Southern Illinois University
3-1 , 0-0
Southeast Missouri State
1-3 , 0-0
The Wheel Returns to Carbondale; Football Defeats SEMO, 59-31, in Cape Girardeau
09/21/2025 | 12:50:00 | Football
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - In the War for the Wheel, the Southern Illinois University football team (3-1) earned a triumphant, 59-31, win over Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) on Saturday in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
The 59 points are the most SIU has scored in a game since posting 62 against Murray State on Nov. 23, 2024, last season. They are also the most Southern Illinois has ever scored against SEMO in the series.
Southern was led by a strong second quarter where it out-scored SEMO, 17-0, to take a commanding, 31-7, lead into the half. Despite allowing 17 points in the third quarter, the Saluki offense remained hot, scoring 21 points off of three DJ Williams passing touchdowns.
The Salukis finished the game with 612 total yards on offense, with 342 passing and 270 rushing. SIU has now run for at least 270 yards in back-to-back games, while the 342 passing yards are a season-high.
On defense, Southern forced two turnovers, both by Chris Presto. On SEMO's first drive of the game, Presto forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow linebacker Colin Bohanek. Early in the second quarter, the junior intercepted a pass by SEMO's Jax Leatherwood for his fifth interception as a Saluki and first of the year.
At quarterback, senior DJ Williams was special yet again for Southern Illinois. Williams combined for 493 total yards (342 passing, 151 rushing) and six total touchdowns (four passing, two rushing). The quarterback set a new career-high in passing yards, rushing yards, and touchdown passes, as well as new career-best marks in longest rush (75 yards) and longest pass (73 yards).
Wide receiver Vinson Davis III had the best game of his collegiate career on Saturday at SEMO. Davis III had a career-high 185 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns on eight receptions against the Redhawks. Jay Jones and Fabian McCray also recorded touchdowns in Cape Girardeau, while Lashaun Lester ran for two on the ground.
All it took was one play for the Salukis to strike on Saturday. From his own 25 yard line, Williams broke free up the middle for a career-long 75 yard rushing touchdown to give SIU the lead right from the start.
On the very next drive, Presto forced a fumble recovered by Bohanek that led to Lester's first touchdown of the season. The senior from Summerville, Ga., ran it in from three yards out.
SEMO found the end zone on its second drive of the game to make it 14-7 with SIU still leading. This was followed up by three consecutive punts before Presto recorded an interception at the beginning of the second quarter.
Williams capitalized on the interception with a four-yard touchdown run, his second of the game, to restore Southern Illinois' two-score lead.
Southern started its next drive from its own six-yard line and went a full 94 yards in just over four minutes. The big play came off of a 40-yard Williams run that led to the senior connecting with Davis III from 17 yards out for the receiver's first touchdown of the night.
After SEMO missed a field goal, Southern hit one of its own as Paul Geelen drilled a 32-yard attempt to give SIU a 31-7 lead at the half.
Both offenses were clicking in the third, as SEMO found the end zone on its first drive and SIU did the same. After Williams and Davis III connected for 61 yards, Williams hit McCray for a 14-yard score to push the Southern Illinois lead to 38-14.
The Redhawks answered back with a field goal, but it took just three plays for the Salukis to again find paydirt. Williams and Davis III combined for another big play, this one going for 69 yards and ending in the end zone for six.
The third receiver to score on Saturday was Jay Jones. On the final play of the third quarter, Williams hit Jones for a 18-yard touchdown to extend SIU's lead to 52-24.
Southern's final score of the game came off of a 42-yard touchdown run by Lester, his second of the night.Â
Andrew Behm led the team with 13 tackles, while Presto filled the statsheet with 12 tackles to go along with the interception and forced fumble.
The Salukis have now won three-straight games against the Redhawks in Cape Girardeau and are 21-20-4 all-time while playing at SEMO.
Southern Illinois, who now sits at 3-1 on the year, will enter its bye before returning home to face Indiana State on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. for Family Weekend and the MVFC opener. Buy tickets here.
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.
Team Stats
SIU 7, SEM 0
SIU - Williams,DJ 75 yd run (Geelen,Paul kick), 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:14
SIU 14, SEM 0
SIU - Lester Jr.,Shaun 3 yd run (Geelen,Paul kick), 2 plays, 5 yards, TOP 00:43
SIU 14, SEM 7
SEM - Leatherwood,Jax 7 yd run (Keller,Justin kick), 12 plays, 77 yards, TOP 04:23
SIU 21, SEM 7
SIU - Williams,DJ 4 yd run (Geelen,Paul kick), 6 plays, 45 yards, TOP 02:47
SIU 28, SEM 7
SIU - Davis III,Vinson 17 yd pass from Williams,DJ (Geelen,Paul kick) 9 plays, 94 yards, TOP 04:04
SIU 31, SEM 7
SIU - Geelen,Paul 32 yd field goal 9 plays, 53 yards, TOP 01:34
SIU 31, SEM 14
SEM - Pedro,Cam 22 yd pass from Leatherwood,Jax (Keller,Justin kick) 8 plays, 79 yards, TOP 02:41
SIU 38, SEM 14
SIU - McCray,Fabian 14 yd pass from Williams,DJ (Geelen,Paul kick) 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:41
SIU 38, SEM 17
SEM - Keller,Justin 28 yd field goal 10 plays, 65 yards, TOP 05:24
SIU 45, SEM 17
SIU - Davis III,Vinson 69 yd pass from Williams,DJ (Geelen,Paul kick) 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:20
SIU 45, SEM 24
SEM - Ruble,Cole 2 yd run (Keller,Justin kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:20
SIU 52, SEM 24
SIU - Jones,Jay 18 yd pass from Williams,DJ (Geelen,Paul kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:23
SIU 59, SEM 24
SIU - Lester Jr.,Shaun 42 yd run (Geelen,Paul kick), 8 plays, 69 yards, TOP 05:27
SIU 59, SEM 31
SEM - Epton, Jr.,Brandon 34 yd pass from Leatherwood,Jax (Keller,Justin kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:21
