SIUC football coach Jan Quarless is ready to showcase a team filled with youth and inexperience but prepared for battle.

Quarless said Saturday’s game at Nicholls State University comes at a good time for his debut as a collegiate head coach.

I’m looking forward to it, and I think the players are, Quarless said at a press conference Tuesday. I think it’s needed after two weeks of practice, good practice. It should be a treat.

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The Salukis take the field Saturday with several new faces in key positions. One of those new faces is quarterback Kent Skornia, who suffered a slight shoulder separation during a scrimmage Thursday but is expected to be under center against Nicholls State.

Quarless said Skornia is still experiencing slight stiffness in the shoulder.

It’s not as flexible or mobile as we would like it to be, Quarless said. I think he’s going to be okay. He’s still somewhat of a question mark.

Skornia had been competing with Marcus Capone for the quarterback position, but Quarless said Skornia’s experience at University of Missouri gives him the edge over Capone.

Skornia will be joined in the backfield by sophomore tailback Karlton Carpenter, who has successfully regained the position from Coe Bonner after Carpenter missed most of last season with an ankle injury.

Quarless said Bonner, who missed spring practice and re-joined the team in June after he was given a fifth year on a medical hardship waiver, did not earn the spot after having trouble learning the plays.

Another newcomer is Jeraldo Henry, a Saluki track and field athlete, who has beaten out wide receiver Reggie Fowler for the position. Senior Cornell Craig will line up at the other wide receiver spot.

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On defense, linebackers Ryan Hallahan, Greg Harrison and James Jackson lead an inexperienced corps. Included in that group are free safety Dan Gutierrez and cornerback Tirrell Robinson, two players who have not played college football at their respective positions.

Gutierrez, a walk-on senior from St. Charles, earned the free safety spot over sophomore Brian Samuels and junior Orlando McKee, while Robinson, a junior from Maywood, moved to defense after rushing for 307 yards in 1996.

Quarless said both players have taken advantage of their opportunities in the preseason.

We felt Gutierrez was having a pretty good preseason, and then he tapered off a little bit, but we expected that, Quarless said. It will be throwing a walk-on into the fire, and we’ll be looking in that direction right away.

Robinson had a good preseason. We’ve been pleased overall with the way he’s been playing. He’s really tried to play within the framework of the system. That’s what we need, and that’s what the staff has emphasized.

While the Salukis have a handful of untested players, Quarless and his players are confident they can win the season opener.

Nicholls State is coming off of a 28-0 loss last week, but the defeat came at the hands of Division I-A Northeast Louisiana University.

Hallahan said entering Nicholls State’s home stadium and winning against the Colonels, despite their earlier start, will go a long way to boosting the team’s morale.

I think there going to run right at us, and I enjoy that, Hallahan said. But they’re going to be upset about that loss, especially at home.

Senior cornerback Duane Lawrence said SIUC can look forward to the opportunity for success.

I’d say 7-4 would be a great season for us, Lawrence said. We’ve got a really tough schedule that is going to test us this year. For us to go 7-4 would be a great season.

Although a loss in the season opener would not end the Salukis’ hopes, a win is necessary in starting the season off on a positive note for Quarless.

To me, it’s a very important game, Quarless said. I think a win would go a long way. On the other hand, it won’t be a back breaker if we don’t. But I think it’s important.