SIU football remains undefeated in conference play after a blowout win Saturday.

The Coyotes (2-3, 0-1) were able to hang with the Salukis (5-1, 2-0) all through the first half, but were no match for SIU after halftime. The Salukis outscored South Dakota 31-0 in the final two quarters to defeat the Coyotes 41-10. SIU held South Dakota to just 78 yards of offense in the second half.

Senior running back Malcolm Agnew led the Saluki offense with 131 yards and 3 touchdowns on 26 carries. Agnew also eclipsed 1,500 career-rushing yards Saturday night.

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Senior tight end MyCole Pruitt had his third-consecutive game with more than 100 receiving yards. Pruitt ended the game with 7 catches for 137 yards and 1 touchdown.

SIU’s defense held South Dakota’s rushing offense, which is ranked No. 17 in the Football Championship Subdivision, to just 109 yards.

At the end of the first half South Dakota and SIU were tied 10-10.

SIU led for all of the second quarter until South Dakota’s senior running back Jasper Sanders scored a touchdown to tie the game on a five-yard run play.

SIU answered a field goal by South Dakota on the first drive with a touchdown on the next. Senior Tay Willis set up the score with a 75-yard kick return. Senior running back Malcolm Agnew scored on the next play with an 11-yard run to give SIU a 7-3 lead.

The Salukis scored four touchdowns in the second half to put the game out of reach. SIU is now outscoring opponents 114-13 in the second half of games.

Freshman running back Cameron Walter scored his first career touchdown, a 2-yard run, in the fourth quarter to complete the rout.

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The Salukis will look to start the second half of the season with a win against North Dakota State (5-0, 1-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Fargodome.

Tony McDaniel can be reached at [email protected], @tonymcdanielDE or at 536-3311 ext. 256