Salukis roll over Redbirds

Posted on October 14, 2017
Antonio Hadden Jr. caught his first passes in a Redbird uniform, finishing the game with five catches for 97 yards. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By WJBC Staff

CARBONDALE – Southern Illinois jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, as the Salukis (3-3, 1-2 MVFC) secured a Homecoming victory over Illinois State (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) by a score of 42-7 on Saturday afternoon at Saluki Stadium.

The Salukis wasted little time securing the early lead, driving 70 yards on just five plays on their first offensive possession of the day for the game’s first touchdown. Big pass plays from Sam Straub to Connor Iwema for 48 yards and Straub to D.J. Davis for the 21-yard score gave SIU an early 7-0 lead. The Redbirds picked up a pair of crucial first downs on connections from Jake Kolbe to Anthony Fowler on the next drive, moving into Saluki territory, but an interception in the end zone put an end to the scoring threat.

Davis would strike again early in the second quarter on a quick shovel pass from Straub to put the Salukis up 14-0 with 11:30 remaining before halftime. Straub threw his third touchdown of the game, an 11-yard strike to Sam Bonansinga, to extend the SIU lead to 21-0 with just under eight minutes remaining before the break. That is where the score stayed headed into the locker room, as the Redbirds managed just eight first downs and 119 yards of total offense in the first half.

The Salukis came out firing again in the third quarter, as Straub completed a 73-yard strike to Raphael Leonard for his fourth touchdown of the game to push the SIU lead to 28-0 just a minute into the second half. The Redbirds had their best scoring chance of the day late in the third quarter, as runs of 11 and 16 yards by James Robinson moved the ball past midfield, before a 38-yard run by Artiss Henderson pushed the ball to the SIU five yard line. However, the drive stalled there and the Redbirds turned the ball over on downs.

After a strong defensive stand, the Redbirds got the ball back at the SIU 44 yard line. Kolbe connected with Spencer Schnell for 25 yards on first down and then found Schnell for a 19-yard score to get the Redbirds on the board with 49 seconds left in the third quarter. Sean Slattery’s extra-point make cut the SIU deficit to 28-7 just before the start of the fourth quarter.

However, SIU would add another score after a costly turnover, as Cameron Walter rushed in from five yards out to widen the SIU advantage to 35-7 with 10:10 left to play in the game. The Salukis finalized their score at 42, as Jonathan Mixon completed the eight-play, 50-yard drive with a five-yard rush, leaving 1:18 on the clock to secure the win.

The Redbirds return home next Saturday, Oct. 21, when they host nationally-ranked South Dakota for Homecoming, with kickoff scheduled at Hancock Stadium for 2 p.m.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…