Both teams combined to score six touchdowns in the final 20 minutes, but in the end it was the Salukis stable of running backs, huge offensive line, special teams which was the difference.

Freshman running back Karlton Carpenter’s 96 yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter after SEMO scored two touchdowns in a span of 1:18.

Carpenter took the ensuing kickoff broke a tackle, spun out of another one and rambled 96 yards to give the Salukis back their lead at 23-20 that the Dawgs would relinquish.

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The kickoff came after SEMO’s free safety Greg Klund picked up a Coe Bonner fumble and rambled 80 yards to give the Indians a 20-16 lead with 10:43 left in the game. That touchdown followed a Dione Tyler six-yard run a minute earlier, which brought the Indians within two at 16-14.

Head coach Shawn Watson said he would not let the Dawgs lose heart after giving up the two touchdowns.

We were not going to let the tent fold I refuse let these kids quit, he said. The staff is with me, we are not going to let them quit, we’ll keep pushing them.

We’re going to keep the expectations high and the confidence and say hey man strap it up and we’re going back after it again.

Watson said the kickoff return was a thrill just to watch.

He was going real fast and I saw him come out of the crowd and I was saying go, go, go I just wanted him to get into the endzone, he said. And once he got that seem he was gone nobody was going to catch him.

The insurance drive came late in the fourth quarter as SIUC wore down SEMO with William Tolen and Karlton Carpenter rotating in and out and drove 89 yards ending with a Kennedy one-yard plunge to into the endzone. In the possession all 11 plays were on the ground.

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We really put the burden on our offensive line, Watson said. Our strength is in the offensive line because were over 300 pounds there and we have three tailbacks who can play.

In the game Tolen ran 107 yards on 18 carries, Carpenter carried the ball nine times for 79 yards and juco transfer Coe Bonner ripped through SEMO for 50 yards and a touchdown. Overall the Salukis outgained SEMO 261 to 157.

Freshman quarterback Reggie Kennedy, who got his first start as a collegian going 10 for 25 and 115 yards said the running game and offensive line took pressure of him.

I just handed to the running back and let them do their job and the offensive line pass and run blocked equally well, he said. I was very tense coming into the game and our running attack really calmed me down.

The first half was marred by mistakes as SEMO had seven penalties for 63 yards, three fumbles and one interception. The Salukis also had their problems with five penalties for 35 yards, an interception, blocked punt, a missed point after and two missed field goals.