Southern Illinois linebacker Branson Combs (12), safety Ubayd Steed (7), cornerback D.J. Johnson (9) and linebacker Dune Smith (8) have all been key contributors to the Salukis’ nationally ranked defense this season. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Dan Verdun
On paper, Saturday’s second-round FCS game between visiting Southern Illinois and host Idaho appears to be the classic stingy defense versus high-flying offense.
SIU (8-4) boasts the sixth-ranked scoring defense in FCS. The Salukis have allowed opponents 190 points (15.83 per game) this season and shut out Nicholls, 35-0, in last weekend’s opening-round game.
Meanwhile, Idaho features the nation’s ninth-best scoring offense. The Vandals have racked up 378 points (34.3 per game) and averages 428.5 yards a game.
Idaho (8-3) earned a first-round bye by virtue of being the No. 4 playoff seed. Head coach Jason Eck’s Vandals finished second to No. 2 playoff seed Montana in the Big Sky Conference.
Saturday’s game begins at 9 p.m. CST and will be televised on ESPN2.
SIU head coach Nick Hill set aside any concern about the later kickoff and its possible effect on his team’s body clocks.
“Obviously we’re excited to play on national television. It’s an opportunity for our school to be on that stage,” Hill said. “When the ball is kicked off, the ball is kicked off. Then it’s about those 60 minutes. These guys will be ready to play.”
Once the ball is kicked off, both coaches understand that “complimentary football” is needed to win.
“It’s still going to come down to the things we talk about all the time – turnover margin, blocking, tackling, staying away from the unforced penalties,” Hill said.
Eck, who spent time in the Missouri Valley Football Conference as an assistant with both Western Illinois and South Dakota State, is aware of SIU’s game plan.
“I think they prefer to be in that low-scoring, control it, try-to-get-the lead, be-able-to-play good defense and pin-their-ears-back mode,” Eck said.
The game will be played in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility in Moscow, Idaho. The Salukis have experience playing indoors against Missouri Valley opponents.
“It’s something to look back on. I’ve had experiences like that,” SIU quarterback Nic Baker said. “If you want to do something special, you have to go play somewhere that’s tough on you.”
The opponent
Idaho was a perennial I-AA/FCS national power in the 1980s and ’90s, qualifying for the playoffs 11 times from 1983 through 1995.
Moreover, the Vandals made the I-AA national playoffs in 10 of 11 seasons with four different head coaches during a stretch in which they also reached the semifinals twice.
However, after 18 years in Division I-AA, Idaho returned to Division I-A competition (now called the FBS) in 1996 as a member of the Big West Conference. The Vandals also spent time in the Western Athletic Conference, Sun Belt and as an FBS independent.
During that era, Idaho participated in and won three bowl games, all played in Boise.
In 2018, Idaho returned to the FCS level and resumed membership in the Big Sky Conference.
In two seasons in Moscow, Eck has returned Idaho to the FCS playoffs.
This year’s Vandals are led by quarterback Gevani McCoy and receiver Hayden Hatten, both of whom are Walter Payton Award finalists. The award is given annually to the top offensive player in FCS.
McCoy, who missed the regular-season finale against rival Idaho State, led the Big Sky in passing efficiency. He completed 190-of-288 passes (66 percent) for 2,410 yards. McCoy tossed 14 touchdown passes and threw seven interceptions.
Hatten caught 75 passes for 985 yards and nine touchdowns. He scored at least one TD in each of the last five games. Hatten has also thrown for two touchdowns.
Idaho landed five players on the All-Big Sky first team. Joining McCoy and Hatten were running back Anthony Woods along with cornerback Marcus Harris and kicker Ricardo Chavez.
“They’re a really good team,” Hill said. “They’ve got really good skill players, the quarterback, the (running) back. Big, long receivers. They do a great job of trying to find matchups and exploit those things.”
Hill is familiar with Eck from the Idaho coach’s days as South Dakota State’s offensive line coach and then offensive coordinator (2016-2021).
“When you play a Coach Eck team, you’re always going to have to be ready for some wrinkles and some special plays. They do a nice job of distributing the ball and keeping you off balance.” Hill said.
Kickoff: 9 p.m.; TV: ESPN2; Radio: CILFM.com.
Key matchup to watch
SIU offense vs. Idaho defense
As much as this game is headlined the Southern defense against the Idaho offense, it’s the Salukis’ offense that must control the clock and produce points.
In its opening-round win against Nicholls, SIU did just that. The Salukis jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 35-0 win.
Eck said getting off to a quick start “will be critical in this game.”
Therefore, the second-year Idaho head coach believes his defense also plays a key role.
“I think you put a little more pressure on their offense to try to be more explosive if you can get a lead on these guys,” Eck said.
What’s at stake
Saturday’s winner advances to the Dec. 9 FCS quarterfinals to face the Albany-Richmond winner.
Quick hits
SIU’s Baker has passed for 2,543 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. He has been intercepted six times. … Saluki safety P.J. Jules, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the FCS Defensive Player of the Year, leads SIU with 104 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss. … Jules was the only Saluki to garner All-MVFC first team honors this fall. Linebacker Branson Combs was the lone SIU defender on the all-league second team. Hill shared his thoughts earlier this week. “So you got one first team, one second team and nobody else. I get it, there were six other teams that made the playoffs from our league. There’s a lot of good players,” Hill said. “I don’t get caught up in that much. Like I tell our guys, I don’t get any say in who votes for our players. . . . (That said) I don’t know if there’s a better tandem of corners (D.J. Johnson and Mark Davis Jr.) in our league. These guys are locked in to being a great group and getting an opportunity to play on national TV. They would take that over recognition of other coaches.” … Idaho has outgained every opponent this season, including FBS Cal. … In its three losses, Idaho lost the turnover margin. … Saturday’s game will be the first time SIU and Idaho have met on the football field.
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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