Saturday, September 7
Clarksville, TN
6 PM
Southern Illinois University
at
Austin Peay
News | No. 10-ranked Football at Austin Peay on Saturday
09/02/2024 | 11:03:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois held on to its No. 10 ranking this week after falling at Power Four conference BYU on Saturday. Only one FCS team (Montana State over New Mexico) has beaten an FBS opponent so far in 2024.
The Salukis (0-1) travel to Clarksville, Tenn. to play Austin Peay (0-1) in a Saturday night matchup on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. The Governors are receiving Top 25 votes this week, after losing at FBS Louisville last Saturday.
WEEK 2 GAME NOTES
Salukis are 6-2 vs. Austin Peay
Versus BYU last Saturday, the Salukis had a new starter at quarterback for the first time since the 2021 COVID spring season. Nic Baker, the school's career passing leader, started all 37 games the last three seasons. Williams is a transfer from Murray State, where he appeared in 24 games (2021-23), completing 127-of-214 passes with 10 TDs and 8 INTs. He was 6-9 in 15 career starts with the Racers.
Williams rushed for 121 yards at BYU
Williams was SIU's leading rusher at BYU with 15 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns. He is the first Saluki QB to rush for 100+ yards since Matt DeSomer (135 yards vs. Indiana State) in 2018. Williams ranks ninth in the nation in rushing yards per carry (8.07).
Lots of new faces in Game 1
SIU's starting lineup at BYU featured only four returning starters on offense (C Chase Evans, RG Jake Green, RT Abdou Toure, WR Vinson Davis III) and three on defense (LB Colin Bohanek, S Ubayd Steed, S Iverson Brown).
LB Colin Bohanek with a career-high 12 tackles at BYU
LB Colin Bohanek led the Salukis with 12 tackles at BYU — a new career high at SIU. Bohanek was named to the MVFC's All-Newcomer team in 2023, after he started all 12 games for Southern and recorded 62 tackles. He transferred from Eastern Illinois, where he was a 2nd-Team All-OVC pick in 2022. Other Salukis with career highs — LB Ben Bogle (9 tackles) and LB Shane Roth (5 tackles).
Punter/Kicker Paul Geelen debut
Punter/kicker Paul Geelen made an impressive debut at BYU, averaging 45.7 yards on seven punts, with a long of 65. A native of the Netherlands, Geelen transferred from William Jewell College, where he was 8-of-9 on field goals last year, including 5-for-5 on attempts beyond 40 yards. He also averaged 43.7 yards per punt, and 40 of his 84 career kickoffs went for touchbacks.
Dawg bytes
The Salukis (0-1) travel to Clarksville, Tenn. to play Austin Peay (0-1) in a Saturday night matchup on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. The Governors are receiving Top 25 votes this week, after losing at FBS Louisville last Saturday.
WEEK 2 GAME NOTES
Salukis are 6-2 vs. Austin Peay
- The Salukis have won the last six meetings versus Austin Peay in a series that dates back to 1938. The schools are separated by 162 miles.
- SIU leads the series, 6-2, including a 3-0 mark in Clarksville.
- SIU beat APSU last season in Carbondale, 49-23. The Salukis led at halftime, 35-0, and held the Governors without a first down until under four minutes left in the second quarter.
- The last trip to Clarksville was in 1991. SIU trailed, 17-0, in the second quarter before rallying to win, 21-17.
- In 1986, Bobby Sloan had a 37-yard fumble return for a TD, and Drew Morrison set the school record for longest punt (83 yards), in a 24-17 SIU win.
Versus BYU last Saturday, the Salukis had a new starter at quarterback for the first time since the 2021 COVID spring season. Nic Baker, the school's career passing leader, started all 37 games the last three seasons. Williams is a transfer from Murray State, where he appeared in 24 games (2021-23), completing 127-of-214 passes with 10 TDs and 8 INTs. He was 6-9 in 15 career starts with the Racers.
Williams rushed for 121 yards at BYU
Williams was SIU's leading rusher at BYU with 15 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns. He is the first Saluki QB to rush for 100+ yards since Matt DeSomer (135 yards vs. Indiana State) in 2018. Williams ranks ninth in the nation in rushing yards per carry (8.07).
Lots of new faces in Game 1
SIU's starting lineup at BYU featured only four returning starters on offense (C Chase Evans, RG Jake Green, RT Abdou Toure, WR Vinson Davis III) and three on defense (LB Colin Bohanek, S Ubayd Steed, S Iverson Brown).
LB Colin Bohanek with a career-high 12 tackles at BYU
LB Colin Bohanek led the Salukis with 12 tackles at BYU — a new career high at SIU. Bohanek was named to the MVFC's All-Newcomer team in 2023, after he started all 12 games for Southern and recorded 62 tackles. He transferred from Eastern Illinois, where he was a 2nd-Team All-OVC pick in 2022. Other Salukis with career highs — LB Ben Bogle (9 tackles) and LB Shane Roth (5 tackles).
Punter/Kicker Paul Geelen debut
Punter/kicker Paul Geelen made an impressive debut at BYU, averaging 45.7 yards on seven punts, with a long of 65. A native of the Netherlands, Geelen transferred from William Jewell College, where he was 8-of-9 on field goals last year, including 5-for-5 on attempts beyond 40 yards. He also averaged 43.7 yards per punt, and 40 of his 84 career kickoffs went for touchbacks.
Dawg bytes
- The 63,712 fans at BYU was the third-largest crowd to watch an SIU game in school history.
- No forced turnovers at BYU — Although the Salukis forced two fumbles at BYU (Ubayd Steed and Jamir Conn), they did not recover either.
- Nine different receivers caught passes at BYU
- LB Ben Bogle picked up his third-career sack
Players Mentioned
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