Monday Notebook: Saluki Football special teams were special at Indiana State
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki Football head coach Nick Hill often calls them the “hidden yards,” but Southern Illinois’ return-game yardage was easy to spot on Saturday, and the advantage for SIU was enormous.
The Salukis piled up 189 return yards in a 37-20 win at Indiana State, while the Sycamores finished with zero.
“Our special teams dominated the game,” Hill proclaimed during Monday’s weekly presser. “It’s a momentum play whether you’re covering a kick or returning one.”
Saluki return specialist Tae Marrero Jr. darted, dashed and spun his way through defenders for 106 punt return yards, breaking eight tackles on three returns, and leaving ISU players grasping for air. He also added a 48-yard kickoff return.
Because Marrero Jr. missed the first four games of the season, he won’t be eligible for the NCAA’s national rankings this season, but if he were, his 25.9-yard punt return average would lead the FCS by a comfortable margin. With 11 punt returns, Marrero Jr. already meets the minimum attempts required to break the school’s season record for punt return average, which is 16.7 yards set by Ed Wallner in 1969.
It wasn’t just the return game that was special. Punter Elijah Gorman punted six times and none of them were returnable. Four times, he pinned Indiana State inside its 20, including a punt that was downed at the 1 by cornerback Cam Cason. Gorman ranks 15th in the FCS in punting average (43.6), while the Salukis are fourth in the nation in net punting (42.2).
The icing on the special teams cake was the 3-for-3 combined field-goal work of Weston Schofield, who was good from 22 and 23 yards, and Seth Adams, who drilled a 50-yarder.
It gets even better. Long-snapper Ryan Algrim recovered a fumble on punt coverage.
Southern had a healthy advantage in field-position, with an average starting drive at the SIU 44. Indiana State started all 15 of its drives inside its own territory with an average starting spot at the ISU 21.
Hill said he often watches an opponent’s special teams to look for clues about the overall mindset of that program.
“I think it says a lot about your team by what type of effort you’re playing with on special teams,” Hill said. “Special teams affects wins and losses every single weekend. Our special teams players have earned respect from their teammates, and we have several guys that have owned their roles on this team.”
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