Saturday, October 26
Terre Haute, IN
12 PM (CT)
Southern Illinois University
2-6 , 0-4
17
at
20
Indiana State
3-5 , 2-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Southern Ill.
0
17
0
0
17
Indiana St.
0
0
7
13
20
Recap | Turnovers costly in Football’s loss at Indiana State
10/26/2024 | 4:34:00 | Football
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Indiana State rallied from a 17-point deficit to stun Southern Illinois, 20-17, on Saturday.
The Salukis (2-6, 0-4) committed three costly turnovers in the second half that led to all of the points for the Sycamores (3-5, 2-3).
Southern played a near-perfect second quarter, scoring all 17 of its points and out-gaining ISU, 169-49, in total yards during the period.
Playing in the first extended action of his career, backup quarterback Michael Lindauer came off the bench for SIU to throw a one-yard touchdown pass to Keontez Lewis to open the second-quarter scoring.
On the Salukis' next drive, starting quarterback Jake Curry guided the offense 80 yards in five plays, taking it to the house himself on a 24-yard TD run.
Southern got the ball right back when linebacker Ben Bogle snagged an interception and returned the ball eight yards to the ISU 39 with 14 seconds left. The Salukis moved quickly into field goal range, and Paul Geelen connected from 37 yards out on the final play of the half.
"I feel like in every game we've found a little bit of rhythm, but it's a four-quarter game and you have to be able to finish in this league," said SIU head coach Nick Hill.
The momentum shifted to the Sycamores in the second half. On SIU's opening drive, Curry threw a pick-six to Geoffrey Brown, who returned the interception 21 yards for an easy score.
On Southern's next drive, Lindauer appeared headed toward the end zone on a 52-yard run, but the graduate assistant coach-turned player fumbled the ball at the ISU 2.
Indiana State responded by marching 98 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-14.
"We get a stop coming out (in the second half) and then we throw it to them for a pick six and they got some momentum," Hill said. "We just have to settle down, we have a two-score lead. Lindauer busts off a big play, they strip him at the two. I felt like their drive, 98 yards, credit them, but we have to find a way to get off the field."
The 98-yard drive was not without controversy, as Indiana State running back Shen Butler-Lawson had the ball ripped from his hands by SIU defensive end Jamond Mathis at the ISU 21. Mathis sprinted 79 yards for an apparent score, but the play had been whistled dead and was not reviewable. The Sycamores scored four plays later for a 14-point swing.
"It's hard to get an explanation during the game," Hill said. "They called him down, forward progress. It's unfortunate, but you have to find a way to respond."
Still leading by three points in the fourth quarter, the Salukis converted on 4th-and-1, when Wiltrell Hartson broke off a five-yard run to the ISU 44. As the redshirt freshmen struggled for extra yardage, however, he had the ball knocked loose, and it was recovered by Indiana State.
The Sycamores scored their winning touchdown on a 28-yard run by Elijah Owens on 4th-and-2 with 7:45 remaining in the game.
Southern drove as deep as the Indiana State 36 on its next drive, but Curry was sacked for a 12-yard loss, and the Salukis later punted.
Curry finished 18-for-28 for 171 yards, but there were a pair of costly drops by Nah'Shawn Hezekiah in the first quarter and Lewis in the third quarter that would likely have become touchdowns.
"Not much I can explain — Jake put the ball out there," Hill said. "I love those guys — Hezzy and K-Lew are talented wide receivers and they know they gotta catch the football."
The loss likely eliminated Southern from playoff contention with four games remaining.
"We're all gutted," Hill said. "This is our livelihood. But you don't get to pick your circumstances, not in this game or life, and we'll respond. That's my job as a leader to come every day, teach these guys life lessons."
The Salukis (2-6, 0-4) committed three costly turnovers in the second half that led to all of the points for the Sycamores (3-5, 2-3).
Southern played a near-perfect second quarter, scoring all 17 of its points and out-gaining ISU, 169-49, in total yards during the period.
Playing in the first extended action of his career, backup quarterback Michael Lindauer came off the bench for SIU to throw a one-yard touchdown pass to Keontez Lewis to open the second-quarter scoring.
On the Salukis' next drive, starting quarterback Jake Curry guided the offense 80 yards in five plays, taking it to the house himself on a 24-yard TD run.
Southern got the ball right back when linebacker Ben Bogle snagged an interception and returned the ball eight yards to the ISU 39 with 14 seconds left. The Salukis moved quickly into field goal range, and Paul Geelen connected from 37 yards out on the final play of the half.
"I feel like in every game we've found a little bit of rhythm, but it's a four-quarter game and you have to be able to finish in this league," said SIU head coach Nick Hill.
The momentum shifted to the Sycamores in the second half. On SIU's opening drive, Curry threw a pick-six to Geoffrey Brown, who returned the interception 21 yards for an easy score.
On Southern's next drive, Lindauer appeared headed toward the end zone on a 52-yard run, but the graduate assistant coach-turned player fumbled the ball at the ISU 2.
Indiana State responded by marching 98 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-14.
"We get a stop coming out (in the second half) and then we throw it to them for a pick six and they got some momentum," Hill said. "We just have to settle down, we have a two-score lead. Lindauer busts off a big play, they strip him at the two. I felt like their drive, 98 yards, credit them, but we have to find a way to get off the field."
The 98-yard drive was not without controversy, as Indiana State running back Shen Butler-Lawson had the ball ripped from his hands by SIU defensive end Jamond Mathis at the ISU 21. Mathis sprinted 79 yards for an apparent score, but the play had been whistled dead and was not reviewable. The Sycamores scored four plays later for a 14-point swing.
"It's hard to get an explanation during the game," Hill said. "They called him down, forward progress. It's unfortunate, but you have to find a way to respond."
Still leading by three points in the fourth quarter, the Salukis converted on 4th-and-1, when Wiltrell Hartson broke off a five-yard run to the ISU 44. As the redshirt freshmen struggled for extra yardage, however, he had the ball knocked loose, and it was recovered by Indiana State.
The Sycamores scored their winning touchdown on a 28-yard run by Elijah Owens on 4th-and-2 with 7:45 remaining in the game.
Southern drove as deep as the Indiana State 36 on its next drive, but Curry was sacked for a 12-yard loss, and the Salukis later punted.
Curry finished 18-for-28 for 171 yards, but there were a pair of costly drops by Nah'Shawn Hezekiah in the first quarter and Lewis in the third quarter that would likely have become touchdowns.
"Not much I can explain — Jake put the ball out there," Hill said. "I love those guys — Hezzy and K-Lew are talented wide receivers and they know they gotta catch the football."
The loss likely eliminated Southern from playoff contention with four games remaining.
"We're all gutted," Hill said. "This is our livelihood. But you don't get to pick your circumstances, not in this game or life, and we'll respond. That's my job as a leader to come every day, teach these guys life lessons."
Team Stats
SIU
INS
Total Yards
361
297
Pass Yards
181
78
Rushing Yards
180
219
Penalty Yards
40
55
1st Downs
20
19
3rd Downs
6
8
4th Downs
0
2
TOP
25:31
34:29
2nd Quarter
SIU 7, INS 0
SIU - Lewis,Keontez 1 yd pass from Lindauer,Michael (Geelen,Paul kick) 14 plays, 70 yards, TOP 07:13
SIU 14, INS 0
SIU - Curry,Jake 24 yd run (Geelen,Paul kick), 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:58
SIU 17, INS 0
SIU - Geelen,Paul 37 yd field goal 4 plays, 19 yards, TOP 00:14
3rd Quarter
SIU 17, INS 7
INS - Brown,Geoffrey 21 yd interception (Lopez,Sebastian kick)
4th Quarter
SIU 17, INS 14
INS - Rees,Lance 2 yd pass from Owens,Elijah (Lopez,Sebastian kick) 17 plays, 98 yards, TOP 09:36
SIU 17, INS 20
INS - Owens,Elijah 28 yd run (), 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 04:00
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
17
TD
0
YDS
165
INT
1
CMP
3
TD
1
YDS
16
INT
0
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DE
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