Special Teams, Defense take center stage in Salukis' win

Saturday, September 26

Murray, KY

6 PM

Southern Illinois University

3-2 , 1-0

Murray State

1-4 , 0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Southern Ill.	6	23	7	10	46
Murray St.	6	0	0	0	6

Game Book

09/27/2026 | 12:58:00 | Football, General

Box Score Game Book Photo Gallery

By: Todd Hefferman, SIUSalukis.com

MURRAY, Ky. - The offense had its best outing of the season Saturday at Murray State, but No. 24 Southern Illinois University's other two units took center stage in its league opener.

Joshua Newkirk returned a blocked punt 15 yards for a touchdown, Tae Marrero Jr. returned with a 22-yard punt return that set up a touchdown, and kicker Weston Schofield hit a school-record four field goals in the Salukis' 46-6 win. Cornerback Sebastian Vargas, who picked off a pass for the third straight game, returned Saturday's version 67 yards to set up another score for SIU (3-2, 1-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) at Roy Stewart Stadium.

Linebacker Andrew Behm picked off another pass, and the defense shut out the Racers (1-4, 0-1) after they scored on their opening drive to take a 6-0 lead.

"The hidden yardage in this game was such a big thing. Our punt returns. Scoring on special teams," SIU coach Nick Hill said. "Our picks, that were getting multiple first downs on return yardage. Those are team yards. They're not going to show up in stats on offense. Those are multiple first downs. (Vargas)' return all the way down. That's an offensive play. If he falls down, we're starting at the minus-16. Now we've got a red zone opportunity.

"I just felt like the guys' mentality was where it needed to be."

Newkirk's 15-yard return of the blocked punt by Miles Wash was the first such score for the Salukis since 2015. Brandon Williams returned a blocked punt 26 yards at Western Illinois on Oct. 3, 2015.

The Salukis put up a season-high 459 yards of total offense against MSU's 190. Quarterback DJ Williams threw for two touchdowns, a 75-yard strike to Markell Quick and a 6-yard out route to running back Eddie Robinson, and Lem Wash scored out of the wildcat formation from three yards out. Williams completed 13 of 20 passes for 217 yards. He was sacked once.

Behind Chandler Chapman (63 yards on 16 carries) and Quade Chatmon (44 yards off seven carries), SIU rushed for 229 yards (4.8 yards per carry). Backup quarterback Jake Curry rushed for a touchdown late in the game.

Quick caught four passes for 145 yards, his first 100-yard game of the season.

Marrero, one of the top punt returners in the MVFC last season, found out his appeal for a fifth year of eligibility was approved during the trip to the game. The 5-foot-10, 187-pound senior returned three punts for 37 yards and caught one pass for minus-1 yards. His 22-yard return early in the second quarter set up Wash's 3-yard touchdown run that gave SIU the lead for good.

"Tae's got a special gift for returning punts," Hill said. "No. 1, not just what he can do when he gets the ball, but he judges balls in the air really well. He knows when to fair catch 'em. He knows when to go up there and not let the ball bounce and lose that yardage, He was big tonight."

SIU beat the Racers for the seventh straight time, dating back to 2003.

MSU was held to 10 first downs and 3 of 13 on third down. SIU linebacker Ben Fiegel had a team-high nine tackles. Safety Matthew McClelland and Vinny Pierre Jr. had seven each. The Racers rushed for 103 yards and threw for 87. They punted eight times.

Linebacker Conlee Crossno had nine tackles for the Racers. Nickelback Rett Hemphill had eight stops.

MSU struck first off a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jim Ogle to wide receiver Jaxson Potter on the opening drive of the game. A roughing the passer penalty set the Racers up at the Saluki 9, and Ogle got six on first-and-goal. Ogle then rolled left and found the wide-open Potter for the score. Kicker Tyler Dorn missed the extra-point attempt.

SIU returns home to face No. 11/13 Youngstown State (3-2, 1-0) Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. The game is set to air on ESPN+ and The Varsity Network.

Bidding for Blackout Cancer jerseys ends Monday: The best fundraiser in the country is back! Bidding for the Salukis Blackout Cancer football jerseys ends on Monday at 8 p.m. Fans can bid to put the name of a loved one on the back of an actual SIU jersey when the Salukis take on Northern Iowa Oct. 24. Bidding is done through an online auction format at salukisblackoutcancer.com (https://saluk.is/3SSUkfT).

Fans can bid directly on jersey numbers and have an option to win a guaranteed jersey at "Buy It Now" pricing. Proceeds go toward the Coach Kill Cancer Fund to assist cancer patients in the southern 16 counties of Illinois that are actively fighting cancer.

Single-game tickets and mini-plans available now: Single-game and two-game ticket multipacks for Saluki Footbal are available at the Saluki Ticket Office inside the Banterra Center or online. Fans can purchase tickets for the upcoming game against No. 11/13 Youngstown State Oct. 3 at Saluk.is/siuvsysu. Multipacks are available at Saluk.is/fbminiplans.

Fans throughout the region will be recognized at the game Oct. 3 as part of Southern Illinois Day. Next weekend's game is also Youth Day at Saluki Stadium. Fans can receive up to two free tickets for children ages 12 and under with the purchase of an adult ticket. To claim the complimentary Youth Day tickets, fans should first select an adult ticket. Before adding tickets to their cart, fans can then select up to two complimentary youth tickets. Youth Day is part of SIU Athletics' commitment to creating memorable game-day experiences for young fans and families while welcoming the next generation of Salukis to Saluki Stadium. Click here to purchase your Youth Day tickets.

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