Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU vs. UNI: Game Notes and Links
Nov. 11, 2014
| No. 22/RV Southern Illinois (6-4, 3-3 MVFC) vs. No. 12/11 Northern Iowa (6-4, 4-2 MVFC) | |
| Date | Nov. 15, 2014 |
| Time | 2:04 p.m. CDT |
| Location | Carbondale, Ill. | Saluki Stadium (15,000) | Weather Forecast |
| Promotions | Full Promotional List |
| TV | ValleyTV & ESPN3 with Scott Warmann (play-by-play), Boomer Grigsby (analysis) and Teryn Schaefer (reporter) |
| Tickets | Ticket Home | Seating Map | Parking Map |
| Live Stats | GameTracker | Valley Scoreboard |
| Radio | Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis (play-by-play), Gene Green (analysis) and Connor James (analysis) |
| Audio Stream | Via SIUSalukis.com (Free) |
| Game Notes | Southern Illinois | Northern Iowa | MVC |
| Season Stats | Southern Illinois | Northern Iowa | MVC |
| All-Time Series | Series tied, 16-16 |
| Series Streak | SIU W2 |
| Social Media | @SIU_Football  | @SIUSalukis  | Saluki Football  |
QUICK HITS
- The Salukis hosts Northern Iowa for the final home game of the season on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:04 p.m. in Saluki Stadium.
- SIU will honor 20 seniors prior to the game as part of the Senior Day ceremony.
- The Salukis have won eight-straight games against Northern Iowa in Carbondale, the longest home win streak against any opponent in school history. UNI's last win in Carbondale was in 1996.
- Redshirt freshman running back Cameron Walter rushed for 210 yards last week in his first career start, earning him Newcomer of the Week honors from the MVFC and National Freshman of the Week honors from The Sports Network.
- MyCole Pruitt is six receptions away from breaking the school record for career receptions. He currently has 202 career receptions, and Cornell Craig had 207 in his career.
- Tay Willis broke SIU's single-season record for kick return yards last week. Willis broke Craig Turner's 2007 record and currently has 759 kick return yards this year with two games to go. This year, Willis has returns of 43, 60, 75 and 86 yards.
SALUKIS HOST UNI ON SENIOR DAY
- The Salukis hosts Northern Iowa for the final home game of the season on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:04 p.m. in Saluki Stadium.
- SIU will honor 20 seniors prior to the game as part of the Senior Day ceremony.
- The Salukis have won eight-straight games against Northern Iowa in Carbondale, the longest home win streak against any opponent in school history. UNI's last win in Carbondale was in 1996.
- Northern Iowa was ranked for seven of those eight SIU wins in Carbondale.
- Overall, Southern has won five of the last six games against Northern Iowa, with the lone loss coming in 2011.
- Two of the last four games in the SIU-UNI rivalry have gone to overtime, including last year's 24-17 SIU win in Cedar Falls.
- The Salukis have won 12-straight Senior Day games and are 6-0 under head coach Dale Lennon.
PROMOTIONS
- Residents of Anna-Jonesboro, DuQuoin and Herrin can get $6.18 tickets in advance of game day with proof of residence.
- High school students from Anna-Jonesboro, DuQuoin and Herrin High Schools can receive free admission to the game with a proof of ID at the gate.
- Discounted tickets available for various groups of faith. For more information or to learn more about ticket pricing, contact Alex Rhodes at (618) 453-8941.
- The Salukis will honor 20 seniors before the game as part of the Senior Day ceremony.
- For a complete list of promotions for home Saluki football games, visit http://www.siusalukis.com/fanzone/football-promotions.html.
TEAM NOTES
- SIU ranks second in the FCS in fewest penalties per game (4.3) and third nationally in fewest penalty yards per game (36.2), both of which lead the conference.
- Head coach Dale Lennon earned his 150th win as a head coach last Saturday at Missouri State. Lennon has 48 wins in his seven seasons as head coach of the Salukis.
- The combined win percentage of SIU's 10 FCS opponents against other FCS opponents (.632) is the seventh-best in the nation.
- SIU's next two opponents, UNI and Illinois State, are a combined 14-3 (.824) against FCS competition this year, the fourth-best mark for future opponents in the nation.
- Eight of the 10 FCS opponents for SIU this year have been ranked in the top-25 at some point this season.
- UNI marks the fourth SIU opponent in the last five that has been ranked. The Panthers check in at No. 11 in The Sports Network Media Poll and No. 12 in the FCS Coaches' Poll this week.
- SIU has won at least one game against a ranked team in all seven of head coach Dale Lennon's seasons in Carbondale.
- SIU has 12 wins over top-25 teams under Lennon, including one this year at Eastern Illinois.
- SIU is 17-5 in November in head coach Dale Lennon's seven seasons, including 1-0 this year after beating Missouri State last week.
- SIU has won its final two regular season games in five of Lennon's six completed seasons in Carbondale.
- SIU has won 10-straight regular season finales.
WALTER SHINES IN FIRST START
- SIU redshirt freshman Cameron Walter got his first career start last week at Missouri State and rushed for 210 yards on 37 carries.
- Walter's 210 yards are the most by an MVFC back this season, and he became the first SIU back with more than 200 yards rushing since Deji Karim in 2009.
- Walter is the first SIU freshman with more than 200 yards rushing since Tom Koutsos in 1999.
- Walter earned Newcomer of the Week honors from the MVFC for his performance and National Freshman of the Week from The Sports Network.
- Walter joined the team as a priority walk-on in 2013.
- Walter's 37 carries tied for 10th in school history for most carries in a game.
- The Greenville, Ill., native came into the game against Missouri State with just 26 carries and 66 yards rushing in the first nine games of the season combined.
TEAM DEFENSIVE NOTES
- SIU ranks 11th nationally in sacks per game (3.0). SIU had at least three sacks in each of the first six games of the season.
- SIU is on pace for 36 sacks, which would be the most for the team since 2009.
- The Salukis have three goal-line stands in 2014. Southern Illinois posted goalline stands against Southeast Missouri, Purdue and South Dakota. SIU also held Western Illinois to a field goal on their goal-to-go situation in the second half.
- The Salukis have recorded at least one sack in 60 of the last 62 games.
- Southern's diverse defense has already had 16 players record at least a half-TFL. Fourteen players have been in on a sack.
- No SIU player is among the top 100 tacklers nationally or top 50 in sacks.
- Nine players have at least 3.0 tackles for loss.
- Twenty-three players are averaging at least a tackle per game.
- While only three of SIU's last 49 opponents have rushed for more than 200 yards, the Saluki offense has eclipsed 200 yards rushing 18 times in that span, including four times this year.
- Twice this year (vs. Taylor and WIU), Southern has held its opponent under 100 yards rushing.
TEAM OFFENSIVE NOTES
- Southern ranks ninth in the FCS and second in the MVFC in third-down conversion percentage (48.6 percent).
- SIU scored 38 or more points in the first three games in 2014. The last time SIU scored 38+ points in three-straight games was 2009.
- SIU is averaging 40 points in its five wins.
- SIU's 50 points vs. SEMO were the most Southern has scored since hanging 70 on Quincy in 2010. The last time SIU put up 50 against a Division I opponent was 2008 vs. Indiana State.
- SIU has posted both 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing against Taylor, Southeast Missouri and South Dakota.
- SIU also returns five offensive linemen who started at least six games last year, Corey Boemer (all 12 games), Tanner Crum (all 12 games), Jake Notario (6 games), Jamarcus Robinson (6 games), and Ethan Wirth (11 games).
INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE NOTES
- Linebacker Tyler Williamson broke SIU's 35-year-old record for career forced fumbles with one in Southern's 50-23 win over SEMO. Williamson now has eight forced fumbles in his career, two more than any other player in SIU history.
- Williamson is third among active FCS players in career forced fumbles.
- Williamson has also blocked four kicks in his career, including a blocked punt at Youngstown State.
- Williamson also has 14.0 career sacks, just a half-sack away from tying Bart Scott for 11th on SIU's all-time list.
- D.J. Cameron intercepted his fifth career pass against SEMO and returned it to the one-yard line. He also had a pick-six get called back at EIU due to a penalty.
- Courtney Richmond is tied for sixth in SIU history with 18 career pass breakups.
- Anthony Thompson is sixth in SIU history with 133 career interception return yards. Thompson had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in 2012 at Youngstown State.
- Brandon Willingham picked of his first career pass against Missouri State.
- Boo Rodgers leads SIU with two interceptions this year. He had one at Eastern Illinois and another at North Dakota State.
- Adam Brandt caught a tipped pass for an interception at EIU. Brandt is the first SIU defensive lineman with an interception since Kendrick Young against New Hampshire in 2008.
- Lamonte Edwards started his career as a running back at Minnesota. He had 11 yards and one touchdown on eight carries as an RB before changing positions and changing schools.
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE NOTES
- Sophomore Ryan West started at quarterback for the first time this year last week at Missouri State. West went 16-for-25 for 136 yards and three touchdown passes in his first start of the season.
- West started the final four games of last season while Kory Faulkner was out with an injury.West has passed for 951 yards and nine touchdowns in his two seasons at SIU.
- MyCole Pruitt is the first tight end in MVFC history with 2,000 career receiving yards. For a complete list of Pruitt's notes, see the next section.
- LaSteven McKinney is third in SIU history in career receptions with 144, behind only Cornell Craig and MyCole Pruitt.
- McKinney also needs just 48 yards receiving to break into the top-10 in school history in career receiving yards.
- Starting running back Malcolm Agnew has missed the past two games after suffering an ankle injury early in the Youngstown State game.
- Agnew scored on the first play of the season. After the opening kickoff vs. Taylor went out of bounds, Agnew took a handoff 65 yards for a touchdown. Agnew ended with 207 all-purpose yards and three TDs on just eight touches.
- Agnew has nine 100-yard rushing games in his Saluki career (four in 2013 and five in 2014), which ties him with Andre Herrera (1974-76) for eighth in SIU history.
- Agnew's next 100-yard rushing game will put him in a tie with Deji Karim (2007, 09) and Muhammad Abdulqaadir (2002-03) for sixth all-time.
- Agnew became a career 1,000-yard rusher at SIU in the season opener at Taylor.
- Agnew ranks fourth in SIU history in career rushing yards among two-year players. He is 83 yards away from passing his running backs coach, Larry Warner (2007-08), for third on that list. (See pages 11 and 12 for Salukis in the record books).
- Including his 692 yards he had in two seasons at Oregon State, Agnew eclipsed the career 2,000-yard mark against Southeast Missouri. Counting both his Oregon State and SIU stats, Agnew has exactly 2,400 career rushing yards.
- Agnew was named to the MVFC's All-Newcomer team in 2013 after leading SIU in rushing last year with 888 yards.
- QB Mark Iannotti transferred from Eastern Michigan after last season and has been with SIU since the spring. He had not completed a collegiate pass before this season.
- Iannotti's 18 TD passes this year are tied for sixth on SIU's single-season list.
- He tied SIU's single-game touchdown passes record with six against Southeast Missouri.
- Iannotti was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week after tying SIU's single-game passing TD record with six vs. SEMO.
MyCole Pruitt NOTES
- Southern Illinois All-American MyCole Pruitt is the first tight end in MVFC history with more than 2,000 career receiving yards.
- Pruitt is six catches away from breaking Cornell Craig's school record for career receptions. Craig, the 1999 FCS Player of the Year, had 207 career receptions; Pruitt has 202.
- Pruitt was voted as the best tight end in MVFC history as part of the Valley's 30th anniversary.
- Pruitt broke the MVFC record held by Missouri State's Clay Harbor (2006-09), who had 1,906 career yards.
- Pruitt ranks fifth in MVFC history in career receptions (202) and eighth in MVFC history in career receiving yards (2,458).
- Pruitt is exactly 100 yards away from seventh in MVFC history in career receiving yards (Ricky Garrett, ILS, 1996-99, 2,558 yards).
- Against North Dakota State, Pruitt passed Brent Little (2,303 yards; 2002-05) for second place on SIU's career receiving yardage list.
- Pruitt was a consensus first-team All-American last year and was an honorable mention All-American in 2012. If he earns All-America honors again in 2014, he will be the third three-time All-American in school history, joining Alexis Moreland (2002-04) and Korey Lindsey (2008-10).
- Among tight ends, Pruitt leads the FCS in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
- Among all receivers, Pruitt ranks ninth in the FCS in receiving touchdowns (10).
- Pruitt had 10 receptions and 136 yards at Purdue, becoming just the sixth player in program history with 10 or more catches in a game.
- Pruitt posted more than 100 receiving yards in three-straight games (PUR, WIU, USD), becoming the second player in program history with three-straight 100-yard games.
- 1999 FCS Player of the Year Cornell Craig had three-straight 100-yard games in both 1999 and 1997. No player in program history has had 100 yards receiving in four-straight games.
- Pruitt has 22 career receiving TDs, second-most in SIU history and tied for seventh in MVFC history.
- Pruitt has at least one reception in 41 of his 42 career games, and he has at least two catches in 27-straight games played.
INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
- Tay Willis was named to the CFPA Kick Returner Watch List for 2014.
- Willis broke SIU's single-season kickoff return yardage record last week against Missouri State. Willis' 759 kick return yards this year surpassed Craig Turner's 2007 total of 756.
- Willis has kick returns of 43, 60, 75 and 86 yards this year.
- Willis leads the MVFC in kick return average (26.2 yards per return).
- Willis' career kick return average (25.2 yards per return) ranks third in SIU history behind only Larry Warner (26.93, 2007-08) and JerMar Robinson (25.35, 1998-00)
- LaSteven McKinney busted a 62-yard punt return at Eastern Illinois and had a 25-yarder against Western Illinois.
- McKinney is averaging 17.3 yards per punt return in 2014, which leads the MVFC and ranks second nationally.
- McKinney has been an honorable mention All-MVFC return specialist in each of the past two seasons.
- McKinney is fourth in SIU history in career punt return yards with 629. He needs 51 yards to move into third.
- McKinney has averaged 9.10 yards per return on his 69 career punt returns. His 9.10 yards per return would place him third in SIU history.
- Placekicker Thomas Kinney was named MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting a 50-yard field goal against the wind at EIU, going a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points and booting three touchbacks on kickoffs.
- Kinney hit a 52-yard field goal against WIU last year. Combined with his 50-yarder at EIU, Kinney is only the second player in SIU history with two career 50+ yard field goals, joining Ken Seaman (1975).
- Kinney hit a 47-yard field goal against Missouri State, his fifth career field goal of at least 47 yards.
- Kinney earned preseason first-team All-America and All-MVFC laurels after making 18 field goals in 2013, the second-highest single-season total in SIU history.
- Kinney is on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List, which goes to the top placekicker in the nation after the season.
- This season, Kinney is 7-for-8 on field goals inside 40 yards but just 3-for-9 on FGs longer than 40 yards.
- Despite playing in only his second season at SIU, Kinney ranks seventh in SIU history in career field goals with 28.
- Kinney is the active FCS leader in field goals made per game (1.29).
- Kinney was a second-team All-MVFC selection in 2013 and was also named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team.
- Kinney is the most accurate PAT kicker in SIU history (75-for-76; 98.7%).
- Nick Neidig is in his first year as SIU's starting punter.
- Neidig boomed a 75-yard punt that was downed on the one-yard line against Western Illinois.
- Neidig's 75-yard punt was the fifth-longest punt in SIU history and the fourth-longest punt in the FCS this season.
- Neidig earned National Punter of the Week honors from the CFPA after averaging 51.8 yards on four punts vs. WIU, including three that were downed inside the 20.
SEASON QUICK RECAP
- SIU started 2-0 in MVFC play for the ninth time since the league started in 1985. Eight of those nine 2-0 league starts have been since 2002.
- The Salukis rank in the top-20 nationally (of 121 FCS teams) in nine statistical categories. For a complete breakdown of where SIU ranks in the MVFC and national statistics, see pages 9 and 10.
- Southern Illinois started the season 3-0 overall for the first time under head coach Dale Lennon. It was Southern's first 3-0 start since 2007.
- SIU opened the season by blanking NAIA foe Taylor 45-0, pitching a shutout in the first game that head coach Dale Lennon also served as defensive coordinator at SIU.
- The Salukis upset then-No. 14 Eastern Illinois on the road thanks to a dominant second half. SIU trailed the Panthers 21-14 at halftime but outscored EIU 24-0 in the second half to win going away.
- Southern's defense forced five turnovers vs. Southeast Missouri and the offense turned those takeaways into 29 points in a 50-23 win that improved SIU to 3-0.
- SIU suffered its first loss of the season at Big Ten foe Purdue. SIU fell behind 25-0 and trailed 28-3 at halftime. The Salukis outscored and outgained Purdue in the second half but lost 35-13.
- SIU beat WIU 34-17 in front of 13,170 fans, the fourth-largest crowd in Saluki Stadium history (since 2010).
- SIU allowed South Dakota only three total first downs and 78 total yards after halftime. SIU changed a 10-10 halftime score into a 41-10 blowout win.
- SIU outgained North Dakota State in the first half but trailed 17-7 at the break. NDSU scored the game's final 21 points to win 38-10.
- The SIU at NDSU game drew 19,034, the fourth-largest crowd in Fargodome history.
- Southern fell into a 17-0 halftime hold at Youngstown State on the `Guins Homecoming and couldn't climb back. SIU got within 20-14 with the ball but fell 26-14.
- Indiana State jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first six minutes and SIU never took the lead in a 41-26 loss before Southern's bye week last Saturday.
- SIU jumped out to a 15-0 lead against Missouri State in part thanks to a fake field goal touchdown and ensuing fake extra point for a two-point conversion. The Bears tied the game at 22 in the third quarter, but SIU scored the final 10 points of the game to get the win.
SALUKIS EARN WEEKLY HONORS
- Five SIU players have earned weekly honors from the MVFC this year.
- Freshman Cameron Walter was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week after putting up 210 yards rushing against Missouri State, the most rushing yards by an MVFC back in 2014.
- Senior linebacker Tyler Williamson and senior placekicker Thomas Kinney earned weekly honors from the MVFC after SIU's 38-21 win at No. 14 EIU. Mark Iannotti (Newcomer) and Tanner Crum (Offensive Line) earned honors after the 50-23 win vs. Southeast Missouri.
- Williamson was named MVFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 11 tackles--including seven solo stops and a sack--and leading the defense to a second-half shutout of the Panthers.
- Thomas Kinney hit a 50-yard field goal against the wind to give SIU a two-score lead in the third quarter, becoming just the second player in school history with two career 50-yard field goals. He also went 5-for-5 on extra points and had three touchbacks on kickoffs.
- Mark Iannotti tied a 15-year-old school record with six touchdown passes against SEMO. He was 15-for-21 with 225 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.
- Tanner Crum was named MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week after the SEMO win. Crum's o-line didn't allow a sack and paved the way for SIU's 240 yards rushing and 265 yards of total offense.
- Mark Iannotti was named FCS National Performer of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards after throwing a school-record-tying six touchdown passes in a 50-23 win over Southeast Missouri.
- MyCole Pruitt was named National FCS Tight End of the Week by the CFPA in three-straight weeks from the Purdue game through the South Dakota game.
SECOND-HALF STRONG
- Southern has outscored its opponents by 94 points in the second half this year (160-66), including second-half shutouts three times (vs. Taylor, at Eastern Illinois and vs. South Dakota).
- In SIU's six wins, it has outscored opponents 114-12 after halftime. Southern hasn't allowed a second-half touchdown in any of its six wins.
- SIU didn't allow a touchdown to an FCS opponent until the seventh game of the year (at NDSU).
- SIU went into halftime facing deficits at Eastern Illinois (21-14) and vs. Western Illinois (14-10). Southern outscored EIU 24-0 and Western Illinois 24-3 in the second half to win both games by 17 points.
- SIU was tied with South Dakota at 10 heading into halftime but outscored the `Yotes 31-0 after the break.
SALUKIS RANKED
- The Salukis are ranked No. 22 in the FCS Coaches' Poll and are receiving votes in The Sports Network Media Poll heading into the week.
- SIU began the season unranked in both polls. After the season-opening 45-0 win over Taylor, Southern was ranked No. 25 in the Coaches' poll but remained unranked in the Media poll. SIU was ranked in both polls after its 38-21 win at No. 14 Eastern Illinois and has remained ranked since.
- Before this season, the last time SIU was ranked was Oct. 3, 2011.
- Southern was picked fifth in the preseason MVFC poll. The Salukis have finished tied for third or better in the league nine times in the last 11 seasons.