The Saluki football team has a tough schedule the rest of the way, with only two remaining opponents not ranked in the top 25. One of those teams comes to Carbondale this weekend.

The Missouri State Bears (1-3, 0-1 MFVC) are at or near the bottom of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in most statistical categories. Their only win of the year came in a 21-13 victory against Division II Chadron State.

While SIU’s defense has not been good, Missouri State’s is worse.

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The Salukis are 82nd in the Football Championship Subdivision and ninth in the 10-team MVFC, allowing 31.2 points per game. The Bears are last in the conference and 122nd out of 123 teams, giving up 50.5 points per game. 

Missouri State sophomore linebacker Dylan Cole is tied for third in the Valley with 39 tackles, 12 behind SIU junior linebacker Chase Allen for the conference lead.

In the category of misleading stats, Missouri State leads the conference in red zone efficiency at 100 percent. The Bears have been inside their opponent’s 20-yard line six times all season, and have scored a touchdown every time.

Youngstown State is second, having scored 16 times in 17 red zone trips. SIU has scored 12 times [eight touchdowns] in 16 chances.

SIU’s turnover margin is minus seven for the season. Missouri State’s turnover margin is minus six for the season.

Bears junior quarterback Brodie Lambert is last among MVFC starting quarterbacks with one touchdown pass and an average of 91.7 yards per game. Lambert is tied with Western Illinois junior quarterback Trenton Norvell for most interceptions thrown, with five. 

Lambert’s backup, redshirt freshman Breck Ruddick, has outplayed Lambert, averaging 114.5 yards per game with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Ruddick has played in two games this season.

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Sophomore wide receiver Malik Earl is Missouri State’s leading receiver, averaging 37.2 yards per contest. 

Thomas Donley can be reached at [email protected] or at 536-3311