Southern Illinois linebacker Ben Fiegel (45) played for Batavia High School in its Illinois prep rivalry with nearby Geneva High School. The two schools first played against each other in 1913. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
Southern Illinois linebacker Ben Fiegel is no stranger to rivalry games.
On Saturday, he will play for the third time in SIU’s War for the Wheel game against regional rival Southeast Missouri. (6 p.m., ESPN-Plus)
In four high school seasons, he played for Batavia High School in Chicago’s western suburbs against neighboring Geneva HS. The two schools began playing against each other in 1913.
“That’s the best part of football – rivalries,” Fiegel said. “For the last seven years, I’ve been part of a big rivalry game. I was just telling my buddies back home that (War for the Wheel) has the same vibes as that (Batavia-Geneva) game.”
The junior is certain to play a key role for the Salukis (1-1) in this year’s version of SIU-SEMO, a meeting that dates back to 1909. The ship’s wheel trophy was initiated in 2018.
Fiegel, a first-year starter at SIU’s Bear linebacker spot, ranks 26th nationally in tackles per game (9.0) and was named this week’s Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week after collecting 10 tackles, an interception and three tackles for loss in a victory at Samford last week.
“He’s honed in on what he needs to do as far as assignment football,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “He’s a consistent guy who loves football. He’s violent at the point of attack.”
Fiegel, who started one game in 2025, has impacted games in a number of ways this fall. His two fumble recoveries lead the team, and he also has one forced fumble.
“I got a taste of it last year. When I got that taste, it motivated me even more during the off-season and it gave me more confidence,” he said. “You don’t want to think about what you’re capable of.
“You just want to think about doing your job. My job the last two weeks has resulted in a couple turnovers,” he said. “It feels pretty good.”
Kickoff: 6 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: CILfm.com
Key matchup to watch
SIU secondary vs. SEMO QB Braylen Ragland: A senior who transferred from Alabama State, Ragland is completing 74% of his passes and has only one turnover in the team’s first two games.
What’s at stake?
It’s the annual War for the Wheel. Enough said.
Quick hits
Hill said “there’s a chance” that QB DJ Williams, who suffered a Week 0 knee injury at West Florida, will play against SEMO. “He was out on the field (Sunday) throwing it around.” The coach declined to put a percentage on the probability that Williams would see the field. … The road team has won the War for the Wheel game the last five years in a row. “It’s our job to flip that this year,” Hill said. Since 2000, SEMO is 6-5 in games played in Carbondale, while the Salukis are 8-2 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. … Through two games, senior running back Chandler Chapman ranks ninth in FCS with 207 yards rushing. His 132 yards at Samford last week was a career high during his time at SIU. The senior added 15 pounds in the off-season and has impressed coaches. “It’s his physicality,” Hill said. “He was always a big, physical runner. It’s nice to give a back 24 carries in a game.” … SIU improved to 1-1 at Samford last week with a 22-18 win. The game involved a fourth quarter that saw Lem Rush run in the winning TD and the defense allowed only three points. “It was just being on the road and finishing,” Hill said. “We kept getting the ball back. We got a fourth-quarter turnover and turned it into points. It’s a resilient group.” … Defensive end Abe Sanogo earned the MVFC Newcomer of the Week Award on Monday after a 2.5-sack, 3.5-tackle for loss performance against Samford. … SIU is offering up to four free tickets to Saturday’s game to first responders who battled last week’s large fire in Hill’s hometown of DuQuoin. First responders from more than 30 different southern Illinois communities responded to the blaze. “If it was a different town, it would be the same response,” Hill said. “It was people caring for their neighbor and wanting to help.”
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.
Find us on social media!
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin
Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin
Instagram: Prairiestatepigskin
Blue Sky: PSPigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment