Coming off an historic win at Big Ten Northwestern, No. 24-ranked Southern Illinois looks to continue its momentum when it hosts No. 19-ranked North Dakota on Family Weekend at Saluki Stadium at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The Salukis (1-2) improved to 2-7 all-time against Big Ten teams with Saturday's 31-24 win at Northwestern. After trailing, 14-7, in the second quarter, Southern roared back to take a 31-17 lead in the fourth. SIU's previous Big Ten win came in 2006 and was orchestrated by current head coach Nick Hill, who was the team's starting quarterback.
Preseason All-American RB Javon Williams Jr. did it all for the Salukis at Northwestern. He totaled 55 yards rushing, 48 yards receiving, 12 yards passing, and 38 return yards, for 153 combined yards of productivity. Late in the fourth quarter, on a critical 4th-and-2, he dragged Wildcat defenders on a nine-yard carry that allowed SIU to take a knee and run out the clock.
Meanwhile, quarterback Nic Baker was the MVFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance at Northwestern, marking the fourth time in his career he's won the league award.
Notebook
- Coming off a game in which SIU forced four turnovers, SIU improved to +2 in the turnover department. LBs Branson Combs and Zach Burrola had interceptions at Northwestern, and Richie Hagarty and PJ Jules forced fumbles that Southern recovered.
- RBs Ro Elliott (1,407), Javon Williams Jr. (2,263) and Justin Strong (943) have combined for 4,613 career rushing yards and 50 rushing TDs.
- FB Jacob Garrett had a career day at Northwestern with four catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns. He now has 5 receiving TDs in his career.
- S PJ Jules had a career-high 11 tackles at Northwestern, including a key strip-sack in the fourth quarter that set up SIU's final touchdown.
- Six Saluki players have played 40+ games in their Saluki careers — LB Ma'kel Calhoun (47), DT Keenan Agnew (47), RB Javon Williams Jr. (41), DE Raquan Lindsey (41), FB Jacob Garrett (40) and RB Justin Strong (40).
- Nine, different receivers caught passes at Northwestern, matching last year's season high at Western Illinois and SEMO.
- First-time starters at Northwestern were RT Abdou Toure and WR Bryce Miller.
- North Dakota head coach Bubba Schweigert was SIU's defensive coordinator from 2008-13.
- This will be North Dakota's third trip to Carbondale. In 2008, SIU beat the Fighting Hawks, 40-21, behind Larry Warner's career-high 256 yards rushing. Last year, SIU won, 31-28, when UND kicker Brady Stevens missed wide right on a 47-yard field goal as time expired.
On the 31-24 win over Northwestern
"Saturday was obviously a big win for this team, and for our program. It was a special day for all of Saluki Nation. As coaches, I told our team to make sure they enjoyed the moment, and the long six hour drive down I-57 felt a littler better after the win."
On preparing for North Dakota after a big win
"We have to attack this week the same way with the same mentality we had going into last week. We're excited and our full focus is now on North Dakota, which is a very good team. If the ball bounces a couple different snaps, they have a win over Nebraska, at Nebraska. They're 1-0 in the conference, they found a way to win two close games, the last two weeks. We had a great game against them last year, they beat us in the COVID season. It's a phenomenal test for us to open up conference play. We're excited to get back at home and get back in front in front of our home fans on Family Weekend."
On North Dakota quarterback Tommy Schuster
"He's a winner, he makes plays, he's able to do things in rhythm. He doesn't get rattled, he's not out there showing a bunch of emotion. If he gets sacked, he's right back to the next play. He's a guy that's on the page with his offensive coordinator, you can tell he understands the scheme and where the ball needs to go, and then he's a heck of a player of making those plays work."
Original source can be found here.
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