The SIU football team (3-7, 2-5 Missouri Valley Football Conference) will end its season against Northern Iowa (6-4, 4-3) at 4 p.m. Saturday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. 

The Salukis have allowed 2,329 rushing yards, the second most in the conference. UNI’s offense is 57 percent rushing, the highest of any team in the MVFC. 

Junior quarterback Aaron Bailey is the Panthers’ leading rusher with 898 yards. He is also third among Football Championship Subdivision quarterbacks for rushing. His 14 rushing touchdowns are most by an FCS quarterback this year.

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Junior running back Tyvis Smith and senior running back Darrian Miller have combined for 770 yards this season. 

SIU’s pass defense is the second-worst in the Valley, allowing 2,322 yards and 16 touchdowns this year. Northern Iowa has the Valley’s second-fewest passing yards with 1,608. 

Sophomore wide receiver Daurice Fountain leads the Panthers with 31 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns. 

Four Panthers have 10 or more receptions this season, compared to nine Salukis with double-digit catches. SIU junior wide receiver Billy Reed leads the Dawgs with 54 passes for 799 yards. 

Senior quarterback Mark Iannotti leads the conference with 2,931 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes. 

Iannotti is also tied with Missouri State sophomore quarterback Brodie Lambert with a Valley-high 10 interceptions. UNI leads the conference with 12 interceptions, six of which belong to senior defensive back Deiondre Hall. 

The Salukis run for an average of 199.2 yards per game, but they have not had more than 175 rushing yards in any of their last five games. Northern Iowa’s run defense is the best in the MVFC, allowing 112.6 yards per game. 

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Thomas Donley can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3307