Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois rushed for 213 yards on offense, and the defense picked up eight sacks en route to a 31-17 victory over Austin Peay on Saturday night.

Key performers in the game for Southern included running back Shaun Lester Jr., who carried for 111 yards, and linebacker Ben Bogle, who was credited with 12 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

The win didn't come easily for the No. 10-ranked Salukis (1-1), though, who trailed 10-7 late in the first half. The Governors (0-2) seemed poised to add to that lead when quarterback Austin Smith hit Jaden Barnes for a 32-yard gain deep into SIU territory, but safety Ubayd Steed chased Barnes down from behind, punched the ball loose, and it was recovered by teammate Isaiah Bigby.

"Unbelievable play — that's what we talk about, playing with a relentless passion," said SIU head coach Nick Hill. "Chasing at the ball, punching at the ball from behind, and what that can lead to in a football game. It wins and loses you games."

With 1:15 remaining until halftime, Southern took advantage of the turnover by driving 71 yards in eight plays for a touchdown on the final play of the half. Quarterback DJ Williams scrambled to his right and found Vinson Davis III open in the back of the end zone for a four-yard touchdown to put SIU up 14-10 at halftime.

"For us to get a turnover on their explosive play, and then go down and get a score right before half was just huge," Hill said.

Southern's first drive of the second half also resulted in a touchdown as Williams guided the offense 59 yards in six plays, capped by a 35-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Schwendeman, who was all alone in the middle of the field.

The Salukis dominated the fourth quarter, out-gaining APSU 91-8. Lester Jr. picked up 46 yards on one play, busting a run down the left sideline before being shoved out of bounds at the two-yard line. Williams finished off the drive with a one-yard TD plunge.

"All game I was hitting them inside and Coach (Larry Warner) showed me on film to hit it outside; it's there; trust it," Lester Jr. explained. "I trusted it and got a big run off of it."

With a 31-17 lead, Southern unleashed a ferocious pass rush that recorded five sacks on Austin Peay's final two drives. Bogle had three of them.

"That's your best pass defense when you can put heat on the quarterback," Hill said. "We were getting so many tackles for loss there where it's second and long; then you can really crank up your pressures. I felt like the defense really closed out the game. They were given an opportunity, and they did."

In his second start at SIU, Williams finished the game completing 15-of-28 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 43 yards without turning over the ball.

"I think DJ is going to look back and see some plays that we wish we could have back—some explosives that we left out there in the first half," Hill said. "That's all part of our growing process as an offense: finding that rhythm, being accurate and making teams pay whenever they give us what we want. Love his demeanor as far as in-game—the maturity that he shows—the accountability that he shows; so we have plenty to build on."

Hill was especially pleased with his team's composure to rally from an early deficit.

"I thought there was a maturity on the sideline of no panic—settling in—and finding a way to win," he said.

Southern plays four of its next five games at home starting with nationally ranked Incarnate Word on Sept. 14 followed by SEMO on Sept. 21.