Southern Illinois quarterback Nic Baker (8) scrambles in Saturday’s game at North Dakota State. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Dan Verdun
Southern Illinois took a one-sided loss Saturday to severely bruise its post-season hopes.
North Dakota State scored three second-half touchdowns and shut out SIU in those decisive quarters en route to a 34-10 win in a key Missouri Valley Football Conference game.
The loss dropped SIU to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in the MVFC.
SIU slipped into eighth place in the MVFC standings. Four teams – NDSU, Illinois State, North Dakota and Youngstown State – are in a four-way tie for fourth place in the league standings ahead of the Salukis.
While those four fourth-place teams are 4-3 in the MVFC, North Dakota State is 7-3 overall. The other three are 6-4 on the season.
“Everything we have, collectively — coaches, players — we have to come out and be at our best next Saturday,” SIU head coach Nick Hill told SIUSalukis.com.
The Salukis need a win in their regular season finale against Indiana State to keep alive dimming playoff hopes.
“All we can do is win next week, and it’s kind of in the playoff committee’s hands at that point,” SIU linebacker Branson Combs said. “This was one we needed to get to write our own destiny. Now we’re kind of up in the air, and all we can do is go and win next week.”
The NCAA will announce the 24-team playoff field at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 19 on ESPN2.
NDSU more than doubled SIU’s offensive output Saturday, outgaining the Salukis, 449-206, in total yards.
The Bison had eight ball carriers combine for 217 rushing yards, the most allowed by SIU this season. The Salukis entered the game with the No. 3-ranked defense in FCS.
SIU was held to 55 rushing yards, no doubt affected by four Bison sacks of Saluki quarterback Nic Baker.
Southern went three-and-out on its first three possessions of the second half. The Salukis gained only 60 yards after halftime.
Backup Hunter Simmons came on in relief of Baker midway through the fourth quarter.
Game changers
8:37, 3rd quarter: NDSU capped an 8-play, 70-yard drive with a 34-yard touchdown run by TaMerik Williams. The TD and accompanying extra point upped the Bison lead to double digits.
13:24, 4th quarter: NDSU quarterback Cam Miller completed a 21-yard pass to RaJa Nelson, setting up the Bison at the SIU 1-yard line.
13:03, 4th quarter: Williams scored one play later on a 1-yard run, handing NDSU a commanding 27-10 lead.
What it means
SIU needs a win in its season finale to end with a 7-4 overall record and to reach the .500 mark in the MVFC. It will then be up to the FCS playoff committee as to whether the Salukis continue their season.
Top Dawgs
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Southern Illinois players in the game:
Ubayd Steed, S: The junior tied Combs for a team-high eight tackles. The Towson transfer was credited with 1.5 tackles for loss.
P.J. Jules, S: The senior had seven tackles, 1.5 for loss, and a pass breakup.
Ro Elliott, RB: The senior scored SIU’s only touchdown. Elliott rushed for a team-high 25 yards on 10 carries. He caught two passes for 16 yards.
What’s next?
SIU closes its regular season by hosting Indiana State Nov. 18. The Sycamores (1-9, 1-6) won their first game of the season Saturday, defeating Western Illinois, 27-6, in Terre Haute.
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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