Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois University football team, ranked No. 10/11 nationally, secured its third consecutive win with a 55-27 victory over Indiana State on Saturday. The game marked the opening of the Missouri Valley Football Conference for the Salukis, who now hold a 4-1 overall record and are 1-0 in conference play.

This win also marks the first time since 2007 that Southern Illinois has scored more than 50 points in back-to-back games.

"I'm proud of the guys, proud of being 1-0 in the Missouri Valley," head coach Nick Hill said. "We could shout-out a lot of guys for this win in all three phases. Proud of the staff, proud of the way the guys just keep coming back up and showing up to work, and having the maturity about themselves."

The match drew an attendance of 10,132 at Saluki Stadium during Family Weekend.

"Appreciate everybody that came out to Saluki Stadium," Hill said. "Hopefully it's something they enjoyed, and we've got to feel like that's a difference-maker as far as coming out here and making Saluki Stadium a home-field advantage."

Southern Illinois established control early by scoring 21 points in the first quarter and another 17 before halftime, leading Indiana State by 38-14 at intermission. The team amassed a season-high total offense of 656 yards—430 rushing—which is their highest single-game rushing yardage since 2009.

"To be a successful run team, it takes everybody," Hill said. "From the offensive line, the back that's carrying the ball, the tight ends who are so engaged in most of our run game, and the wide receivers. Usually, if it's going to be an explosive run, it's the skill players down the field blocking that can spring a big one."

Indiana State managed to gain 322 yards on the ground but was limited to just 124 passing yards without any touchdowns through the air due to Southern's defense.

Donnie Wingate recorded his first career interception at the start of the fourth quarter; it was SIU's sixth interception this season.

Quarterback DJ Williams completed 19 passes out of 31 attempts for 226 yards with two passing touchdowns and added two rushing scores with his own total of 70 yards on foot. Wide receiver Vinson Davis III logged his second straight game surpassing 100 receiving yards—140 yards on seven catches—including one touchdown.

Edward Robinson led SIU’s running backs with nine carries for a career-best total of 124 yards and one touchdown. Chandler Chapman contributed eight carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns; Lashaun Lester ran once for a gain of sixty before leaving due to injury.

On defense, Ben Fiegel and Shug Walker both registered twelve tackles each; Walker also posted two tackles-for-losses along with two pass breakups while Vontrell Chairse and Noah Friedt each had sacks.

Southern’s opening score came via a quick drive ending with Williams connecting on a twenty-yard pass to Jay Jones. The team found success on its next drives as well—Chapman scored from thirty-nine yards out while Williams followed up with another short rushing touchdown giving SIU an early lead at twenty-one points before Indiana State responded offensively.

Paul Geelen made his fifth field goal this season by converting from forty yards early in quarter two extending SIU’s advantage further.

Williams connected again later with Davis for an eighty-three yard touchdown reception—one of Southern's longest plays so far this year—and closed out their half-time lead after another ten-play drive finished by Williams’ three-yard run into endzone.

Chapman recorded his first multi-touchdown performance late in third quarter; following Wingate’s interception Geelen added another field goal from thirty-three yards pushing SIU further ahead before Robinson broke free for an eighty-one yard scoring rush—the longest carry yet for him as sophomore—with Southern's final trip into endzone.

Next week Southern Illinois will face No.1 North Dakota State away; kickoff is set for Saturday at Fargo.