Junior Aidan Quinn (41) celebrates his touchdown Saturday at Saluki Stadium. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Dan Verdun
In a game with likely postseason repercussions, ninth-ranked South Dakota denied No. 10 Southern Illinois of a potential game-tying touchdown in the final seconds Saturday in a crucial Missouri Valley Football Conference game.
The Coyotes (7-2, 5-1) stopped the Salukis (6-3, 3-3) four times from their own 5-yard line with less than a minute to play, securing a 14-7 win.
Though SIU outgained South Dakota, 332-196, points proved to be elusive for the Salukis.
“Could use a lot of words to describe how we’re feeling — disappointed, frustrated — just hard to lose a game like that,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “Like I told our guys in the locker room, if you’re going be frustrated, if fans are going to be frustrated — you don’t have to look any further than right here to myself. I’m in charge of that side of the ball. We’re playing winning defense, and for right now, we’re just not putting enough points on the board for a variety of reasons.”
South Dakota sacked SIU quarterback Nic Baker seven times as the Coyotes rebounded from last week’s 37-3 loss to No. 1-ranked South Dakota State.
“Really hard-fought win against a good football team on the road,” South Dakota head coach Bob Nielson told GoYotes.com. “Had to scramble a little bit there at the end, but a great stand to seal the win.”
Game changers
1:10, 4th quarter: Saluki receiver D’Ante’ Cox, who has fought injuries for much of this season and his career, hauled in a 27-yard catch at the South Dakota 5-yard line.
0:18, 4th quarter: On second-and-goal from the USD 2, Baker threw a fade route to Cox in the right corner of the end zone. Cox leaped high to make the catch, but officials ruled he did not have possession of the ball before sliding out of bounds. A replay upheld the decision.
:10, 4th quarter: Baker’s pass — intended for Cox — was deflected by USD defensive end Brendan Webb and intercepted by teammate Blake Holden. Webb had a program-record four sacks to go along with the tipped pass. It was Holden’s first collegiate interception.
What it means
SIU’s home loss is a black eye on the Salukis’ playoff resume and drops SIU to a .500 mark in conference play.
Top Dawgs
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Southern Illinois players in the game:
Ubayd Steed, S: The junior led SIU with 15 tackles. The Towson transfer broke up two passes and was credited with half of a tackle for loss.
P.J. Jules, S: The senior registered nine tackles and had one quarterback hurry.
Branson Combs, LB: The junior recorded six tackles to go along with two pass breakups and 0.5 tackles for loss.
What’s next?
The Salukis face another key Missouri Valley game at North Dakota State (6-3, 3-3) Nov. 11. The Bison lost at top-ranked South Dakota State, 33-16, 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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