Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU vs. WIU: Game Notes and Links
Sept. 22, 2014
| No. 16/17 Southern Illinois (3-1) vs. No. --/RV Western Illinois (2-2) | |
| Date | Sept. 27, 2014 |
| Time | 6 p.m. CDT |
| Location | Carbondale, Ill. -- Saluki Stadium (15,000) |
| Promotions | Full Promotional List |
| Video Stream | Saluki All-Access |
| Tickets | Ticket Home | Seating Map | Parking Map |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| 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 | Western Illinois | MVC |
| Season Stats | Southern Illinois | Western Illinois | MVC |
| All-Time Series | WIU leads, 34-21-4 |
| Series Streak | SIU W2 |
| Social Media | @SIU_Football  | @SIUSalukis  | Saluki Football  |
QUICK HITS
- No. 16/17 Southern Illinois hosts Western Illinois at 6 p.m. on Sept. 27 in Saluki Stadium.
- MyCole Pruitt became the first tight end in Missouri Valley Football Conference history to eclipse 2,000 career receiving yards. He broke the MVFC tight end record that was held by Clay Harbor of Missouri State (1,906 yards; 2006-09). Pruitt is also the MVFC's active leader in career receiving yardage.
- The Salukis have won 11 of the last 12 matchups with WIU.
- Purdue's touchdown with 36 seconds left was the first second-half TD giving up by SIU's defense all year. The Salukis held opponents without a second-half touchdown for more than 119 minutes through the first four games.
- The jersey auction for the 80 Black Out Cancer jerseys raised $33,955 for Southern Illinois Healthcare's Hope is Home campaign for a comprehensive cancer treatment center in southern Illinois.
NO. 16/17 SALUKIS VS. WESTERN ILLINOIS
- SIU opens MVFC play on Saturday, Sept. 27, when it hosts Western Illinois for a 6 p.m. game at Saluki Stadium.
- SIU has won 11 of the last 12 in the series with Western Illinois after losing 18-straight games in the series from 1984 and 2001.
- WIU leads the all-time series 34-21-4 and also leads the series in games played in Carbondale 17-11-1.
- SIU has won six-straight games in the series in games played in Carbondale.
PROMOTIONS
- The game will be the fourth-annual Black Out Cancer game. The top 80 bidders win the right to place the name of their choosing on the back of the specal black jerseys SIU will wear during the WIU game. All proceeds go to Southern Illinois' Healthcare's Hope is Home campaign for a new comprehensive cancer treatment center in southern Illinois.
- This year's drive raised $33,955.
- The fourth-annual Saluki Kickoff 5K, presented by The Southern Illinoisian and Woodard Wellness Group, will precede the game. The Saluki Kickoff 5K will give participants a scenic run around the SIU campus with a chance to take in views of the new Saluki Athletics facilities, as well as Campus Lake and other natural features on campus. The race ends in Saluki Stadium, where runners will be able to watch themselves on the video board as they cross the finish line.
- The annual Family Weekend features a lot of entertainment on campus, highlighted by the evening football game at Saluki Stadium. SIU welcomes all family members to the SIU Family Weekend Tailgate on Saluki Row.
- As with all five home night games at Saluki Stadium in 2014, there will be a postgame fireworks show immediately following the game.
- For a complete list of promotions for home Saluki football games, visit http://www.siusalukis.com/fanzone/football-promotions.html.
CONFERENCE OPENERS
- Southern Illinois is 10-2 in its last 12 conference openers. The first year in that span--2002--was the last time that SIU opened conference play against Western Illinois.
- In that 2002 conference opener against No. 8 WIU, the Salukis broke an 18-game losing streak to the Leathernecks in a 54-52 win.
- The Salukis lost last year's conference opener, 28-27, to Youngstown State.
NIGHT GAMES
- SIU is playing a school-record five home night games (6 p.m. or later start times) in 2014. Southern also played five home night games in 2004, going 5-0.
- SIU is 3-0 in 2014 in night games overall and 2-0 at home.
- Five of Southern's first six games will be night games. SIU's lone day game was at Purdue.
- The Salukis are 12-7 in night games under head coach Dale Lennon and 12-5 against FCS opponents in night games.
- Dating back to 2002, when lights were reinstalled at McAndrew Stadium, Southern Illinois has gone 25-6 in home night games. (For all SIU home night game results since 2002, visit page 9).
PRUITT SETS MVFC CAREER MARK FOR RECEIVING YARDS BY A TIGHT END
- Southern Illinois All-American MyCole Pruitt became the first tight end in MVFC history with 2,000 career receiving yards with 136 yards at Purdue.
- Pruitt now has 2,046 career receiving yards, joining 19 other players in MVFC history and two other players in SIU history who have hit the 2,000-yard mark for career receiving yards.
- Pruitt broke the MVFC record held by Missouri State's Clay Harbor (2006-09), who had 1,906 career yards.
- Pruitt is the active MVFC leader in career receptions (166) and receiving yards (2,046).
SECOND-HALF STRONG
- Southern has outscored its opponents 59-10 in the second half this year, twice pitching second-half shutouts (vs. Taylor and at Eastern Illinois).
- SIU didn't allow any opponent a touchdown in the second half until only 36 seconds remained in the game at Purdue. SIU went the first 119 second-half minutes of the season without giving up a touchdown.
- SIU has been especially strong in the third quarter, outscoring opponents 31-3 and outgaining opponents 458-166.
- In SIU's two road games, it has outgained the home team 302-37 in the third quarter.
SALUKIS FINISH NON-CONFERENCE 3-1
- Southern Illinois started the season 3-0 for the first time under head coach Dale Lennon. It was Southern's first 3-0 start since 2007.
- SIU blanked Taylor 45-0 in the season-opener, which was also head coach Dale Lennon's first game at SIU also serving as defensive coordinator.
- Malcolm 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.
- 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.
- SIU outgained EIU 155 yards-to-11 in the third quarter and won the time of possession battle in the second half 18:54-to-11:06.
- 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 twice had the ball with a chance to cut Purdue's lead to one score but came away empty both times.
SALUKIS EARN WEEKLY HONORS
- Four SIU players have earned weekly honors from the MVFC already this year.
- 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 intercpetion.
- 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.
SALUKIS HIGH IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
- SIU ranks in the top-10 in the FCS in three statistical categories.
- The Salukis rank fourth nationally in third-down conversion defense (58.0 percent). SIU went 10-for-18 on third down last Saturday at Purdue.
- The Salukis rank sixth nationally in fumbles recovered with six.
- The Salukis also rank sixth nationally in sacks per game (3.75). SIU has posted at least three sacks in all four games this year.
- Mark Iannotti ranks second nationally in passing touchdowns with 10 and 16th nationally in passing efficiency (150.4).
- Iannotti ranks fourth nationally in points responsible for with 68.
- Malcolm Agnew ranks sixth nationally in rushing touchdowns with six and third in scoring at 12.0 points per game. He ranks 10th in rushing yards with 481.
- Agnew ranks 14th in yards per carry at 7.18.
- MyCole Pruitt ranks 16th nationally in receptions per game at 6.5 and 12th nationally in receiving touchdowns with 12.
- Pruitt leads all tight ends nationally in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
- LaSteven McKinney ranks 10th nationally in punt return average at 18.6 yards per return.
SALUKIS RANKED NO. 16/17
- The Salukis are ranked No. 16 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 17 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.
- Before this season, the last time SIU was ranked was Oct. 3, 2011.
- SIU is 88-34 all-time when ranked in the top 25 in the coaches poll, including a 27-13 mark under head coach Dale Lennon.
- 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.
SALUKIS BREAKING BIG PLAYS
- SIU have 23 big plays through four games this season (20-yard plays from scrimmage or 35-yard kick returns). Opponents have just 18.
- SIU has eight big-play touchdowns on offense, while the Saluki defense has only allowed one big-play TD.
- SIU has 14 plays of 30 or more yards, while opponents have just six.
TEAM DEFENSIVE NOTES
- Southern Illinois had a fourth-down goal-line stand last week against SEMO. The offense ran out the final 9:40 of the clock after the defense made the stand.
- The Salukis have recorded at least one sack in 54 of the last 56 games.
- SIU ranks sixth nationally in sacks and has at least three sacks in all four games this year.
- SIU has also recorded at least 5.0 tackles for loss in 21 of the last 26 games, including all four games this year.
- In just four games, Southern's diverse defense has already had 13 players record at least a half-TFL. Twelve players have been in on a sack.
- Only one opponent in the last 43 games has rushed for more than 200 yards against the Saluki defense; the Saluki offense has eclipsed 200 yards rushing 16 times in that span, including twice this year.
TEAM OFFENSIVE NOTES
- 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's offensive line picked up where they left off last season. After leading the MVFC in fewest sacks allowed in 2013, Southern allowed only two sacks in the first three games in 2014. Twice--vs. Taylor and SEMO--the SIU offensive line has not allowed a sack.
- 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 both Taylor and Southeast Missouri.
- On offense, the Salukis return 87 percent of their rushing attack from 2013 (1,599 of 1,837 yards). Through four games in 2014, the Salukis are averaging 5.4 yards per rush.
- 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 record 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 earned MVFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting a game-high 11 tackles, including a sack, in leading Southern's defense to a second-half shutout at No. 14 Eastern Illinois.
- Williamson is SIU's top returning tackler. He ranked second on the team in tackles in 2013 with 66. He led the team in tackles for loss with 13.0, which ranked fifth in the MVFC.
- D.J. Cameron and Anthony Thompson tied with Chris Davis for the team lead in interceptions last year with two. SIU returnees accounted for seven of the team's 10 interceptions last year.
- D.J. Cameron leads the team this year with 24 tackles. 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.
- 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.
- Boo Rodgers picked off a pass at EIU, his first interception since 2011--against EIU.
- Adam Brandt caught a tipped pass for an intercpetion at EIU. Brandt is the first SIU defensive lineman with an intercpetion 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.
- True freshman Ryan Neal has started the last three games for SIU at free safety. Neal is one of three true freshman who have played in 2014, joining Chris Adkins and Jimmy Jones.
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE NOTES
- Senior MyCole Pruitt returns for his senior season after earning consensus first-team All-American honors in 2013.
- Pruitt is the first tight end in MVFC history with 2,000 career receiving yards.
- Among tight ends, Pruitt leads the FCS in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
- Pruitt is the active MVFC leader in receptions and receiving yards.
- Pruitt was also 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).
- Pruitt became the second player in SIU history with 150 career reception with his seven catches at EIU. He is second in SIU history with 156 career receptions. He needs 52 more receptions in 2014 to catch Southern's all-time leader, Cornell Craig, who had 207 career catches from 1996-99.
- Pruitt is also third in SIU history career receiving yardage with 2,046 career yards. He needs 158 yards to move into second place on SIU's all-time list. Craig had 3,508 career receiving yards, meaning Pruitt would need to more than double his career yardage in one season to break the record.
- Pruitt is SIU's career leader in both receptions and receiving yards by a tight end.
- Pruitt is also tied for fifth on SIU's career receiving touchdowns list (15).
- Pruitt has at least one reception in 35 of his 36 career games, and he has at least two catches in 21-straight games played.
- Pruitt became the sixth player in program history with at least 10 receptions with his career-highs of 10 catches and 136 yards at Purdue.
- Running back Malcolm Agnew ranks sixth in the FCS in rushing touchdowns with six and 10th in rushing yards with 481.
- Agnew is averaging 8.5 yards per touch through four games. He has 645 all-purpose yards on 76 touches (67 rushes, 9 receptions). His 161.2 all-purpose yards per game rank 19th nationally.
- Agnew has seven 100-yard rushing games in his Saluki career (four in 2013, three in 2014), which ties him with Bob Hasberry (1969) and Walter Poole (1978-71) for ninth-most 100-yard rushing games in SIU history.
- Agnew became a career 1,000-yard rusher at SIU in the season opener at Taylor. He is sixth at SIU in career rushing yards among two-year players.
- Including his 692 yards he had in two seasons at Oregon State, Agnew eclipsed the career 2,000-yard mark against Southeast Missouri.
- Agnew was SIU's leading rusher in 2013 with 888 yards despite missing the season-opener at Illinois. Agnew was named to the MVFC's All-Newcomer team after the season.
- LaSteven McKinney is tied for seventh on SIU's career receptions list with 122. McKinney needs 15 receptions to move into third on the all-time list behind Craig and Pruitt. He needs just three catches to move into fourth on the all-time list.
- McKinney also needs exactly 286 yards receiving to break into the top 10 in school history in career receiving yards.
- Starting 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 ranks second nationally in touchdown passes (10).
- He tied SIU's single-game touchdown passes record with six against Southeast Missouri.
- Iannotti was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week last week after tying SIU's single-game passing TD record with six vs. SEMO.
INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
- 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's 50-yarder is tied for the second-longest field goal in the FCS this year.
- Kinney his 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 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's performance against Western Illinois in 2013 led to him being named MVFC and National Special Teams Player of the Week.
- Kinney is on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List, which goes to the top placekicker in the nation after the season.
- Despite playing only 15 games at SIU, Kinney has cracked the top 10 in school history in made field goals with 22.
- Kinney was a second-team All-MVFC selection in 2013 and was also named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team.
- He ranked second in the conference in field goals made (18), field goals attempted (24) and points scored among placekickers (94).
- Tay Willis was named to the CFPA Kick Returner Watch List for 2014. In 2013, he returned the opening kickoff against Missouri State 92 yards for a touchdown. Willis nearly broke two more returns but settled for a 43-yard return at EIU and a 60-yarder at Purdue.
- LaSteven McKinney busted a 62-yard punt return at Eastern Illinois, raising his season average to 18.6, which ranks 10th nationally.
- McKinney has been named 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 571. He needs 109 yards to move into third.
- McKinney is seventh in school history in career punt return average at 7.78 yards per return.
- He is third in school history in career punt returns with 65.
- Four-year starting punter Austin Pucylowski graduated. From 2010 to 2013, Pucylowski recorded all but five of SIU's punts.
- Nick Neidig is Southern's new starting punter. He is averaging 38.2 yards per punt. Only one of his punts has been returned, and opponents have zero punt return yards against SIU this year.
PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL HONORS
- Tight end MyCole Pruitt and kicker Thomas Kinney were both named preseason first-team All-Americans by The Sports Network.
- Pruitt was a consensus All-American last year and a third-teamer as a sophomore in 2012.
- Kinney was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team last year after making 18 field goals, the second-highest single-season total in school history. He also hit a 52-yarder against Western Illinois, the second-longest field goal in the FCS in 2013.
- Pruitt is on the 20-man Walter Payton Award Watch List. The Payton Award goes to the most outstanding player in the FCS after the season.
- Kinney was named to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List, which is given to the most outstanding placekicker after the season.
- Six SIU players have been named to College Football Performance Awards Watch Lists at their respective positions: Malcolm Agnew (running back), Thomas Kinney (placekicker), LaSteven McKinney (punt returner and return specialist), MyCole Pruitt (tight end), Tyler Williamson (linebacker) and Tay Willis (kick returner).
- Pruitt earned the CFPA's FCS Tight End of the Year award last year, becoming Southern's second CFPA Award winner (Korey Lindsey, Defensive Back Award, 2010).
SIX NEW COACHES
- Southern Illinois has six new coaches on staff for the 2014 season, the most coach turnover for SIU since head coach Dale Lennon was hired before the 2008 season.
- Southern lost last year's offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer to the same job at Eastern Michigan, and last year's defensive coordinator, Bubba Schweigert, left to become the head coach at North Dakota.
- Lennon added defensive coordinator to his head coaching duties and promoted offensive line coach Bill O'Boyle to offensive coordinator.
- Lennon served as the defensive coordinator at North Dakota for seven years from 1990-96.
- O'Boyle was the offensive coordinator at Division II Chadron State from 1999-04 before becoming Chadron State's head coach from 2005-11. O'Boyle was the Division II National Coach of the Year in 2007.
- In addition to O'Boyle, Austin Flyger (defensive line) and Travis Stepps (outside linebackers) are the only other coaches returning from last year's staff. The new coaches are Ashton Aikens (wide receivers), Todd Auer (inside linebackers), David Elson (secondary), Nick Hill (quarterbacks), Keith Murphy (tight ends/fullbacks) and Larry Warner (running backs).
- Hill and Warner were both players at SIU. Hill remains SIU's single-season passing leader with 3,175 yards in 2007, and Warner was an All-American running back in 2008.
- Hill and Warner coached together at Carbondale High School before becoming assistants at SIU.
SIU VS. RANKED OPPONENTS SUCCESS
- SIU is 12-10 against top-25 opponents under head coach Dale Lennon.
- The Salukis have won five games against top-10 opponents in the last six seasons, and all five have been on the road.
- Southern is 28-11 (.718) against non-ranked teams and is 27-12 (.692) as a ranked team.
- Southern has won at least one game against a ranked team in all seven of Lennon's seasons in Carbondale.
TEAM ROAD SUCCESS
- Since 2005, SIU has won 12 road games against ranked teams, which is three more than any other MVFC team and the same number as North Dakota State and South Dakota State combined.
- Southern Illinois has excelled in road games under head coach Dale Lennon. SIU is 19-15 overall on the road in Lennon's six seasons. If you take out SIU's six FBS opponents in that time, Lennon's squads have gone 19-9 in road games.
- SIU went 4-0 in road games against FCS opponents last year, including back-to-back road wins over top-10 opponents with a 27-24 win over South Dakota State and a 24-17 overtime win over Northern Iowa last year.
- With Southern's 38-21 win at No. 14 Eastern Illinois, the Salukis have a five-game road winning streak.
- SIU is 9-4 on the road against ranked teams in head coach Dale Lennon's tenure at SIU.
- The Salukis are 7-1 in MVFC road games since 2012 and are 4-1 against ranked MVFC teams on the road.
- Southern's only conference road loss in the last two seasons was at North Dakota State in 2012, and SIU led the eventual national champions in that game entering the fourth quarter.
- The Salukis shut out No. 9 Illinois State in Normal, Ill., 17-0 in 2012 and beat No. 25 Youngstown State by 17 on the road in 2012.
- Under Lennon, SIU is 16-8 in MVFC road games, and six of his eight road losses were in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. In his other four seasons, SIU is 14-2 in MVFC road games, with both losses coming at the Fargodome against North Dakota State.
- Since 1997, the home team in the UNI-SIU rivalry is 15-2. Lennon has coached both teams that have won on the road. His 2009 squad beat No. 2 UNI at the UNI-Dome and last year's team topped No. 4 UNI on the road.
- SIU has won five games against top-10 teams on the road under Lennon and seven games against ranked opponents away from Carbondale.