Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University’s football team was unable to hold off Youngstown State in the second half of their matchup on Saturday, resulting in a 48-38 loss. The Salukis, ranked No. 15/16, now stand at 6-4 overall and 3-3 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play.

After leading 24-14 at halftime, Southern Illinois allowed Youngstown State to score 34 points in the second half. The Penguins amassed a total of 650 yards on offense—347 passing and 303 rushing—while SIU recorded 537 yards with 361 through the air and 176 on the ground.

Quarterback DJ Williams threw for a career-high 361 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 55 yards and scored his fourteenth rushing touchdown of the season, tying him for ninth-most single-season rushing touchdowns in program history alongside Arkee Whitlock (2005) and Tom Koutsos (2003).

Running back Eddie Robinson led SIU’s ground game with 85 yards on eleven carries and caught a twelve-yard touchdown pass—the first receiving touchdown of his career. Tight end Ryan Schwendeman returned from injury to catch five passes for a career-best ninety-six yards. Wide receivers Jay Jones and Fabian McCray contributed eighty-six and eighty-two receiving yards respectively.

Williams’ three passing touchdowns were distributed among Robinson, wide receiver Vinson Davis III, and tight end Miles Marshall—the latter scoring his first collegiate touchdown.

Defensively, cornerback Jeremiah McClendon led with thirteen tackles while linebacker Chris Presto recovered a fumble that set up an early field goal by Paul Geelen. Defensive end Vontrell Chairse registered SIU’s only sack.

The game began with SIU quickly moving downfield as Williams connected with Jones for fifty-eight yards before finding Robinson for a twelve-yard touchdown pass. After Youngstown State tied it up, Presto’s fumble recovery gave SIU another chance to score; Geelen converted it into three points.

SIU extended its lead following another defensive stop when Williams capped off a drive with a one-yard run into the end zone. Later in the quarter, Davis caught a twenty-three yard touchdown pass from Williams to make it 24-7.

Youngstown State responded before halftime but trailed by ten at intermission. In the third quarter, momentum shifted as Youngstown State scored touchdowns on all three possessions—including two passing scores and a forty-yard run by Jaden Gilbert—to take control at 35-24 entering the fourth quarter.

Marshall’s two-yard reception brought SIU within five points early in the final period but failed two-point conversion attempts kept them behind. Subsequent Youngstown State drives widened their lead until Lem Wash scored late for SIU; another successful two-point try reduced the deficit to ten points but proved insufficient after an unsuccessful onside kick attempt ended any comeback hopes.

Southern Illinois will next host South Dakota for Senior Day on November 15 at Saluki Stadium.