Quarterback D.J. Williams (1) and receiver Vinson Davis III (2) are two key cogs in the Southern Illinois offense. (Photo by Saluki Communications)
By Dan Verdun
The Southern Illinois-Southeast Missouri rivalry has only grown in importance and intensity under respective head coaches Nick Hill and Tom Matukewicz.
“More so as a coach (than a player), we’ve kind of brought this rivalry back,” said former SIU quarterback-turned-head coach Nick Hill, noting the teams met only twice in his playing career.
Both head coaches helped to establish a traveling trophy dubbed the “War for the Wheel” in 2018. The two schools, separated by 48 miles, began their series in 1913 when each took turns crossing the Mississippi River by boat to play the other.
“Obviously, the location of the schools being so close (is a major factor),” Hill said.
Matukewicz was an SIU assistant under Jerry Kill from 2001 through 2007. He took over as SEMO head coach in 2014.
“The game is what it is today because of the teams, players and coaches (that came) before it,” Matukewicz said. “This game was a natural rivalry, but it really wasn’t that big a deal when I got here.
“Both programs have elevated and gotten to where it’s been really competitive. Since we started the trophy in ‘18, the winner has gone on to the playoffs.”
“It’s really a built-in rivalry,” Hill said. “We’ve had some really close games that make rivalry games what they’re supposed to be. It’s really taken off here in the last six or eight years.”
This year’s edition will be played at SEMO’s Houck Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo., with SEMO (1-2) hosting nationally ranked SIU (2-1). SEMO won last year’s game in Carbondale, 38-21.
Three of Matukewicz’s five wins over SIU were decided in the final 25 seconds of the game.
“It’s been very documented (that) I’ve got a ton of respect for Coach Tuke as a man, and he coached me,” Hill said.
Defense dominance coupled with running revival
The Salukis leaped four spots to No. 13 in this week’s Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and three slots to No. 11 in the American Football Coaches Association FCS rankings after their win at UT Martin.
SIU is tied for eighth in FCS scoring defense (15.67 points per game) and 14th in total defense (285.3 yards per game). The Salukis are tied for fourth in turnovers gained (8).
“The plays are going to find you when you’re in the right spot doing your job,” Hill said. “It sounds pretty simple. The great players know how to get lined up. They clear the clutter and stay focused on their job each and every play.”
Last Saturday, the Salukis scored their largest margin of victory in a road game in nearly two years by throttling UT Martin, 37-10.
Southern accumulated 490 yards on offense while allowing 291 on defense. The Salukis rushed for 273 yards, their highest total since 2021.
Quarterback D.J. Williams ran for a career-high 128 yards. He scored three touchdowns. Both Williams and running back Chandler Chapman (79 yards) established career-best totals. Williams also passed for 217 yards and a TD.
This week’s opponent
A season after a return to the FCS playoffs, SEMO has one win in three games.
The Redhawks lost at FBS Arkansas State (42-24) to open the season and then won its home opener against North Alabama (30-21). No. 1 ranked and defending national champion North Dakota State defeated SEMO, 41-14, in Fargo last weekend.
Junior college transfer quarterback Jax Leatherwood ranks among the Top 20 leaders nationally in completions per game and touchdown passes. Leatherwood, who began his career at FBS Nevada, threw 92 passes this season before being intercepted.
Receiver Cam Pedro leads the team with 14 catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns. The junior has over 1,000 receiving yards in his career.
Sophomore Peyton Brown tops the team in rushing with 136 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries.
Kicker Justin Keller has made all four field goal attempts, including a 48-yarder against North Alabama.
Safety Landon Sylvie leads SEMO in tackles (29) and solo stops (16).
Kickoff: 6 p.m. TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: Cilfm.com.
Key matchup to watch
SIU run game vs. SEMO defense
Like most teams, the Salukis function best on offense when they have success on the ground. SIU averaged 7.9 yards per carry in its win last Saturday.
By effectively running the ball, Southern can set up its pass game, control the clock and keep its defense rested.
What’s at stake
A Saluki victory would return the “War for the Wheel” trophy to Carbondale. It would also mark SIU’s third straight win in Cape Girardeau.
Quick hits
This year’s SIU-SEMO matchup is the 93rd in the series. The Redhawks hold a 44-40-8 lead in the all-time standings. …Williams’ 128 rushing yards was the highest by an SIU quarterback since Matt DeSomer’s 135 against Indiana State in 2018. … Williams is fourth in FCS passing yards (646) and passing touchdowns (5) while being tied for second in rushing TDs (5). He ranks eighth in rushing yards (165). … Junior Paul Geelen was named MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week. The Netherlands native kicked a 28-yard field goal, made all four points after touchdown, averaged 48.5 yards per punt and ran for 29 yards to gain a first down on a fake punt at UT Martin.
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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