Southern Illinois University
Southeast Missouri State
Preview | No. 11/13 Football Visits SEMO on Saturday for the "War for the Wheel"
09/17/2025 | 10:45:00 | Football
This will be the 93rd meeting all-time between the Salukis and Redhawks, the longest series for both programs. The rivalry was dubbed the "War for the Wheel" back in 2018, which is in reference to the wheel trophy that the winner of the matchup receives.Â
Game Details
- Date and Time:Â Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. CT
- Location:Â Houck Field - Cape Girardeau, Mo.
- Opponent: Southeast Missouri State - Ohio Valley Conference
- Live Stats:Â Follow Along Here
- Watch:Â ESPN+
- Listen:Â The Varsity Network
Series History
On Saturday, SIU and SEMO will meet for the 93rd time in series history. The Salukis have a record of 40-44-8 all-time against the Redhawks.
In the last five meetings, Southern is 3-2 vs. SEMO. The away team has won each of the previous four games between the two programs. In Cape Girardeau, Southern Illinois is 20-20-4.Â
The first-ever game between Southern and SEMO came in 1909, where SEMO won, 12-0. The Redhawks won each of the first three meetings before the Salukis earned their first win in 1915 (19-0).
The rivalry between Southern Illinois and SEMO was dubbed the "War for the Wheel" in 2018.Â
Recap of UT Martin
In its largest road win since Oct. 28, 2023, against Western Illinois, Southern Illinois defeated UT Martin, 37-10, last Saturday in Martin, Tenn. SIU scored first and never lost the lead in Week 3.
The Salukis totaled 490 yards on offense and allowed 291. SIU had its most rushing yards in four years against the Skyhawks, finishing the game with 273. Quarterback DJ Williams accounted for 128 of those yards to go along with three rushing touchdowns. Through the air, Williams was 13-for-18 with 217 yards and one touchdown.
The lone touchdown Southern allowed came in the second quarter. On the other end, SIU found the end zone in all four quarters last Saturday.
Fabian McCray scored his second touchdown as a Saluki while also tallying 62 yards on two receptions. Jay Jones led the team in receiving with 65 yards. Defensively, Colin Bohanek's 13 tackles were a team-high.
Best Rushing Performance Since 2021
As a team, Southern Illinois combined for 273 rushing yards last Saturday at UT Martin. The last time the Salukis had reached or surpassed this number was on Nov. 13, 2021, when they ran for 282 vs. Indiana State.
A pair of Dawgs had career-best performances on the ground at UT Martin. Williams' 128 rushing yards and three touchdowns were both career highs. Running back Chandler Chapman also had a career day, rushing for a career-high 78 yards with one touchdown.
Southern averaged 7.0 yards-per-carry vs. the Skyhawks. Williams averaged 9.1 while Chapman averaged 6.0.
Paul Geelen Named Special Teams POTW for the MVFC
For the first time in his career, senior Paul Geelen was named the MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week after SIU's win at UT Martin. Geelen was a perfect 4-for-4 on PATs and hit a 28-yard field goal.
All six of the veteran's kickoffs resulted in touchbacks, while his two punts averaged 48.5 yards with a long of 53.
Geelen also successfully converted a fake punt in the fourth quarter by rushing 29 yards for a first down.
Strong Start on Defense
Southern Illinois has been one of the elite defenses in the MVFC and one of the top units in the FCS as a whole to begin the 2025 campaign. Through three games, Southern has allowed an average of 15.67 points-per-game. This ranks second behind only No. 1 North Dakota State in the Valley and is tied for eighth in the country.
The Salukis are also top 15 in the nation in total defense, allowing 285.3 yards-per-game. Southern is third in the conference and 14th in the FCS in this category.
SIU's strong play on the defensive end can also be seen in terms of turnovers. Southern's turnover margin of 1.67 is tied for first in the Valley and tied for fifth in the country. The Salukis have gained a league-high eight turnovers: four fumble recoveries, four interceptions.
DJ Williams' Hot Start to 2025
After posting multiple career-best marks as a rusher at UT Martin, Williams heads into Saturday's matchup at SEMO near the top of several categories in the Valley. In terms of total offense, the senior is fourth with 270.3 yards-per-game.
Williams is fourth in passing yards (646), fourth in passing touchdowns (five), tied for second in rushing touchdowns (five), and is eighth in rushing yards (165). Southern's signal caller is tied for ninth in the FCS in scoring as well.
When Williams ran for 128 yards at UT Martin, he became the first SIU quarterback to reach 128-or-more rushing yards since Matt DeSomer tallied 135 yards against Indiana State on Oct. 20, 2018.
Linebacker and Captain Duo Leading the Charge on Defense
Linebackers Andrew Behm and Colin Bohanek missed a combined 19 games in 2024 due to injury. In 2025, they have both played in all three games and, as a result, have combined for 56 total tackles. Behm's 29 are a team-high and rank fourth in the MVFC, while Bohanek's 27 are the sixth-most in the conference.
Behm and Bohanek were both named team captains on Aug. 24 along with quarterback DJ Williams and guard Derek Harden Jr.Â
Where the Dawgs are Ranked Â
Southern Illinois jumped from No. 17 to No. 13 in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. SIU is one of six teams from the MVFC to be ranked in the poll, with No. 1 North Dakota State and No. 2 South Dakota State remaining in the top two spots.
For the third-straight week, the Salukis have moved up in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. After a dominant win over UT Martin, Southern Illinois is now No. 11 in the rankings. In the previous poll, SIU was No. 14 after its road trip to Purdue.
Individual Numbers to Note Through Three Weeks
Vinson Davis III is tied for seventh in the MVFC in receiving yards with 179 through three games. Davis III has also made an impact on special teams, leading the Valley in average yards-per-kick return at 39.0 with a long of 50 on three attempts.
In his first season as a Saluki, wide receiver Fabian McCray has recorded six receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns. McCray is averaging 25.8 yards-per-reception, which ranks third in the league. The senior from Chicago, Ill., was previously at Jackson State prior to arriving in Carbondale.
Vinny Pierre Jr.'s two interceptions are tied for the second-most in the MVFC with Murray State's Marion Ponds. Cornerback Jeremiah McClendon has broken up four passes, which is tied for third in the league.
Southern is the only team in the Valley with two players ranking inside the top six in tackles, with Behm in fourth and Bohanek in sixth.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Football, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiFootball and on Instagram at @SIU_Football. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
