Costly mistakes and a big play Indiana State team was too much for the SIUC football squad to handle as the Salukis fell 52-3 in Terre Haute, Ind., Saturday.

Three interceptions, two fumbles and 11 penalties gave the Sycamores opportunity after opportunity to score and that is what ISU did.

After a solid start to the season with two victories, the 52-3 defeat is the largest Gateway Conference loss ever.

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SIUC head coach Shawn Watson said his squad just played poorly.

We did not play a good football game there are no excuses for it, he said. We have to point the thumb right here at us I’m not going to make any excuses for it, we played a bad football game.

I don’t believe this Indiana State team is that good of a football team 52-3. They’re a good football team but certainly somebody we could have played with.

ISU converted the five Saluki turnovers into 31 points.

Those turnovers sucked the wind right out of the kids, Watson said. We did not respond to the challenge of having to come back from that.

We had some turnovers that just killed us and like I said, I’m looking at myself in the mirror and our fault.

The Dawgs took the first drive marched down the field in 11 plays and 68 yards and Ryan Givens kicked a 29-yard field goal.

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SIUC seemed to have the momentum as the Salukis forced ISU to punt, but Reggie Fowler fumbled the punt and the Sycamores recovered.

The Dawgs defense held ISU to a field goal, but the momentum had switched to the side of the Sycamores and SIUC would never get it back.

Watson said it is time for his players to take on the challenge and respond to this performance.

I believe that college football is a game where you learn to become a man and if you keep running from challenges you’re going to run from them the rest of your life, he said . It’s time to bow up and accept the challenge and be a man.

That’s what this football team has to do; they have to bow up and become a man.

The Salukis fall to 2-3 on the year and 0-1 in the conference. ISU improves to 2-0 in the Gateway and 4-1 overall.

SIUC’s penalty problems continued as the Dawgs committed nine for 98 yards. Several of the infractions were costly. One penalty came on a ISU punt, but an illegal substitution allowed the Sycamores to keep possession. ISU capitalized just two plays later on a 55-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kevin Cox to receiver Courtland Tubbs.

That touchdown was quickly followed with a interception return for a touchdown by Sycamore strong safety Chris Crowder to put the game away 31-3 midway through the second quarter.

The Sycamores had 417 yards of total offense, while the Salukis gained just 219.

The biggest statistical difference came on the ground as ISU racked up 274 yards rushed compared to just 90 by the Dawgs.

ISU’s David Wright led all rushers with 100 yards with Tracy Pendelton and Jason Potter rushing for 72 and 63 yard respectively.

The Dawgs top runner was junior Coe Bonner, who carried the ball eight times for 43 yards.

We couldn’t run the ball across the street today, Watson said. Again we have to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and start becoming men.

SIUC signal caller Danny Smith, who came off a strong game against Nicholls State, struggled completing 13 out of 31 passes for 129 yards and three interceptions.

Damon Jones led the receiving corps with four catches for 45 yards.

The Dawgs will look to rebound at home, Saturday when SIUC takes on Illinois State during Family Weekend.