1. The Salukis are resilient.

This game exemplified the nature of this season’s Saluki squad. They aren’t the best team in the nation, but they will fight as hard as any.

Down by 11 with a little more than five minutes left, SIU struck with a quick 75-yard touchdown drive, then forced a three-and-out, blocked Youngstown’s punt and then grinded to hit its only field goal of the game to force overtime.

When a team wins while losing in almost every single offensive category, that speaks to the team’s heart.

2. The Salukis are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.

This game was like a microcosm of the entire season. The offense looked explosive at times, such as getting nine plays of more than 10 yards, but also stalled out on the first three drives of the game.

The Saluki defense shut down Youngstown State occasionally by forcing four punts and two turnovers, but they also got burned for six plays of 20 or more yards.

The special teams missed two field goals, had an extra point blocked and muffed a punt return. They also blocked a punt and a field goal attempt.

3. The Saluki secondary’s lax coverage can be costly.

SIU’s secondary tends to line up five yards off their receiver and leave that same amount of space all game. This has been a problem all year, but it really showed Saturday.

The Penguins converted eight third downs on passes during the game, six of which extended scoring drives. Two plays in particular — the 85-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Andrew Williams in the third quarter and 46-yard pass to Williams — came when the receiver’s defender slipped or got turned around in coverage.

This lack of press coverage may be by design, but the system isn’t working.

4. Slow starts continue to plague this team.

The Salukis have scored only one touchdown in the first quarter this season with the exception of the game against Missouri State.

In the past, head coach Dale Lennon has said slow starts are a point of emphasis, but it has yet to be corrected.

SIU electing to receive opening kickoffs only make this more aggravating. Taking the opening kick is only positive if you can take it in, and the Salukis have failed to do that more often than not.

5. This team defends its turf

The Sept. 26 34-13 win against No. 10 Liberty had Saluki fans pumped up about a potential turnaround to the season after starting 0-2. But it took another 180 with a 37-36 road loss to Western Illinois the following week.

It bounced back with a 73-26 win against Missouri State at home, which was not as impressive as the win against Liberty despite a higher margin.

But a win against Youngstown State is no cakewalk.

Luckily for the Dawgs, they play at home again next weekend and can gain momentum in the heat of the season.

Unfortunately, the two home games remaining are against four-peat FBS national champions No. 8 North Dakota State and No. 4 Illinois State, who played in the FBS National Championship last season. 

Regardless, SIU is guaranteed to have a home record over .500 this season.

Sean Carley can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @SCarleyDE