SIU football (1-2) defeated No. 10 Liberty (2-2) on Saturday night in Saluki Stadium, 34-13.

“My biggest concern coming into the game was giving up the big plays,” coach Dale Lennon said. “That never happened tonight so that was very encouraging.”

The Saluki defense did not allow a play longer than 34 yards all night, making the Liberty offense work for every yard. 

The Flames had 368 total yards of offense. They averaged 386 coming into the game. 

The Saluki defense created two turnovers, one deep in opposing territory, and both turned into Saluki touchdowns.

SIU’s defense stopped the run game for Liberty, only allowing 81 yards rushing, down from the Flames’ average of 133.

The Saluki offense created 482 yards of total offense — 255 rushing and 227 passing — and turned the ball over once.

Freshman Daquan Isom led the run game with 123 yards on 10 carries, including a 49-yard touchdown. 

“Pound for pound, he’s probably around the strongest guys on our team,” Lennon said. “The speed factor is there, the balance factor is there, we just have to continue to find ways to get him out in the open.”

Senior quarterback Mark Iannotti completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards and had multiple long passes called back for penalties.

“We knew Liberty was a good team, we just didn’t try to do anything special,” Iannotti said. “We just took what they gave us, just kept moving the ball offensively.”

The Salukis will be back in action next weekend at 3 p.m. in Macomb to face Western Illinois (1-2) to open Missouri Valley Football Conference play.

“Don’t count us out,” sophomore safety Kenny James said. “Don’t count us out.”

Sean Carley can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @SCarleyDE