Vinson Davis outmaneuvers a Southeast Missouri defender Saturday for a touchdown in SIU’s 38-21 loss to its regional rival in Carbondale. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
With just over 3 minutes remaining in the first quarter Saturday night in Carbondale, a beer can landed on the field and rolled toward the Southeast Missouri huddle.
Like the can, No. 21 SEMO overcame plenty of obstacles to rally past seventh-ranked Southern Illinois, 38-21, to win the annual War for the Wheel rivalry game between the schools.
With SEMO quarterback Paxton DeLaurent leading the offense, SEMO (3-1) produced two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher, outgaining SIU, 449-403.
“I’m disappointed in some of the execution and clean football that wasn’t played at times for us,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “When (SEMO) needed to be at their best, they were at their best. They made plays. They beat us, and that’s a hard pill to swallow.”
In his first career start, quarterback Hunter Simmons overcame a slow start to help SIU (2-2) pile up 341 yards in the passing game. He was 28-for-48 and threw one touchdown.
Junior wide receiver Vinson Davis was a favorite target for Simmons, catching nine passes for 132 yards.
“We had opportunities out there, we just didn’t take advantage of them,” Simmons said. “We’ve just got to execute. I’ll take the blame for it.”
SIU fell behind, 13-2, in the first quarter before eventually taking its first lead of the night, 21-16, on Willtrell Hartson’s 3-yard scoring run with just over 2 minutes left in the third quarter.
Hartson was part of a young backfield duo for the Salukis. The redshirt freshman had six carries for 22 yards. True freshman Jerrian Parker (15 carries, 32 yards) started the game for SIU, which was missing junior Shaun Lester Jr. and sixth-year senior Jaelen Benefield with injuries.
After SIU took the lead, SEMO scored 22 unanswered points on three consecutive touchdown drives to put the game away.
DeLaurent finished with four touchdown passes, including two to leading receiver Dorian Anderson (eight receptions, 111 yards). Tristan Smith had seven catches for 109 yards, and true freshman running back Payton Brown piled up 124 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries for SEMO.
Game changers
8:34, 2nd quarter: Davis weaved his way through the SEMO defense for an 11-yard touchdown reception.
4:58, 3rd quarter: SIU sophomore defensive back Desman Hearns intercepted DeLaurent and returned the ball 19 yards. SIU scored less than 3 minutes later to take its first lead of the game.
14:23, 4th quarter: On a fourth-and-1 play, DeLaurent surprised the SIU defense by keeping the ball and rushing for 10 yards. Four plays later, a DeLaurent TD pass put SEMO up 31-21.
What it means
SIU loses the annual War for the Wheel rivalry game and falls for the first time this season to an FCS opponent.
Top Dawgs
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Southern Illinois players in the game:
Davis, WR: The junior from Florida had nine catches for 132 yards and a TD to lead the Saluki offense.
Devin Love, DL: The SIU defensive tackle had five total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and the Salukis’ lone sack.
Simmons, QB: He finished with 341 passing yards and a touchdown in his first career start.
What’s next?
SIU starts Missouri Valley Football Conference play with a trip to South Dakota for a 1 p.m. kickoff Sept. 28.
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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