Late in the first half, the Saluki defense needed a stop to keep the game close before halftime. When Austin Peay State University (APSU) receiver Jaden Barnes hauled in a deep pass, it appeared that that wouldn’t be the case, until Safety Ubayd Steed came down to punch the ball out of Barnes’ hands. Isaiah Bigby fell on the loose ball to give SIU possession.
“Unbelievable play,” Head Coach Nick Hill said. “That’s what we talk about, playing with a relentless passion.”
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The game began with a trio of stalled drives. Two by SIU and one by Austin Peay.
On their second possession, the Governors got receiver Barnes wide open downfield for a 43 yard strike for six.
SIU answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive to tie the game up at seven. The Salukis got 51 yards on the ground and the drive was capped off with a nine yard run by Running Back Jaelin Benefield.
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Looking to get the lead back, APSU was moving the ball well, getting deep into SIU territory. The Dawgs were able to put up a defensive stand and force a field goal attempt. The attempt missed wide to leave the game tied.
The Salukis were unable to do anything with the ball and punted the ball away again.
Austin Peay got back to work, but the SIU defense didn’t allow them to finish the job and the Govs took the three points.
SIU’s next possession stalled out around mid-field, giving the ball back to Austin Peay with a chance to extend the lead with three minutes until the half.
It appeared as though APSU was going to put the Dawgs in a deeper hole before the break when Austin Smith connected with Barnes for 19 yards, but cornerback Steed was able to punch the ball out and Isaiah Bigby was able to fall on it.
With 75 seconds left on the clock, the Salukis wanted to get something on the board quickly. A couple of chunk plays, including a 24-yard run by Quarterback DJ Williams and 23-yard pass to Wide Receiver Keontez Lewis had the Dawgs knocking on the door with six seconds left. Williams was able to find Wide Receiver Vinson Davis in the end zone to send the teams to the locker rooms with SIU up 14 to 10.
Out of the break, the Saluki defense shutdown an APSU offense looking to regain its footing, driving the Governors 11 yards backwards.
On the ensuing drive, Williams was able to find Tight End Ryan Schwendeman for a 35-yard touchdown to push the Saluki lead to 11.
Desperate to reclaim momentum, Austin Peay found themselves going for it on 4th and six from the Saluki 37 yard line. The SIU defense stood tall and forced a turnover on downs.
SIU was unable to do anything with the ball and punted it right back to the Governors.
Austin Peay moved the ball downfield effectively, and a 19 yard touchdown shrunk the gap back down to four.
On their next possession, the Dawgs were moving the ball downfield with intent, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty killed all the momentum and the drive ended with a punt.
On the APSU possession that followed, Safety Iverson Brown jumped a short target pass for an interception, setting the Salukis up with great field position.
“He’s an awesome player, making plays all the time,” Linebacker Ben Bogle said.
SIU was unable to move the ball and was content with a field goal try, but a botched hold gave the ball right back to the Governors.
The teams went back and forth with punts before SIU put together a drive. A 46-yard run from Running Back Shaun Lester set up a one yard run for Williams to get the lead back to two possessions.
Lester was a huge piece in the Saluki offense, finishing the night with 111 yards on the ground on 18 carries.
Lester said, “it feels good to get the ball going upfield.”
The SIU defense shut down APSU on four straight plays to set up a Saluki drive that ended with a field goal.
The Dawgs then shut down the Governors on one last drive to seal the 31-14 Saluki victory.
The SIU defense stepped up when it mattered. Austin Peay had a net total of negative eight yards in the 4th quarter and notched six sacks in the final 15 minutes.
“That’s how we got to close it out,” said Hill. “Sacks are going to win you games.”
The Salukis will have their home opener next Saturday when they take on the Cardinals of the University of Incarnate Word.
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