Wide receiver Bradley Clark reels in the game-winning touchdown pass as Southern Illinois rallied past Youngstown State Saturday at Saluki Stadium. (Photo by SIU Communications)
By Dan Verdun
Call it improbable. Call it amazing. Call it indescribable. Call it whatever you want.
But the fact is that Saturday’s 37-33 SIU win against Youngstown State goes down as the biggest comeback in program history.
Led by a stout second-half defense and a true freshman quarterback, SIU staged a rally that shocked the nearly 5,000 spectators who witnessed it Saturday at Carbondale’s Saluki Stadium.
The victory snapped the Salukis’ six-game losing streak and kept the Penguins winless on the road this season.
“That was a fun locker room to be a part of,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “It’s one that we’ll always remember.”
SIU (3-7 overall) grabbed its first Missouri Valley win after four defeats this fall. YSU (3-8, 2-5) appeared well on its way to a win with a 28-0 lead.
Youngstown State sophomore Beau Brungard showed early on why he’s the leading rushing quarterback in the FCS. Brungard ran for three first-half touchdowns and passed for another as the Penguins broke out to the four-touchdown lead.
The Ohio native scored on runs of 3, 27 and 26 yards as the Penguins built a 30-12 halftime lead. Brungard passed for 161 yards and ran for 64 yards in the first half.
The comeback
The second half was a totally different tale. SIU clamped down on the Youngstown State offense and intercepted Brungard twice.
“We were being very passive (in the first half),” linebacker Chris Presto said. “Then we locked in and started playing our brand of defense.
“We knew (that being) down so big (that) we needed a couple of turnovers to flip the game (and) flip the momentum.”
Making his fourth career start, Southern’s true freshman quarterback Jake Curry also delivered. He produced 394 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns.
Curry delivered the game-winning touchdown with a 20-yard strike to receiver Bradley Clark, a transfer from Tennessee Tech.
“You read the boundary safety and if he follows the crossing route you’re going to throw the seam (route),” Curry said of the game-deciding throw.
Game changers
1:09, 4th quarter: Youngstown State linebacker Preston Zandier was ejected for targeting with a blow to Curry’s head. The penalty moved the ball to the YSU 20-yard line.
1:04, 4th quarter: Curry found Clark down the middle in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown, giving SIU a 37-33 lead.
0:00, 4th quarter: Brungard’s pass on the game’s final play fell incomplete, ending the game.
Top ‘Dawgs
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Southern Illinois players in the game:
Curry, QB: The Edwardsville High School product passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran nine times for 72 yards and a TD.
Allen Middleton, WR: The redshirt freshman led SIU with seven receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Presto, LB: The sophomore led SIU with a career-high 16 tackles. The Florida native had two tackles for loss.
What it means
SIU rallies for the biggest comeback in program history.
What’s next?
Southern Illinois travels to South Dakota State, the No. 3-ranked team in FCS, for a Nov. 16 conference game. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.
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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