A week removed from limiting one of the nation’s best running backs, the SIU football team has been allotted little recovery time and will be asked to stop one of the nation’s best passers this weekend against South Dakota State.

The Salukis held Western Illinois running back Herb Donaldson to less than 100 rushing yards in SIU’s 24-14 win. This week, he faces South Dakota State quarterback Ryan Berry, who has averaged more passing yards per game than Indiana State’s entire offense.

For the first time this season, the SIU defense will be presented with an opponent that relies almost primarily on the passing game.

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‘The secondary always comes into games wondering whether teams will be passing or running,’ said SIU cornerback Korey Lindsey, who recorded two interceptions against Western Illinois. ‘This game, we know they will pass first and run second as opposed to last week where we had to stop the run and make them pass. It’s going to be a challenge.’

Berry averages 274 passing yards per game and has thrown a Missouri Valley Football Conference-high 26 touchdowns, including seven touchdown passes against Illinois State last week.

In the Jackrabbits’ last five games, Berry has averaged 266.2 passing yards and has thrown 21 touchdowns – more than any other Valley quarterback this season.

‘He is probably the top quarterback in the league,’ said SIU head coach Dale Lennon. ‘He is athletic and has a very strong arm and is accurate. Those are some pretty good combinations.’

But Berry is just a piece of the puzzle for the Jackrabbits’ offense, which ranks first in the league in scoring offense (36.7 points per game) total offense (424.6 yards per game), passing offense (279.6 yards per game), pass efficiency (151.2) and third down conversions (45.7 percent).

South Dakota State features the league’s top two receivers in Glen Fox and JaRon Harris, and the Valley’s third-best running back in Kyle Minett.

Minett, who SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier said, ‘doesn’t have great, great speed but has a knack and has an understanding for the running back position,’ is also the team’s third leading receiver.

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Because of Berry’s variety of targets, Lennon said the defense would have to cover the entire field instead of just focusing on Berry.

‘It’s going to take a complete defensive effort,’ said Lennon, whose youngest son is Stiegelmeier’s godson. ‘We have to find ways to bring pressure to the quarterback, but at the same time we have to have solid coverage and not give up too many easy throws.’

The Salukis should be able to find success if their linebacking corps can put ample pressure on Berry, who has been sacked a league-high 33 times.

Last week, SIU recorded two sacks against one of the best offensive lines in the Valley, which Lennon attributed to a strong performance by the defensive line.

Lindsey said pressure on the quarterback could make all the difference in the world, no matter if SIU gets a sack or not.

‘Pass rush is very important,’ he said. ‘And the way our defense is this year, (the secondary) have to be in position because if (the linebackers and defensive line) can get pressure, we can get some easy plays as opposed to working for them like in years past.’

Brian Feldt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 256 or [email protected].