Saluki rewind: Top-ranked South Dakota State holds off SIU to keep nation’s longest winning streak alive

Junior tight end Colton Hoag (48) took a direct snap and raced 21 yards on a fake punt. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)

By Dan Verdun

In the COVID spring FCS season, Southern Illinois broke top-ranked North Dakota State’s record 39-game winning streak by upsetting the Bison in Carbondale.

History did not repeat itself Saturday at Saluki Stadium.

South Dakota State – No. 1 in both major national polls – kept its 21-game winning string alive with a 17-10 win against SIU.

The Jackrabbits (7-0, 4-0) built a 14-point second-half lead and held off the Salukis (5-2, 2-2) in Missouri Valley Football Conference action.

The game was scoreless for the first 27 minutes. SIU missed on several opportunities to put points on the board in the first half.

“I felt like our defense played their hearts out just like they have all season,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “You’re not going to just shut somebody out like (SDSU), but they competed and gave us a shot.”

The Jackrabbits entered the day averaging 43 points per game, and the Salukis held them 26 points below their average.

“They’re rightfully where they need to be (No. 1), and if that’s the best team in the country, our guys know that we have a really good football team and we have to find a way to get to 6-2 by winning next week,” Hill said

Kicker Thomas Burks nailed a 39-yard field goal for SIU with 32 seconds left in the game, but his onside kick attempt went out of bounds to end the game.

“The expectation was to come out here and get a win,” Hill said. “We knew and respected the opponent we were going against. They’re a really good football team and I feel like we have a really good football team.”

Game changers

7:36, 1st quarter: SIU RB Justin Strong was corraled for no gain on a fourth-and-two at the SDSU 19-yard line.

6:26, 2nd quarter: SIU quarterback Nic Baker was intercepted on a deep pass intended for an open D’Ante’ Cox. SDSU defensive back Dalys Beanum returned the ball 31 yards to the SIU 37.

4:59, 3rd quarter:  On first down at the SDSU 20, Baker was sacked, lost the ball and it was recovered by SDSU’s Ryan Van Marel.

“It just came out of my hands, not something I usually do,” Baker said. “I usually hold on to those balls, just didn’t today.”

What it means

Though the Salukis played the second closest game SDSU has had this season – the Jackrabbits slipped past Montana State, 20-16, in September – SIU suffered its second loss. Both defeats have been in the Missouri Valley.

Top Dawgs

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

P.J. Jules, S: The junior led SIU with nine tackles and recorded one for loss.

Dune Smith, LB: The Miami native collected eight tackles and was credited with two pass breakups.

Cox, WR: The redshirt senior returned from injury to lead all receivers with seven catches for 88 yards. He scored the Salukis’ lone touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Baker in the fourth quarter.

What’s next?

The Salukis travel to Macomb, taking on in-state rival Western Illinois in another MVFC game. The Leathernecks (0-7, 0-4) lost at North Dakota State, 52-7, Saturday.

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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