DE Sports Editor 20

For Saluki football senior Ryan Hallahan, Saturday’s loss to Youngstown State University hurt as much as knowing his playing days at McAndrew Stadium are over.

The Salukis’ lethargic play to open the game gave Youngstown State a 7-0 headstart on its first possession. The No. 4 Penguins waddled their way to 469 yards in total offense and never trailed in a 34-10 victory over the Salukis at McAndrew Stadium in front of a crowd of 2,000. The loss marked SIUC’s final home game of the season.

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SIUC dropped its third straight game and finished just ahead of Illinois State University in the Gateway Football Conference’s basement with a 3-7 mark overall and a 1-5 record in conference play. Youngstown State improved to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the Gateway.

I don’t have words for it right now, Hallahan said. It hurts. It hurts.

SIUC football coach Jan Quarless took the blame for the Salukis’ lackluster performance, especially one on a day that bid farewell to the team’s seniors.

I didn’t do a good job coaching-wise, Quarless said. I didn’t feel that I had our football team emotionally prepared to play this football game. I’ve got to take responsibility for that.

I thought we came out flat, and we just weren’t excited to play a good football team. Consequently, you just can’t play this game and be effective with no emotion.

SIUC fell behind from the beginning and could not get anything going in the first half. After the Salukis punted on their first possession, Youngstown State took over on its own 42-yard line and drove 58 yards in nine plays for a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Matt Richardson.

The Salukis stayed close early in the second quarter as Matt Simonton hit a 47-yard field goal with 12 minutes and 24 seconds left before halftime to bring SIUC to within 7-3. The Penguins responded with another touchdown by Richardson on the next possession to take a 14-3 lead, and then the Penguins sealed the win on the next Saluki possession.

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SIUC drove down to the Penguins’ 33-yard line, but quarterback Kent Skornia’s pass to fullback Bryan Nolbertowicz was intercepted by Youngstown State’s Dewayne Thompson when Nolbertowicz slipped on the turf. The interception set up another touchdown by Richardson and gave the Penguins a 21-3 lead into halftime.

Youngstown State added two touchdowns in the second half for a 34-3 lead. The Salukis, who ended the game with 338 yards in total offense, added a touchdown on a 23-yard catch by Cornell Craig in the back of the end zone with 1:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Craig broke the school record for most catches in a season with 53 by catching eight balls for 134 yards. John Ference set the original record in 1965 with 51.

I really haven’t thought about it, Craig said. I’ll think about it after the season is over with. We still have another game to go, and we lost. It sours the moment.

Saturday’s game marked the end of home careers for 14 seniors, with one trip to Southeast Missouri State University left on the schedule Saturday.

Linemen Walter Skeate, Nate Orsburn, Pat Izzo, Jason Krivis and Kevin Skinkis; quarterback Mike Pizinski; free safeties Freddie Taylor and Dan Gutierrez; fullback Brian Walker; cornerback Duane Lawrence; linebackers Hallahan and Greg Harrison; tailback Coe Bonner and wide receiver Reggie Fowler ended their Saluki careers at McAndrew Stadium.

Quarless said he felt terrible about the outcome for his seniors, but wants his team to be prepared for Southeast.

I apologized to them (after the game), Quarless said. It was very important for us to get a win, and I am extremely disappointed. But I asked them to get focused for seven more days. My concern is we’re 3-7, and where does your mindset go? I asked them to try to concentrate and get focused, and let’s not let this thing go down the tubes.

Hallahan is treating this week of preparation as the last in a career full of memories.

(I’m going to) do what I can and see what happens, Hallahan said. (I will) just work hard this week and don’t give up, and do what I have to do.