With three seconds on the clock, Youngstown State (Youngstown State) had one play to get into the end zone. The ball was snapped, the Penguins quarterback scrambled to his left under pressure and threw up a prayer. The Saluki faithful in the stands could only hold their breath as the ball traveled through the air. When the ball sailed out the back of the end zone, harmlessly, the crowd could finally celebrate the first win since Sept. 14.
The Salukis hosted the Youngstown State Penguins in a Missouri Valley matchup on Saturday, Nov. 9 pulling off a 37-33 win to break their six-game losing streak. Coming back from a 28-point deficit marked one of the biggest comebacks in program history.
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“I’m really proud of the guys, everyone that’s a part of the program.” Nick Hill said. “We’ve lost six games in a row, there’s been a lot of tough moments in the season, just the resolve of this team, the character of those guys.”
The Salukis tied up the game with 1:04 left to go. With under two minutes on the clock and down 2 points, freshman quarterback Jake Curry, in his finest performance to date, made three big plays in less than a minute. He completed a big pass to receiver Bradley Clark, ran for 14 yards, and then found Clark in the endzone to cap off a 28 point comeback, the largest in school history.
Curry’s play on Saturday was one of the biggest reasons the Salukis were able to pick up the victory. Curry completed 19 passes on 26 attempts for 322 yards and three touchdowns, and also used his legs to pick up 72 yards and a touchdown.
“Curry had a game he’ll never forget.” Hill said.
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The receiving corps was another big part of the win. Reigning Prairie Farms SIU Student Athlete of the Week Allen Middleton had 102 yards on seven receptions, Clark hauled in four passes for 64 yards and Jay Jones nabbed two for 71.
“Super proud of those guys.” Hill said. “Guys that a lot of people probably don’t know, so that’s what makes it special as a coach, to see those guys get rewarded.”
The Dawgs looked the same ones of the past few weeks early in the game. The Penguins got the ball first and moved the ball downfield immediately. Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard found Cyrus Traugh for a 29-yard pickup on the first play from scrimmage and a face mask penalty would move the ball another 15, to the SIU 22. Another completion from Brungard got the Penguins on the Saluki goalline before he found the end zone with his legs to get Youngstown on the board first.
Starting from the SIU half of the field, the Penguins put some short gains together before facing a fourth and two. Seeing man coverage from the Salukis, Brungard took off and went untouched for a 27-yard touchdown.
On Youngstown State’s next possession, the SIU defense put the Penguins into a third and long situation, but Brungard was able to take off and toe the sideline for a 26-yard touchdown to widen the gap to 21 and marking their third touchdown in four drives.
SIU’s passing offense finally showed some life when Curry completed three passes for 28 yards to help get the Dawgs into Youngstown State’s half of the field. Already down 21, the Salukis went for it on fourth and one, but the Penguins were able to blow it up for a turnover on downs.
On the ensuing Saluki possession, Curry completed three for 63 yards before running in for a touchdown.. Hill elected to go for two, but the Dawgs didn’t convert.
With two minutes and change remaining in the half, the Penguins, little by little, made their way into scoring territory. Youngstown State looked to be in a good position to add to their lead before Saluki safety Desman Hearns picked off a pass from Brungard. It was Hearns’ first pick of the year.
After the interception, the Salukis had 38 seconds to cover 75 yards. They would immediately pick up a majority of those yards as Curry connected with Jones for 55. Curry would then get his first collegiate passing touchdown when he found Allen Middleton in the endzone. SIU again went for two, but a fumble recovered by Youngstown was returned the distance for two points of their own.
Jimmy Athans, who has emerged as a consistent threat out of the backfield over the past few weeks, got the next Saluki going out of the break, picking up 17 on three carries, before Curry completed three passes for 52 yards to get SIU onto the doorstep. Athans finished the job with a three-yard touchdown run. A botched snap on the point-after resulted in no conversion.
On a third and long on the Penguin possession that followed, linebacker Ben Bogle got in front of a pass for an interception. The Salukis gave the ball right back to Youngstown State on an interception the following play.
The play of the defense in the second half was a big part of why the offense was able to come back in the first place. The defense only allowed three points in the second half and had an interception and a turnover on downs that really flipped the game on its head.
“We locked in and started playing our brand of defense.” Chris Presto said. “We knew we needed a few turnovers to flip the game and flip the momentum. We got it done and it was huge for us.”
A 34-yard completion by Brungard got Youngstown State into SIU territory and a 10-yard rush from Brungard set up a 38-yard field goal for the Penguins.
On the series that followed, the Dawgs picked up 64 yards on the ground, including two carries by Curry for 35. Jerrian Parker finished the drive with a one yard dive to make it an eight point game.
The Saluki defense did their job on their next outing, only letting the Penguins get to midfield before punting the ball.
Starting from their own eight with a chance to tie, SIU went three-and-out.
Youngstown, starting just inside their own territory, made their way to the Saluki 34 before facing a fourth and six. A first down would likely put the game out of reach, so they went for it, but the Dawgs were able to stop Brungard a yard short and give the offense a chance.
A pair of 16 yard completions, along with a 10-yard penalty, set up a touchdown connection between Curry and Colton Hoag that had SIU a two point conversion away from tying the game. The pass on the attempt was tipped incomplete, marking SIU’s fifth failed two-point attempt of the day..
The SIU defense was able to rally to the ball on the force a three-and-out and give the offense one last shot inside of two minutes.
Curry found Clark on the first play to get the Dawgs into Youngstown State territory. He then took off for a pickup of 14 to the Penguins 35. A targeting call on Youngstown gifted the Salukis another 15 yards before Curry found Clark in the end zone to take the lead 37-33 with 1:04 left on the clock.
The 28 point comeback goes down as the longest come-from-behind victory in SIU history, trumping a 21 point comeback against Northern Illinois in 2007.
“It was a fun locker room to be a part of. It’s one that we’ll always remember.” Hill said.
The Salukis will be on the road next week to take on the twice-defending national champion South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
Sports Reporter Nick Pfannkuche can be reached at [email protected]. To stay up to date on all your southern Illinois news, be sure to follow The Daily Egyptian on Facebook and X @dailyegyptian.
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