The home losing streak is over!

After two years and 10 games the SIUC football team broke into the win column at McAndrew Stadium when the Salukis pounded Nicholls St. 48-20 Saturday.

Not since the opening game against Washburn two seasons ago have the Dawgs been able to win at home and this victory is the first at McAndrew Stadium in Saluki head coach Shawn Watson’s two-year tenure.

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It’s very special because we talk about wanting to build a tradition here at McAndrew Stadium, he said. When I was here in the late 70’s, early 80’s we came here and we won at home all the time.

When we walked out here we were going to win I lost very few ball games here.

Senior tri-captain Darnell Hendricks said it has been a long time coming for the seniors to get a home victory.

That was great, he said. The last win we had here was 93 and they were a D-II (Division II) school.

This is the first time since ’92 that we beat a D 1-AA (Division 1-AA) school.

Hendricks said breaking through on Saturday could be a springboard to a succession of home victories.

Right now we have the monkey of our back at home hopefully this is a new tradition here and we will win all our next games here.

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With the victory the Salukis improve to 2-2 on the year.

Watson said this kind of complete victory is exactly what his squad needed to have.

We had a dominating ball game and that felt good to get one of those, he said. We needed one of those because it shows the kids how to win and what it is like to win and win big.

The Dawgs beat the Colonels in every facet of the game as the Saluki offense scored 20 points. SIUC’s defense scored two touchdowns and special teams added one.

SIUC’s defense caused five turnovers that resulted into 21 Saluki points.

Hendricks picked off a deflected Nicholls State pass in the second quarter and the senior tri-captain scampered 40 yards for the score. Shortly after Hendricks’ touchdown, Tommy Anderson sacked Nicholls State quarterback Henri Ransefore causing him to fumble Tony Seman picked up the ball and rambled 63 yards for the score.

The special teams scored their touchdown when the Dawgs’ Kelly Edwards picked up a bobbled Colonels’ punt and returned it four yards for the touchdown.

Anytime something like that happens it’s a real letdown for you when it happens to you, Watson said. If it happens for you, it’s a big boost, it’s a great momentum swinger.

We talked to the kids on Friday night about doing a great job of winning all three phases of the game, and we challenged them. Our season was going to be made or broke today and we put a big game emphasis on it because it was.

Offensively, the Salukis got their best performance from the quarterback position this season, as sophomore Danny Smith commanded the Saluki offense to a pair of touchdowns and two field goals. He connected on 13-of-22 passes for 264 yards.

Smith also threw his first touchdown in an SIUC uniform connecting with tight end Damon Jones on a crossing pattern that Jones turned into a 65-yard touchdown.

Smith had another touchdown to wide receiver Reggie Fowler, but that was called back by an illegal pick.

Penalties continued to plauge SIUC as the Dawgs committed a season high 17 infractions.

However, momentum is definitely with SIUC as the Salukis start Missouri Valley Conference action next week at Indiana State.

Seman said it is important for the Salukis to maintain the emotion the team played with Saturday.

I think it definitely helps the defense and the offense and the special teams came back and played really well, he said. We won a game going right into conference, we’ve got Indiana State next, so I think it will definitely help, and hopefully we’ll come out and have a good week of practice.