Quarterback Jake Curry celebrates his first-half touchdown run Saturday in SIU’s 20-17 loss to Indiana State in Terre Haute. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
For one half, nearly everything went right for Southern Illinois. Then it all went wrong for a half.
On Saturday in Terre Haute, the Salukis lost their fifth straight game by giving up 20 unanswered second-half points in a 20-17 Missouri Valley Football Conference loss to Indiana State.
“We got outplayed in the second half,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “We’re all gutted. This is our livelihood. We’re 2-6. That sucks. We’ll respond.”
Southern (2-6 overall, 0-4 MVFC) got an early boost from two Indiana State turnovers and the play of freshman quarterback Jake Curry and graduate assistant coach-turned-SIU backup QB Michael Lindauer, both of whom scored in the second quarter as the Salukis built a 17-0 lead.
But the second half was a different story.
On SIU’s first second-half drive, Curry threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by linebacker Geoffrey Brown for the Sycamores (3-5, 2-2).
“They got some momentum, and we just need to settle down,” Hill said. “We still have a two-score lead (at 17-7).”
Less than 2 minutes later, however, Lindauer took off on a keeper and raced 52 yards before Indiana State defensive back Tony Roberts stripped the ball and the Sycamores recovered on their own 2-yard line.
Indiana State then went 98 yards in 17 plays to cut SIU’s lead to 17-14 on tight end Lance Rees’ 2-yard TD catch from quarterback Elijah Owens.
“I felt like their drive of 98 yards … we’ve got to find a way to get off the field,” Hill said. “In every game, we’ve found a little bit of rhythm. But it’s a four-quarter game. You’ve got to be able to finish in this league. We’re not finding a way to do it.”
Late in third quarter, SIU defensive end Jamond Mathis ripped the ball away from a Sycamore ball carrier who was stood up and returned it for a score, but officials ruled the runner’s forward progress was stopped, which is not a reviewable play.
“It’s hard to get explanations during the game,” Hill said of the officials. “I don’t ever see (stopped forward progress) happening without a run going to the ground. It’s unfortunate.”
Owens broke loose for a 28-yard touchdown run with 7:45 remaining in the fourth quarter to put Indiana State ahead for good.
On its three fourth-quarter drives, SIU fumbled the ball away just inside Indiana State territory then turned the ball over on downs twice.
Curry completed 18 of 28 passes for a career-high 181 yards. He rushed for 14 yards and a touchdown. Lindauer rushed for a team-best 60 yards and threw a 1-yard scoring pass to Keontez Lewis in the second quarter.
Game changers
0:14, 2nd quarter: Linebacker Ben Bogle’s interception and 8-yard return set up an SIU field goal just before halftime, giving the Salukis a 17-0 lead.
11:45, 4th quarter: SIU running back Willtrell Hartson fumbled while trying to gain extra yardage.
7:45, 4th quarter: Indiana State QB Elijah Owens rushed 28 yards for the go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-and-2 play.
What it means
The Salukis remain winless in the MVFC and extend their losing streak to five consecutive games.
Top Dawgs
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Southern Illinois players in the game:
Curry, QB: In only his second start, the true freshman set career highs with 18 completions and 181 yards passing. His one interception, however, was a pick-six.
Ubayd Steed, S: The veteran DB had a game-high 15 tackles, including seven solo stops.
Lindauer, QB: The new backup QB rushed for a team-high 60 of the Salukis’ 180 yards on the ground. He also completed both of his pass attempts.
What’s next?
Southern heads to Missouri State Nov. 2 looking for its first conference victory of the season.
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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