Southern Illinois QB D.J. Williams piled up 493 total yards and six touchdowns Saturday night to give SIU a 59-31 victory against rival Southeast Missouri. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
As Southern Illinois players passed around the ship’s wheel that was the reward for their rivalry win Saturday against rival Southeast Missouri, the prize found plenty of capable hands.
Plenty of hands played key roles in the annual War for the Wheel game, which saw SIU (3-1) jump ahead early and roar to a 59-31 victory in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
“It’s a total team effort. Guys made plays,” SIU head coach Nick Hill told Saluki Radio. “Saluki fans are going to find out the different playmakers that are on this team.”
Plenty of those were on display Saturday, starting with a spectacular performance from quarterback D.J. Williams, who singlehandedly piled up 493 yards and six total touchdowns.
Williams started it all with a 75-yard touchdown run on a keeper just 14 seconds into the game.
“That first play was D.J.’s idea,” Hill said. “I think he’s the best player in the country, and I think he proved that tonight.”
Four plays later, it was the defense’s turn as linebacker Chris Presto forced SEMO running back Payton Brown to fumble at the SIU 40-yard line. Fellow linebacker Colin Bohanek picked up the loose ball and returned it to the SEMO 5.
“I just went to tackle the guy and then I heard the crowd,” Presto said.
Two plays later, Lashaun Lester scored from three yards out to give SIU a 14-0 lead.
Southern led 31-7 at halftime and traded scores three different times in the second half to roll up its most points in a game since a 62-0 win in the 2024 season finale against Murray State.
Along with Williams’ 342 passing yards and four TDs, the Salukis’ leader rushed for 151 yards and two scores.
Three different receivers caught touchdowns, with Vinson Davis III grabbing eight receptions for 185 yards and two TDs. Lester rushed for 62 yards and two scores.
Early in the second quarter, Presto came up big again when he tipped a pass by SEMO quarterback Jax Leatherwood, intercepted the ball and returned it 13 yards.
“That play was unbelievably athletic,” Hill said of the interception, which was the first thrown this season by Leatherwood.
“I’m glad I got the pick,” Presto said. “It was big.”
Also on defense, linebacker Andrew Behm had a game-high 13 tackles and defensive end Donnie Wingate had two sacks.
Game changers
14:46, 1st quarter: Williams ran for a 75-yard TD on the first SIU play from scrimmage.
4:43, 3rd quarter: Davis caught his second TD, a 69-yarder, to put the Salukis ahead, 45-17.
0:00, 3rd quarter: Williams hit Jay Jones for an 18-yard score to put SIU up 52-24.
Superb Salukis
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three SIU players in the game.
Williams, QB: The SIU standout threw for four TDs and 342 yards and ran for two scores and 151 more yards.
Davis, WR: A SEMO nemesis for the third year in a row, Davis caught eight passes for 185 yards and two TDs.
Presto, LB: Along with 12 tackles, he had an interception and a forced fumble.
What it means
The road team has won the last five rivalry games, and SIU is 4-2 in the last six meetings.
What’s next
The Salukis have a bye week Sept. 27 before hosting Indiana State for Family Weekend Oct. 4. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
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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