Not many people expected Michael Lindauer to break a school record when he hit Bradley Clark for a touchdown in the first quarter, including himself.

“I haven’t really processed it yet,” Lindauer said in the wake of a 62-0 win.

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But by the end of the game, Lindauer had made history. The sixth-year, coach-turned-quarterback threw for 284 yards, no interceptions, and tossed seven touchdown passes, breaking the previous record of six touchdown passes in a single game. Lindauer had thrown only two career touchdowns prior to his record setting performance against Murray State.

“He’ll be in the record books,” head coach Nick Hill said. “It’ll be a hard record to beat.”

After a pre-game ceremony honoring the seniors on the SIU roster, the Salukis received the opening kickoff, but a sack helped force a three-and-out on the drive.

On their first play of the afternoon, the Racers ran a successful flea flicker to get into Saluki territory. After picking up another first down, they faced a fourth and two from the 14, and the play they ran was sniffed out by the SIU defense and ended in a tackle for loss.

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“That set the tone.” Shug Walker said. “If you give up a score there, it’s a different feeling.”

On the next Saluki series, Allen Middleton broke a couple tackles on his way to a 42-yard pickup, into Racer territory. 15 more yards set up Paul Geelen to hit from 47 for the first points of the game.

The field goal marked only the third time this season that the Salukis have been able to get on the board first and it helped give the Dawgs an early edge.

“It was key for us to get the momentum in this football game and we were able to do it.” Hill said.

The Salukis took advantage of a botched kickoff return that had Murray State beginning from their own four and forced a three-and-out. After a short Racers punt, Already in plus territory, Middleton took two carries for 21 yards, setting up another Geelen field goal.

Middleton, a freshman who is listed as a wide receiver, was huge in the win, rushing for 124 yards on 15 carries, the second most by a Saluki this season.

“Allen was incredible, he’s been incredible.” Hill said. “He’s continued to just show up everyday.”

Knowing they desperately needed to respond, the Racers got to midfield before facing another fourth and short. Murray State attempted a fake punt, but Iverson Brown was in position to intercept the ball for a second straight drive beginning on Murray State’s half of the field.

The turnovers were another big piece in why the Salukis were able to run away with the game like they did. The Salukis forced a turnover on downs and grabbed five interceptions by five different players to shut out the Racers. 

“Anytime you can take the ball away and take good care of it, usually, you’re on the winning side of it.” Hill said.

SIU took full advantage of the takeaway as Lindauer hit Clark for a 35-yard touchdown on the first and only play of the drive. On the next possession, he hit a wide open Keontez Lewis for 30 yards to the four yard line before finding him again in the back of the end zone on the next play to extend the Dawgs lead.

On the ensuing Racers possession, Chris Presto batted a ball in the air to himself for the second Saluki interception of the afternoon. It took only three subsequent plays for the Dawgs to find the end zone, as Nah’shawn Hezekiah came down with a contested catch for another SIU touchdown.

The third interception came at the hands of Walker, who transferred from Murray State to SIU before the start of this season. He was a menace to the Racers offense in the game, totaling 11 tackles, two sacks, three and a half tackles for loss and the interception.

“I’m grateful for the start there, but I’m a Dawg, I’m glad to be here.” Walker said.

The Dawgs and Racers traded possessions before Lindauer connected with Hezekiah for a 35-yard touchdown, stretching the Saluki lead to 34.

The SIU defense did their job again and forced another Racers punt, giving the ball to the offense with 51 seconds before halftime. Lindauer and the offense simply couldn’t be stopped, as he hit Lewis in stride for a 65-yard touchdown to send the teams to the locker rooms with the Dawgs up 41-0.

The Saluki offense continued to roll out of the break. Middleton picked up 36 all purpose yards to set up a touchdown pass to Clark, his second of the afternoon and the sixth touchdown pass for Lindauer.

Senior safety Ubayd Steed also got involved in the takeaway party on the next defensive play with an interception. The five Saluki interceptions were the fifth-most in a single game in program history.

Tae Marrero Jr. returned a punt into Racers territory and set up the Salukis to start in opponent territory for the fifth time, and Jerrian Parker’s 31-yard rush set up Lindauer’s seventh touchdown pass, this time to Jay Jones.

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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