Redshirt sophomore Ben Bogle (35) set the Southern Illinois single-game record with 6.5 tackles for loss in last week’s win at Austin Peay. Bogle was recognized by several FCS media outlets as its player of the week. (Photo by Saluki Communications)
By Dan Verdun
Linebacker Ben Bogle produced one of the most historically dominant performances by a Southern Illinois defender in the Salukis’ 31-17 non-conference win at Austin Peay last Saturday.
And the Governors may still not yet know what hit them.
The redshirt sophomore from Ponte Verda, Fla. registered a career-high 12 tackles, including a school-record 6.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Bogle, who has played all three linebacker positions over the past two seasons, saw more time on the field than usual when senior captain and fellow linebacker Colin Bohanek left with an injury.
“That definitely increased my reps (Saturday),” Bogle said.
SIU head coach Nick Hill wasn’t surprised by Bogle’s breakout game.
“That guy’s got one speed, that’s full speed and he’s physical. He just has a tenacity about him. You talk about relentless passion? That’s Ben Bogle,” Hill said. “We watched him do that last year.”
Where does that tenacity and passion come from?
“I feel like I’ve always had kind of a high motor,” Bogle told Prairie State Pigskin. “I grew up with three brothers (and) was always getting tossed around by my two older brothers.”
Bogle’s childhood began in New Jersey before his family moved to Florida. As a youth, he played virtually every sport imaginable before settling on football as a high school freshman.
By his senior year at Nease High School, Bogle led the state with 202 tackles, which ranked 15th nationally among prep players. His 19 sacks topped the Sunshine State leaderboard to go along with 33 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Bogle chose SIU over offers from FBS Arkansas State and Eastern Kentucky.
“I had a wild high school experience of ups and downs with a few injuries. SIU stuck by my side. They were always there checking up on me,” Bogle said.
Both Bogle and Hill credit SIU linebackers coach Mac McLeran with channeling Bogle’s talents and passion into improving his game.
“He’s been like a father figure to me here at SIU. He’s helped me in so many ways on and off the field,” Bogle said. “As a freshman I really struggled with the playbook . . . This fall camp, the emphasis was for me to know all the linebacker positions like the back of my hand so that there’s no hesitation when I’m put into the game.”
Hill attributes Bogle’s growth to McLeran’s coaching and influence.
“He’s just expanded (upon) what Ben does as far as his knowledge of the game,” Hill said. “Now that it all starts to come conceptually together for him, he can see himself making more plays, which he did on Saturday night.”
Those game-changing plays against Austin Peay earned Bogle player of the week awards from national outlet Stats Perform FCS as well as from the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
“Saturday was a fun time playing the game I love,” Bogle said.
The opponent
Incarnate Word is ranked No. 12 in this week’s Stats Perform FCS poll and No. 14 in the AFCA Coaches poll.
The Cardinals lost to No. 1-ranked South Dakota State, 45-24, last Saturday. UIW opened its season with a 28-7 win against Northern Colorado.
The San Antonio-based school is a member of the Southland Conference.
Quarterback Zach Calzada, who began his career at Texas A&M, is completing 70 percent of his passes. Calzada has thrown for 556 yards and five touchdowns.
Transfer receivers Jalen Walthall (Hawaii) and Roy Alexander (UAlbany) are his main targets. Walthall has 12 receptions for 240 yards and three touchdowns. Alexander has 15 catches for 192 yards and a TD.
Senior Mason Chambers, an Iowa State transfer, has two pass breakups and one interception in the secondary.
Dune Smith, who transferred from SIU to UIW after last season, has four tackles and a sack for the Cardinals. Smith ranked fourth among Saluki tackles leaders in 2023.
Kickoff: 6 p.m. TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: Varsity Network App.
Key matchup to watch
SIU defense vs. UIW pass game
Calzada ranks seventh among FCS quarterbacks for passing yards. His 278-yards-per-game average places him sixth among national leaders. Calzada has been intercepted once in 74 attempts.
Ten different receivers have caught passes for the Cardinals this season.
Should Southern generate an effective pass rush as it did in last Saturday’s win at Austin Peay, UIW will certainly face a stiffer challenge. Through two games, the Salukis have produced 11 sacks.
Five SIU players have been credited with pass breakups this season. Senior safety Iverson Brown has the lone interception by the Saluki defense.
What’s at stake
Whichever team comes away with the victory can claim a win over a ranked opponent – something that bodes well in the minds of FCS playoff committee members.
Quick hits
The two teams met in the 2022 season opener with the UIW racing out to a 22-0 first quarter lead en route to a 64-29 demolition of SIU. … The Cardinals have been nationally ranked for 41 straight weeks, the fifth longest FCS streak. … The Salukis have been nationally ranked for 16 consecutive weeks. … Through 125 snaps this season, SIU has yet to lose a fumble. … Saluki tight end Ryan Schwendeman caught his first career touchdown pass in last week’s win. …Linebacker Chris Presto and defensive end Caden Reeves notched their first career sacks. … Saturday’s home opener features the annual Hawgs & Dawgs promotion, in which motorcycles and riders lead the Salukis onto the field prior to the game. … Hill is 6-2 in home openers as SIU head coach.
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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