SIU wide receiver Vinson Davis III celebrates a first down after one of his five receptions Saturday night in the Salukis’ 49-3 victory against Thomas More. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
CARBONDALE – D.J. Williams played his first game in nearly a year in a Southern Illinois uniform Saturday night. It felt like old times for the Saluki quarterback in a unique way.
“I had goosebumps to play the game,” he said. “I don’t get nervous, but it was like a chill. I was just ready to go out back out there and do what I do.”
His return to the field came after missing the final nine games of last season with a hand injury.
On Saturday night, Williams threw for three touchdowns and ran for another at Saluki Stadium, leading SIU (1-0) to a 49-3 season-opening victory against Thomas More.
“I dreamt about coming back like this and playing my best ball in the first game and it was just a blessing that it happened,” he said.
Williams said it was the first time he’s had goosebumps before a game since leading the Salukis into last season’s opener at BYU in front of 63,712 fans in Provo, Utah.
“He was making good decisions. He was spinning the ball around, and he was able to get in that first drive and mix things up with some different personnel and different guys touching the ball,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said.
Williams began the game 11-for-11 passing and didn’t throw an incompletion until 1 minute, 59 seconds before halftime. He rushed for a 10-yard score and connected on an 18-yard TD to Jay Jones and a 17-yard scoring pass to Jackson Parker to help SIU build a 28-3 halftime lead.
Thomas More, a Division II program from Crestview Hills, Ky., was outgained 386-191 and managed 13 first downs, three of which came via penalty.
Six different receivers caught passes from Williams, who was replaced by backup Jake Curry in the third quarter with SIU leading, 35-3. Vinson Davis III led all receivers with five catches for 89 yards.
Jones caught four passes for 66 yards and Fabian McCray also caught a TD.
“We’ve got a lot of different guys who can do a lot of different things,” he said. “It’s not the D.J. Williams show. It’s the Saluki football team show. That offense is going to be a very electric group.”
Game changers
11:11, 1st quarter: Williams scored SIU’s first TD of the season when he ran 10 yards around right end to the end zone.
6:40, 2nd quarter: The Salukis went up 21-0 when wide receiver Jackson Parker caught a 17-yard touchdown near the right corner of the end zone.
10:40, 4th quarter: True freshman David Obadein picked off a screen pass deep in Thomas More territory and returned it five yards for a TD.
Standout Salukis
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Southern Illinois players in the game:
Williams, QB: The senior quarterback was perfect on his first 11 passes for the Salukis and finished 17-for-23 for 227 yards and three TDs. His first incompletion occurred only 1:59 before halftime. Williams also ran for a score.
Davis III, WR: The senior caught five passes for 89 yards in the victory. Four of his catches went for first downs.
Donnie Wingate, DE: The transfer from Lindenwood has five tackles, 1.5 TFLs and a sack in his SIU debut.
What it means
Southern Illinois improved to 6-4 in season-opening games during 10th-year head coach Nick Hill’s tenure.
What’s next
Southern Illinois travels to West Lafayette, Ind., for a Sept. 6 non-conference game against Purdue. The Boilermakers defeated Ball State, 31-0, in their season opener Saturday.
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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