Fourth-ranked South Dakota State’s offense piled up 52 points Saturday at Southern Illinois, the highest total allowed by the Salukis this season. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
Saturday’s first two drives for South Dakota State ended in the end zone in Carbondale.
Those possessions played a big role in ending the slim playoff hopes for Southern Illinois as the Salukis gave up a season high in points in a 52-16 loss Saturday to the No. 4 Jackrabbits.
“I don’t think we came out with the same energy (as SDSU),” SIU safety Matthew McClelland, who racked up a game-high 18 tackles, said in a postgame radio interview. “We didn’t match their energy.”
After SDSU quarterback Chase Mason scored on a 12-yard run less than 4 minutes into the game, the Jackrabbits (9-2 overall, 6-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference) forced a punt. SIU’s Elijah Gordon hit a 53-yard kick that pinned SDSU at its own 1.
Three plays later, SDSU was up 14-0 on an 89-yard catch and run by wide receiver Lofton O’Groske that put the Salukis (5-6, 3-4) in a hole they couldn’t climb out of all day.
“We couldn’t take advantage of it. We couldn’t limit the explosive play,” McClelland said.
The SIU defense gave up 35 first downs, including 21 on the ground. South Dakota State, the top-ranked rushing offense in the nation, grinded out 192 yards, led by 72 from running back Josiah Johnson.
“That’s where we need to get a stop to make it competitive and we didn’t,” SIU head coach Nick Hill, whose team trailed 24-7 at halftime. “They were the better team today. There were a couple situations where we had to have a drive and we didn’t do it.”
SIU’s offense was outgained 628-254 and was 3-for-14 on third downs.
Tae Marrero Jr. caught a 25-yard scoring pass from SIU quarterback D.J. Williams for the Salukis’ only first half score. Williams ran for a 2-yard TD in the second half.
Game changers
8:13, 2nd quarter: WR O’Groske turned a short reception into an 89-yard touchdown against the Saluki defense.
5:09, 2nd quarter: Marrero Jr. grabbed a 25-yard TD reception to put SIU on the board with its first score.
1:32, 4th quarter: SDSU’s Josh Holst threw a 36-yard TD pass to help the Jackrabbits reach 52 points, the most allowed by SIU in a game this season.
What it means
The Salukis’ playoff hopes ended with a thud against the nation’s No. 4 team.
Superb Salukis
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Southern Illinois players in the game:
Marrero Jr., WR: The fifth-year player had a game-high five receptions for 64 yards and a TD.
McClelland, DB: The Saluki safety led all players with a game-high 18 tackles.
Ibrahim Sanogo, DE: The MVFC leader in tackles for loss had three TFLs and a sack.
What’s next?
Southern ends the season on the road with a 1 p.m. game Nov. 21 at North Dakota.
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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