News | Family Weekend showdown vs. SEMO in annual War For The Wheel on Saturday night

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The stakes couldn't be much higher in this year's War For The Wheel, as No. 7 Southern Illinois hosts #21 SEMO in a Family Weekend showdown at Saluki Stadium on Saturday at 6 p.m. Ticket prices start at $12 for groups.

The annual rivalry game versus the Redhawks is the 92nd between the two schools, since the series began in 1909, and it is the 47th game played between the two teams in Carbondale.

The first 1,000 fans at the game will receive a free mini jersey, courtesy of AGE! Don't miss out — get there early when gates open at 5 p.m.

On Tuesday morning during his weekly press conference, head coach Nick Hill said starting quarterback DJ Williams will have surgery on his right hand and "we will be without him for the foreseeable future."

Marion native Hunter Simmons will make his first-career start on Saturday vs. SEMO.

"(Hunter) has a ton of ability," Hill said. "He has an unbelievable grasp of our offense, what's expected and knowing what everybody's job is, so you feel confident as a coach with your gameplan. He's a kid who's been here and can operate everything we do. (DJ and Hunter) have a lot of the same skillsets, especially throwing the football. Hunter's an athletic kid that can run. We'll have full confidence going into the game with Hunter."

War For The Wheel
SIU and SEMO are separated by just 45 miles and the Mississippi River. Each year since 2018, the winner of the game takes home a replica ship's wheel to its side of the river and proudly display it until the next scheduled matchup.
War For The Wheel History
Sept. 15, 2018*   SEMO won, 48-44
Sept. 29, 2019   SEMO won, 44-26
Oct. 30, 2020*    SIU won, 20-17
Sept. 2, 2021:    SIU won, 47-21
Sept. 10, 2022*   SEMO won, 34-31
Sept. 16, 2023   SIU won, 26-25
*SIU Home game

Recap from 2023
Last season in Cape Girardeau, SIU quarterback Nic Baker passed for 408 yards in the second half alone to rally SIU to a 26-25 victory over No. 13-ranked SEMO. With 11 seconds remaining in the game, the senior QB fired a nine-yard touchdown pass to Izaiah Hartrup in the back of the end zone on fourth down for the game-winner.

DJ Williams/Keontez Lewis/Chase Evans earn MVFC player-of-the-week honors
Quarterback DJ Williams, wide receiver Keontez Lewis and center Chase Evans earned Missouri Valley Football Conference player-of-the-week honors, following their performances in the team's 35-28 win over No. 12 Incarnate Word on Saturday. A transfer from Murray State, Williams completed 19-of-27 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors. He also led the team in rushing with 12 carries for 79 yards including a 28-yard TD run. A Wisconsin transfer, Lewis caught eight passes for 148 yards and one touchdown to earn Newcomer of the Week honors. He also added another touchdown on a 57-yard end-around. Evans graded out at 91 percent on blocking assignments with five knockdowns and no sacks allowed. A senior, Evans leads SIU with 41 career starts.

Incarnate Word recap

WRs Keontez Lewis (148 yards) and Nah'shawn Hezekiah (118 yards) became just the ninth duo in school history to record 100+ receiving yards in the same game. Their 266 combined yards ranked second on that list of nine.
SIU's 543 yards of total offense were the most in a game since the last time the Salukis played UIW in San Antonio in 2022 (550 yards).
Three of SIU's four captains missed Saturday's game due to injuries — TE Aidan Quinn, DE Dewey Greene and LB Colin Bohanek. The only captain to play vs. UIW was C Chase Evans.
Sophomore S Vinny Pierre Jr. recorded his first career interception, and it ended UIW's final (and potential game-tying) drive.

LB Ben Bogle leads nation in TFL, 2nd in the nation in sacks
Sophomore LB Ben Bogle leads the nation with 9.0 tackles for loss. He also ranks second in the nation in sacks with 5.5. He's had at least one sack in every game this season, including 3.5 at Austin Peay in Week 2, in which he earned FCS national player-of-the-week honors. Bogle trails only Idaho's Keyshawn James-Newby (6.0) in sacks in the FCS. SIU's single-game season record is held by James Phillips (12.0) set in 1978.

DJ Williams among the nation's leaders
Quarterback DJ Williams ranks fifth in the nation in Points Responsible For with 48 (8 TDs). He has thrown four touchdown passes and rushed for four TDs. He is 8th in the nation in total offense (271.0 yards/game) and 10th in the nation in rushing TDs (4).

Dawg bytes

Three of SIU's four captains missed Saturday's game due to injuries — TE Aidan Quinn, DE Dewey Greene and LB Colin Bohanek. The only captain to play vs. UIW was C Chase Evans.
SIU ranks 3rd in the nation in sacks with 13.0
SIU ranks 15th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 101.0 yards per game.

Salukis in the national rankings
The Salukis have been nationally ranked for 17-consecutive weeks. They were ranked in all 13 polls released in 2023 (as high as #5), and have been ranked in all four polls released in 2024 (as high as #7).

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