining in the fourth, on a one-yard touchdown run by Anthony Woods. It was the first touchdown Southern's defense gave up in the last three games, and it wasn't surrendered without a fight.
Idaho needed to run seven plays inside Southern's 5 on the scoring drive, including five plays from the 1. The back-breaker, from Southern's perspective, came on 4th-and-goal at the 1, when SIU appeared to get a stop on a pass deflection by Mark Davis in the end zone. Instead, he was flagged for pass interference, giving Idaho a new set of downs.
With the score tied, 17-17, SIU quarterback Nic Baker did what he has done throughout his record-setting career — give Southern a chance to win.
The gutsy, 5-foot-9 senior engineered a 51-yard drive that consumed all but one second of time in regulation. Twice, he had to scramble away from pressure to convert third-down passes and keep the driving moving.
With under a minute play and the ball resting at the Idaho 33, Baker completed a 3rd-and-5 throw for eight yards to D'Ante' Cox. Two running plays later, Southern ran the clock down to 0:01 and brought Baumgarte in for the potential game-winner. He had already connected from 36 yards, but this time his kick was tipped at the line of scrimmage.
Baker completed 20-of-34 passes for 198 yards and miraculously eluded heavy pressure throughout the game to make plays for Southern's offense. The final throw of his career, however, was intercepted in overtime, ending SIU's only drive of OT.
Ro Elliott scored both of SIU's touchdowns on runs of 38 and 1 yard.
The Salukis (8-5) had a chance to win it on the final play of regulation, but Jake Baumgarte missed a 41-yard field goal attempt when Idaho's Xe'ree Alexander slipped through the line of scrimmage to tip a kick that landed just short of the uprights.
Southern never trailed in the game until the final play of overtime, and led by as many as 10 points. There were a couple of key third-quarter momentum swings that went against the Salukis, including a fumble by Justin Strong at the Idaho 21, and an 86-yard punt return for a TD by Idaho's Jermaine Jackson.
The Vandals (9-3) tied the game, 17-17, with 4:17 remaining in the fourth, on a one-yard touchdown run by Anthony Woods. It was the first touchdown Southern's defense gave up in the last three games, and it wasn't surrendered without a fight.
Idaho needed to run seven plays inside Southern's 5 on the scoring drive, including five plays from the 1. The back-breaker, from Southern's perspective, came on 4th-and-goal at the 1, when SIU appeared to get a stop on a pass deflection by Mark Davis in the end zone. Instead, he was flagged for pass interference, giving Idaho a new set of downs.
With the score tied, 17-17, SIU quarterback Nic Baker did what he has done throughout his record-setting career — give Southern a chance to win.
The gutsy, 5-foot-9 senior engineered a 51-yard drive that consumed all but one second of time in regulation. Twice, he had to scramble away from pressure to convert third-down passes and keep the driving moving.
With under a minute play and the ball resting at the Idaho 33, Baker completed a 3rd-and-5 throw for eight yards to D'Ante' Cox. Two running plays later, Southern ran the clock down to 0:01 and brought Baumgarte in for the potential game-winner. He had already connected from 36 yards, but this time his kick was tipped at the line of scrimmage.
Baker completed 20-of-34 passes for 198 yards and miraculously eluded heavy pressure throughout the game to make plays for Southern's offense. The final throw of his career, however, was intercepted in overtime, ending SIU's only drive of OT.
Ro Elliott scored both of SIU's touchdowns on runs of 38 and 1 yard.
Team Stats
SIU
UID
Total Yards
310
293
Pass Yards
198
183
Rushing Yards
112
110
Penalty Yards
25
70
1st Downs
16
18
3rd Downs
8
4
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
31:05
28:55
2nd Quarter

SIU 7, UID 0
SIU - Elliott,Ro 38 yd run (Baumgarte,Jake kick), 7 plays, 88 yards, TOP 03:30

SIU 10, UID 0
SIU - Baumgarte,Jake 36 yd field goal 4 plays, -2 yards, TOP 00:57

SIU 10, UID 3
UID - Chavez,Ricardo 40 yd field goal 12 plays, 45 yards, TOP 04:42
3rd Quarter

SIU 10, UID 10
UID - Jackson,Jermaine 86 yd punt return (Chavez,Ricardo kick)
4th Quarter

SIU 17, UID 10
SIU - Elliott,Ro 1 yd run (Baumgarte,Jake kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:02

SIU 17, UID 17
UID - Woods,Anthony 1 yd run (Chavez,Ricardo kick), 9 plays, 83 yards, TOP 05:25
OT Quarter

SIU 17, UID 20
UID - Chavez,Ricardo 29 yd field goal 7 plays, 14 yards, TOP 00:00
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
Players Mentioned
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