Saluki rewind: Fourth-quarter comeback drives SIU to reclaim War for the Wheel

Head coach Nick Hill and his team celebrate in the visiting locker room with the War for the Wheel trophy following their comeback victory. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)

By Dan Verdun

True rivalries are made of games like Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri have played the last two seasons.

A year ago, SEMO shocked the Salukis with a last-second win in Carbondale.

Saturday in Cape Girardeau, it was SIU’s turn to snatch victory.

The Salukis (3-0) staged a second-half comeback to shock the Redhawks (1-2) in a battle of Top 15-ranked teams.

Quarterback Nic Baker’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Izaiah Hartrup on fourth down lifted SIU to the 26-25 victory. The TD pass came with 11 seconds left.

“I was manned up on the dig route that we honestly, typically don’t throw too much,” Hartrup said in a postgame radio interview. “With Bake buying time and being able to go through progression and reads, I was able to get open in the back of the end zone.”

That winning score would not have been possible without the SIU defense forcing a turnover. With 1 minute, 46 seconds remaining, redshirt freshman safety Desman Hearns stripped SEMO All-American running back Geno Hess of the ball and recovered the fumble at the Redhawks’ 38 yard-line.

“He made that play right when we needed it. He got the job done,” SIU safety P.J. Jules said.

Saluki head coach Nick Hill said, “When they’re trying to run the clock out and you’re punching the football and one comes out to win a game. Des Hearns, man, unbelieavable.”

SIU dug itself into a 15-0 halftime deficit.

“It’s the worst six quarters of football we’ve around here for a long time,” Hill said, referencing the Salukis’ 14-11 win at FBS Northern Illinois last weekend.

Hill, in fact, confronted Baker, his sixth-year leader.

“I challenged Nic at halftime,” Hill said. “I kind of called him out in front of the team. He had to make some plays.”

Baker indeed made plays, throwing for 404 yards and three touchdowns in the second half.

“So many players made plays in the second half, but I felt 8 (Baker), in the second half, was just outstanding. And our receivers got going,” Hill said.

Game changers

11:12, 3rd quarter: Ro Elliott capped a nine-play, 90-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. The TD opened the scoring for SIU and got the Salukis rolling.

“What I really love most was that there was a belief,” Hill said. “If we could go down and score on the opening drive there were going to be some opportunities.”

1:46, 4th quarter: Hearns’ forced fumble and recovery gave SIU life and opened the door for the winning drive.

0:11, 4th quarter: Given protection by his offensive line, Baker found Hartrup, who missed last year’s game with a season-ending injury, in the middle of the end zone.

What it means

To the victors goes a 3-0 start, the Salukis’ first since 2014, and possession of the traveling riverboat wheel trophy that represents the dividing line between the two schools — the Mighty Mississippi River.

“It was great getting the wheel back,” Jules said.

SIU has started a season with wins over three Division I opponents for the first time since 2007.

Top Dawgs

Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Southern Illinois players in the game:

Baker, QB: After throwing two first-half interceptions deep in SEMO territory, the senior finished the day by completing 35-of-51 passes for 458 yards and three touchdowns.

P.J. Jules, S: The senior racked up a career-high 15 tackles, broke up three passes and recorded half of a tackle for loss.

Hartrup, WR: The Missouri native caught seven passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner.

What’s next?

SIU enters its bye week. The Salukis resume their season by hosting Missouri State at 4 p.m. Sept. 30 in Southern’s Missouri Valley Football Conference opener.

Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.

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