Football games are won in the trenches, and for the SIUC football team the defensive and offensive lines have been giving the Dawgs a chance to win.

Saluki head coach Shawn Watson said both fronts played exceptionally well in SIUC’s loss to Arkansas St. Saturday.

I’m really pleased with the way our offensive line played, he said. It was probably our best performance, even better than the one we had against SEMO (Southeast Missouri State) as far as execution and having some dominating blocks upfront.

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On defense, Watson was pleased with the way the line was able to free up other players behind them.

They did an outstanding job to allow our linebackers and secondary people to make hits, he said.

The offensive line is anchored by 290-pound senior center Larry Mullins. Mullins is flanked by 316-pound Steve Jones at left guard and shared responsibility of 276-pound Leonard Lynch and 300-pound Chris Myers at right guard. The tackles are manned by Shane Kreke, who weighs 321 pounds and 330-pound Larry Watkins.

This line, which weighs an average of 305 pounds, has allowed Saluki rushers to net 121 yards per game. This total is up for an average of 99 yards per game last year.

The Dawgs defensive line has been shuffled around as the squad has used its depth up front.

Watson said the Salukis are trying to find the right mix on the defensive line.

We’re trying a number of different combinations, to be real honest with you, he said. Our philosophy, especially on the defensive side of the ball, its true on the offensive side but you can show it a little better on the defensive side is to get the best 11 players on the field.

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The heaviest battles for playing time on the defensive front is at nose guard and right tackle. Junior Salman Nazir has passed Patrick Baldwin, while juniors Darryl Holland and Brian Prudent are in a close race for the starting spot.

Salman Nazir has played well enough to become a starter and he won that spot outright over a two-game period. Brian Prudent and Darryl Holland are real close, but Holland got an edge, Watson said.

Prudent could also see some time at right end, Watson said.

Watson named freshman tailback Karlton Carpenter the Salukis offensive player of the week, while Darnell Hendricks earned top honors defensively. Special teams player of the week was C.J. McDavid. Linemen of the week were Brian Prudent on defense and Steve Jones on offense

The Salukis are working hard this week on correcting mistakes that Watson feels cost the Dawgs a victory against Arkansas St.

In the game SIUC had 11 penalties, Saturday many of which continued Indian drives and stymied Saluki possessions, while two blocked punts led to both Arkansas State touchdowns.

We spent more times on special teams and that’s by design, that’s what I’ve chosen to do especially in the area of punts what we call our pride team, Watson said. To go out an have two blocked in one game is ridiculous and we’ve had three this year.

Two of them were on operation times and I draw the line there.

Watson said this week the team will look to find the problems in the punt game and correct them.

We have to look at personnel, is it a personnel thing or is it a coaching thing, he said. Is it a proven coaching technique or proven method that has stood the wear of time.

If it’s not we need to change it. If it has, if it holds up and is steady we need to look at the people doing it and make changes.