Southern Illinois running back Chandler Chapman leads the team and ranks fourth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 482 rushing yards. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
Third down has been a trouble spot this season for the Southern Illinois offense.
First and second downs in the running game, however, had a big impact on the offense in last weekend’s loss to South Dakota.
“We didn’t have the explosive runs, but staying ahead of the chains – being in second-and-6 and second-and-5 – was a lot better this game,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “We thought that was something we could hang our hat on.”
Running back Chandler Chapman – who rushed for 91 yards on 20 carries – averaged 5.9 yards a carry on eight first-down attempts. On five second-down runs, he gained a first down four times.
“That’s something that’s needed, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” Chapman said.
The Salukis (3-4 overall, 0-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference) will need more from Chandler and the run game Saturday when they host No. 13 Illinois State (4-2, 0-2) at 3 p.m. as part of an ESPNU national broadcast.
The game involves a pair of teams on two-game league losing streaks. A third conference loss would be damaging for the losing team’s playoff hopes.
The Salukis rank eighth in the nine-team MVFC in third-down offense conversion rate at 36.3%. In their 31-10 loss at South Dakota, SIU was 3-for-13.
In their three wins, the Salukis have been above 40% on third downs. They were below that mark in all four losses.
“Establishing a good run game is going to open up everything else,” said Chapman, who leads the team and ranks fourth in the MVFC with 482 rushing yards.
“We’ve got to continue to do that,” Hill said. “It was a tough day’s work (at South Dakota) for Chandler. He ran the ball extremely hard.”
Kickoff: 3 p.m.; TV: ESPNU; Radio: CILfm.com
Key matchup to watch
Illinois State run game vs. SIU defense: With the benefit of a bye week, ISU likely will have its top two RBs – Victor Dawson (ankle) and Seth Glatz (neck) – available after both have missed time with injuries. That could be bad news for SIU, which has allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns in the MVFC (12) and nearly 4.6 yards per carry.
What’s at stake?
The Salukis need a signature win for their potential playoff resume. A loss would drop them to 1-3 in MVFC play with three of their final four opponents being ranked nationally.
Quick hits
The Salukis likely will be without starting center Ethan Goodin and starting left tackle Blaine Halley, who were both injured on the same play at South Dakota, for Saturday’s game. “I don’t know that I’ve see two of our O-lineman go down on the same play before,” Hill said. “I would say Blaine would be out longer than Ethan.” Hill did not specify what the players’ injuries were or the length of time they could miss. Sophomore Jacob Katauskas, who has filled in at three different spots up front this season, according to Hill, is expected to take Halley’s spot. Junior Ostyn Friday, who played the second half of SIU’s season opener at West Florida, is expected to move into Goodin’s spot. … SIU quarterback D.J. Williams carried the ball 20 times for 134 yards and four touchdowns last season in the win against Illinois State. Through seven games this fall, he has only 46 carries in a more limited role in the run game. “We’ve run him in short-yardage things and in the red zone,” Hill said. “We haven’t called the game to where he’s got to go carry the ball 20 times. Every year is different.” … The Salukis rank at the bottom of the Missouri Valley in pass completion percentage at 53.5%. SIU quarterbacks have thrown nine touchdowns and six interceptions. … Hill is 4-4 in his career against Illinois State and 16-35 against teams ranked in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 FCS poll. … Two former SIU offensive linemen will be inducted this weekend into the SIU athletics Hall of Fame. Dave Smith, who played on a Super Bowl team with the Cincinnati Bengals, was a Saluki lineman from 1984-87 and blocked for Byron Mitchell during the running back’s 1,211-yard season in 1985. The late Byron Honore, who died in 2022, will be inducted posthumously. He played on the Saluki O-line from 1976-79 and was a four-year starter, including eight games during his true freshman season.
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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