While Southern Illinois pulled out a 26-25 road victory last season, this 115-year-old rivalry has been anything from one-sided in recent years. (Photo by Saluki Communications)
By Dan Verdun
If it’s possible, the annual rivalry game between Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri has escalated to new heights.
Saturday night’s game pits two of the nation’s top-ranked teams in a regional non-conference matchup that isn’t always the norm in FCS.
SIU (2-1), ranked No. 7 in this week’s Stats Perform poll, hosts SEMO (2-1), ranked No. 21 at 6 p.m. Saturday at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale.
In addition, the yearly confrontation was deemed “War for the Wheel” in 2018. It comes complete with a traveling trophy that resembles a ship’s wheel (see Quick hits below for details).
“(The trophy) adds something fun to the game,” ninth-year SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “I’m hoping when I’m long gone from here and Coach Tuke (SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz) is long gone from there, that this is just a tradition that you can look back on and (say) we had a hand in getting started.”
Matukewicz added, “It’s great for both communities. It’s been an outstanding football game most years. This is what it’s all about.”
The 11th-year SEMO coach added that the two schools just might be on their way to establishing a rivalry worthy of attention outside their region.
“SEMO and SIU is starting to get there,” Matukewicz said. “We had a sold-out crowd last year, it was standing room only (in Cape Girardeau), and I’m sure there will be a good crowd (Saturday in Carbondale). It’s great for both communities.”
Since 2018, each team has won the game and wheel three times.
The opponent
SEMO, a member of the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Association, is coming off a bye week. The Redhawks pulled out a 45-42 double-overtime win Sept. 7 against league favorite UT Martin.
SEMO rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to force overtime and ultimately snatch that victory, which vaulted them into the national FCS Top 25.
Matukewicz said the week off couldn’t have come at a better time.
“(I’m) glad we had the bye week, more so emotionally (than physically),” he said. “We are banged up. I don’t think we’re getting any of those (injured) guys back, but I do think letting the rope down for a little bit so we could get focused and get our energy back (was a valuable thing).”
The Redhawks are led by star players Paxton DeLaurent on offense and Bryce Norman on defense.
Both players were honored as Big South-OVC players of the week for their performances against UT Martin.
DeLaurent passed for a career-high 376 yards and school-record six touchdowns in the victory.
“(He’s a) big strong kid that can make all the throws,” Hill said. “He has got command of the system he’s running. It’s going to be a big test (for our defense).”
Norman, a linebacker, was credited with a game-high 13 tackles against the Skyhawks. In addition, he added a tackle for loss, forced a fumble and recorded two quarterback hurries.
Kickoff: 6 p.m. TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: Varsity Network App.
Key matchup to watch
SIU offense vs. SEMO defense
Saluki starting quarterback D.J. Williams hurt his hand in last week’s win against Incarnate Word and will be out indefinitely.
Redshirt junior Hunter Simmons will therefore make his first career start at SIU.
Simmons, who played high school football in downstate Marion, saw limited action last season as Nic Baker’s backup.
“He’s got an unbelievable grasp of our offense and what’s expected,” Hill said. “You feel confident as a coach with your game plan.”
What’s at stake
Saturday’s winner adds a quality non-conference victory that is likely to impact postseason committee consideration should both teams do well in their conference games.
“(This game) has a lot of implications for both (teams) on the playoffs,” Matukewicz said. “When you look at the history, the last six years whoever has won (this game) has been in the playoffs.”
Quick hits
SIU linebacker Ben Bogle leads the nation with nine tackles for loss. The sophomore also ranks second in the nation with 5.5 sacks. The Saluki single-season record was set by James Phillips (12.0) in 1978. … The traveling trophy was named in reference to the ship’s wheel trophy which goes to the winner each year. … Saturday will mark the 92nd meeting between the schools, which are separated by 47 miles, according to Google maps. … During the early years of the series, which dates back to 1909, the two schools used to cross the Mississippi River by boat to play. … SIU is in current possession of the wheel by virtue of a 26-25 win last season. … It is the longest running rivalry for each program. … SEMO holds a 48-40-3 lead in the all-time series. … Matukewicz was a Saluki assistant coach under Jerry Kill from 2001 to 2007. … During that time, Hill was the SIU starting quarterback. … “I love Coach Tuke as a person and he coached me,” Hill said. …Matukewicz and Hill have coached against each other eight times with Hill holding a 5-3 advantage in those matchups. …Three of Matukewicz’s four wins over SIU came in the final 25 seconds of the game.
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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