SIU senior running back Ro Elliott (1) rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the Salukis’ 35-0 FCS playoff win against Nicholls last weekend. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
CARBONDALE – After five seasons and more than 400 career carries, Southern Illinois senior running back Ro Elliott knows about good timing.
In the Salukis’ 35-0 playoff victory last weekend against Nicholls, Elliott was right on time at the start of each half to give Southern (8-4) a needed boost. Less than 3 minutes into the game, his 3-yard touchdown run put SIU up, 7-0.
Less than 3 minutes into the second half, Elliott struck again, with a 60-yard scoring run for a 28-0 Southern lead.
In October, Elliott had to learn the time was right for rest after he suffered a toe injury and missed four games.
“It’s not ideal breaking a toe in the middle of your senior season,” Elliott said. “I just had to mentally stay locked in and stay focused to get back to being the best I can be for my team.”
Elliott’s patience was tested Oct. 28 when he went through an extensive on-field workout before SIU’s game at Western Illinois but was held out of the game.
“I felt really good that day,” he said. “Going through the workout, I felt that if I got cleared, I could’ve played. I just had to take my time.”
In his four games since returning to the lineup, the 5-foot-6 Elliott has scored four touchdowns and averaged 5.6 yards a carry. His performance against Nicholls was Elliott’s second 100-yard game this season and has helped the SIU offense regain some punch.
Elliott will be counted on Dec. 2 when the Salukis travel to No. 4 seed Idaho (8-3) for a second-round FCS playoff game. (9 p.m., ESPN2)
“We want to be that team that can attack in different ways,” SIU quarterback Nic Baker said. “Ro is one of the best football players I’ve been around my whole life. He’s little, but he takes on (defenders), breaks tackles.”
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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