Vinson Davis III caught eight passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns against Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, Mo., in SIU’s 59-31 victory. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
Just minutes after Vinson Davis III left the field Saturday in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill was speechless.
“V.D., what can you say about him?” Hill told Saluki Radio.
Hill didn’t have to say a word since Davis spoke loudly with his play for the third year in a row against rival Southeast Missouri in the teams’ annual War for the Wheel rivalry game.
Davis had eight receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns in Southern’s 59-31 victory. That was his third straight 100-yard game with at least one TD against the Redhawks.
In three career games against SEMO, Davis has piled up 25 receptions for 443 yards and four touchdowns.
“This is the best night of my career,” said Davis, a senior from Florida. “I live for moments like this. It’s just the environment (of a rivalry game).”
During his three seasons in an SIU uniform, 20% of Davis’ receptions, 30% of his receiving yards and 57% of his touchdowns have come against SEMO.
Davis said in his three matchups with the Redhawks, they have played several of the same coverages.
SIU quarterback D.J. Williams credited Davis for an ability to get open consistently.
“He can create separation one on anyone one-on-one,” Williams said. “I didn’t have much to do with (the touchdowns). Vinson was wide open.”
Late in the second quarter, Davis gave SIU a 28-7 lead when he hauled in a 17-yard pass from Williams, who evaded SEMO’s pass rush and delivered the throw.
On his second touchdown, which came at the 4:44 mark of the third quarter, Davis caught a Williams pass on a slant route at SIU’s 44-yard line and sped through the middle of SEMO’s defense untouched for a 69-yard scoring play.
“We take a lot of reps,” Davis said of his connection with Williams. “I feel that we’re in a good spot. We’re going in the right direction.”
With eight games remaining, starting with SIU’s Missouri Valley Football Conference opener Oct. 4 at home against Indiana State, Davis leads the league in receiving yards, ranks second in yards per game (91) and has the third-highest number of receptions.
The team’s 3-1 start is a contrast to last season’s injury-riddled campaign for SIU.
“I remember that feeling we had last year,” Davis said of the rash of injuries on the roster. “That was the story of our season. We have a lot to prove.”
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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