Salukis dominate all three phases in 46-6 win over Murray State
MURRAY, Ky. — Every unit for Southern Illinois took its turn providing explosive plays during a 46-6 beat-down of Murray State on Saturday night in the conference opener for both schools.
The Salukis (3-2, 1-0) allowed a touchdown on the game’s opening drive, but they scored 46 unanswered points, half of them coming during a second quarter that saw Southern build a 29-6 halftime lead.
“All three phases had a hand in that final score,” beamed SIU head coach Nick Hill, who improved to 6-0 all-time against the Racers. “I’m proud of the mental approach we had during a great week of practice, but like I told them each day, it guarantees you nothing on Saturday.”
A pair of Weston Schofield field goals was all that Southern’s offense could generate in the first quarter, but it tied the game, 6-6, setting the stage for the Salukis to unload 23 second-quarter points.
The offense scored its first touchdown on a Lem Wash 3-yard run out of the Wildcat formation. The TD was set up by a 42-yard pass from DJ Williams to Markell Quick.
Special teams provided the next score, as Saluki linebacker Miles Wash blocked a punt by Murray State’s Victor Kyatt, sending the ball 30-feet straight up. Teammate Joshua Newkirk was there to pluck the ball out of the air and take it 15 yards to house for a score to give SIU a 22-6 lead.
“I saw Miles got through the middle free and saw the ball just go up,” Newkirk said. “I knew the punter’s under me, so I reached over him and grabbed it and started running to the end zone. I’ve never scored a touchdown in college. It was the best feeling in my life.”
On Murray State’s next drive, ball-hawking cornerback Sebastian Vargas Escobar picked off another pass, his third interception in three games, and took it back 67 yards to the Racers 29.
That set up a Williams to Ed Robinson six-yard touchdown pass, making the score 29-6 at the half, and the rout was on.
The Salukis struck quickly in the third quarter, as in Markell Quick. Williams hit him over the middle for a 75-yard touchdown, with the receiver sprinting most of the way. Quick had four catches for a career-high 145 yards.
The defense kept the party going with an interception by linebacker Andrew Behm, giving Southern’s defense 10 interceptions on the season.
“Every team in the nation preaches turnovers, getting takeaways, but our guys have actually been able to capitalize and do it,” Behm said. “It starts with our D-line being able to force pressure, and then our back end creates takeaways when the opportunities come up. It’s just huge, because it sets the offense up really well.”
With Southern leading, 36-6, Williams’ work was done by the latter stages of the third quarter. He finished the game 13-of-20 passing for 217 yards and two touchdowns, but felt there’s room for improvement.
“I’m not satisfied with the performance at all, but we did do some good things,” said Williams, who was playing against his former team. “I have to be better, it starts with me. We can't keep kicking field goals. The defense is playing amazing. Special teams did great. So we got to pick it up as an offense and get it going.”
Nevertheless, Hill liked what he saw from his veteran QB.
“I thought he was dialed in,” Hill said. “He made some crucial plays with his legs.”
The game featured the return of wide receiver/return specialist Tae Marrero, who missed the team’s first four games due to a court ruling regarding his fifth year of eligibility. He found out yesterday that he would be eligible to play today and electrified the Saluki fans in attendance with a pair of 20-plus yard punt returns.
“It weighed heavy on my mind, knowing that a decision could be made at any time, and it could be a negative decision,” he acknowledged. “God answered my prayers once again. A huge shout-out to my coaches, to my teammates, for telling me to just keep my head up.”
Hill gave Marrero a game ball in an emotional moment in the locker room afterward.
“That meant everything to me,” Marrero said. “Throughout this whole process, they’ve cared for me. It feels good to be loved.”
The Salukis finished with a 459-190 advantage in total yards and a 23-10 edge in first downs. They also had a massive win in special teams yardage.
“There’s a lot of hidden yardage in there that doesn't get talked about a lot,” Hill said. “The punt returns, kick returns and interception return yardage are team yards, and every team yard is so important.”
Quarterback Jake Curry played most of the fourth quarter and scored the team’s final touchdown on a 1-yard run. Just about everyone who dressed got into the game.
“It was good for us to get some of those guys in there to play,” Hill said. “We were not trying to run up the score, but it's so valuable in conference play when you can let guys get reps.”
The Salukis return home next Saturday for a key matchup versus Youngstown State.
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