Youngstown State sacked Southern Illinois quarterback D.J. Williams (1) five times Saturday in Carbondale and had three QB hurries. (Photo by YSUSports.com)
By Barry Bottino
Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill praised his defense for playing “winning football” Saturday against Youngstown State.
Two interceptions against reigning Walter Payton Award winner Beau Brungard gave the ball back to the offense twice. Holding the Youngstown QB nearly 50 yards below his total offense average provided encouragement.
The offense, however, didn’t provide enough of a helping hand in a 28-16 loss to the Penguins.
“I don’t think there’s any question that we weren’t good enough on offense,” Hill said Monday during his weekly media address. “It was a missed opportunity for our team.”
The difficulties on offense came in various forms:
Sack attack: For the second time this season, SIU gave up five sacks in a game. The Salukis also allowed three quarterback hurries and are now tied for the most sacks allowed in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (14).
On one second-half sack, YSU stripped the ball from quarterback D.J. Williams, which Youngstown’s offense turned into a touchdown.
“We gave up some pressures with the offensive line group, from some of the edges,” Hill said. “It’s a variety of things. They were able to get pressure on the sack-fumble just rushing three guys, which we can’t have happen.”
The film also showed not enough wins in 1-on-1 matchups up front. “There were times they beat us on those,” he said.
Long way to go: After reviewing the game film, Hill said his team faced 11 different third downs with 8 yards or more to go. There were also 15 different plays of second-and-10 or longer.
“It’s going to be tough when we keep putting ourselves in that position to convert,” he said.
Turnovers to points: The Salukis got two possessions on the defense’s interceptions but could not turn them into any points.
“That was a big difference in the game,” Hill said.
With a 10-7 lead early in the third quarter, safety Matthew McClelland picked off Brungard on the third play of the second half.
SIU moved the ball to the Youngstown 34-yard line before turning it over on downs.
Youngstown moved up to No. 8/9 in the national polls after winning in Carbondale.
Up next for the Salukis is a road date Saturday at No. 10/12 South Dakota and a nationally televised game Oct. 17 at home against No. 12/13 Illinois State.
The competition level going forward – and SIU’s resolve — will not fade.
“This team has to have the confidence,” Hill said. “It’s easy to see when we put this thing together in all three phases that we can go play and beat anybody.”
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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