Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University’s football team ended a two-game losing streak with a 31-17 victory over Northern Iowa during the university’s Homecoming event in Carbondale. The Salukis, now 5-3 overall and 2-2 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play, took control early, leading 24-0 before Northern Iowa scored late in the second quarter.

Head coach Nick Hill said, "When we go play solid football, taking care of the ball, playing complementary football, and our guys just get to go play, we have a really good team. I think that was on display today."

The game coincided with the return and recognition of several notable alumni. Jeremy Chinn and Fabray Collins were inducted into the Saluki Hall of Fame on Friday night. Former linebacker Branson Combs was honored after making his NFL debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.

Southern Illinois amassed 433 yards of total offense—203 passing and 230 rushing—while holding Northern Iowa to just 247 total yards. The Salukis’ defense limited their opponent to only 127 passing yards.

"That was a great outing of just playing high-level defense," Hill said. "Those guys played incredibly well and set the tone."

Quarterback DJ Williams completed 19-of-23 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also rushed for 49 yards. Edward Robinson led all rushers with 86 yards on nine carries; Chandler Chapman added another 81 yards on six carries. Jay Jones topped receivers with 52 yards and a touchdown.

Cornerback Jeremiah McClendon recorded an interception, a sack, two pass breakups, and five tackles in the win. The Salukis matched their season-high with four sacks from McClendon, Bernadin Fleurima Jr., Vontrell Chairse, and Amir Dwight.

Hill praised McClendon’s performance: "Jeremiah is playing at a high level," he said. "There's a lot of good players in this league, but you turn on the tape. Consistently through eight weeks, Jeremiah has played really good football. He's gotten the player of the week from us as a staff a couple times, obviously this week it will probably be another one."

Chandler Chapman scored his fifth touchdown over four consecutive games during Southern Illinois’ opening drive—a run capped by his own 32-yard rush into the end zone.

After forcing Northern Iowa into multiple punts early on—including five out of their first six drives—the Salukis extended their lead when Williams connected with tight end Aidan Quinn for a 38-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter. This marked Quinn’s first touchdown since November last year.

A blocked punt allowed Northern Iowa to kick its first field goal before halftime; Southern Illinois led at intermission by three touchdowns.

In special teams action after halftime, Tae Marrero Jr.’s punt return went for an 81-yard touchdown—the program’s first such score since October 2006—which increased SIU’s lead to four scores.

Northern Iowa managed two late touchdowns following special teams plays but could not close the gap further before time expired.

Southern Illinois will travel next to face Murray State on Saturday, November 1 at 4 p.m.