Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis fall at South Dakota, 34-31
By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com
VERMILLION, S.D. - The Southern Illinois football program lost by three points or fewer for the fifth time this season on Saturday afternoon. The South Dakota Coyotes scored a touchdown on 4th-and-goal with three minutes remaining and blocked SIU's potential game-tying 51-yard field goal to hang on for a 34-31 win in the first meeting between the two programs at the DakotaDome.
The game looked like a shootout from the outset. SIU (3-6, 2-4 MVFC) took the opening drive of the game 80 yards in six minutes. From there, the lead changed hands seven times, the last of which came on Ryan Seager's game-winning touchdown pass to Aaron Ramsey with 3:09 left in the fourth quarter.
Southern Illinois turned the ball over four times, and South Dakota (5-4, 3-3 MVFC) turned those into 17 of its 34 points.
"Turnovers are always a key to any game," head coach Dale Lennon said. "We just didn't do a very good job of protecting the football. The timing of our turnovers was costly. We gave up a lot of points."
SIU's defense stiffened in the second half and allowed only 122 total yards on 3.3 yards per play. At one point, SIU forced five-straight `Yote punts and four three-and-outs. But SIU's offense gave it back in three different ways during that stretch (downs, interception, fumble), the last of which set up USD's game-winning score.
"The guys are battling," Lennon said. "Effort is not a question with this team. Nobody ever gave up. We just need to have a better complement between the offense and the defense. Today, we gave up a couple big plays; we gave up a couple plays on offense that were very costly. That will get you beat."
Southern still had a chance to win the game and drove into Coyote territory in the final two minutes, but a pair of dropped passes forced Austin Johnson to attempt a 51-yard field goal that would have forced overtime. Johnson had hit from 50 yards earlier in the game, but his game-tying attempt in the final minute was blocked at the line.
Billy Reed had 142 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Jonathan Mixon had 98 yards rushing on just eight carries, nearly becoming the third Saluki freshman with a 100-yard rushing game this season (Daquan Isom, Chris Perkins). Mark Iannotti had 277 yards total offense (251 passing) and became the fourth player in program history with 40 career touchdown passes. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more.
All six of SIU's losses are by one possession. The six losses are by a combined 17 points, and five of them have been by three points or fewer.
We're playing hard; we're giving ourselves a chance," Lennon said. "We're just not able to do it."
Illinois State comes to Carbondale next Saturday for the home finale at Saluki Stadium and Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT.