Salukis embrace clean slate as conference title chase begins

CARBONDALE, Ill. — There’s been a little extra bounce in the step at practice this week as Saluki Football prepares for the conference opener at Murray State on Saturday night.

The slate is wiped clean for Missouri Valley Football Conference play, and like every team in the league, the Salukis (2-2) are chasing a title.

“Everybody still has a sense of hope in college football for the opportunity to go win the conference, regardless of your non-conference record,” said head coach Nick Hill. “We've just had our best couple of days of practice yet, and that's a good sign. They've done everything that we've asked them to do this week with a fiery attitude. That's the kind of edge that I want our team to have going into Week Five and conference play.”

Each game takes on added significance and can mean the difference between finishing at the top of the standings, receiving playoff consideration, or going home at the end of the regular season.

“We treat every week like its own island,” said running back Ed Robinson. “We're not worried about what’s already happened this season, and we're not worried about next week. We're worried about Murray State.”

The game versus the Racers (1-3) has a unique set of storylines, including the return of quarterback DJ Williams to the school where his college football career began. Williams led Southern to a 27-7 win at Murray last year, and so the emotions that come with playing against his former team may have lessened.

“It's more about it just being our first conference game,” said Williams, who rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another in a driving rain storm in last year’s game. “We’re trying to go 1-0 every weekend, and at the end of the season, hoist up a trophy. We can't do that unless we take care of Murray.”

Williams ran for two TDs at Murray last year.

Wide receiver Allen Middleton, who is tied with Kyle Thomas for the team lead in catches with 16, said the offense wants to establish its identity within the league.

“We want to put on film that we're the most physical team in the Valley,” he said. “Play every game like it's our Super Bowl, and then roll with the punches from there.”

Middleton said the receivers are still building continuity with Williams, who missed seven quarters of football in Weeks 1-2 with an injury.

“Now that DJ's back, we're starting to build that consistency with reps in practice and then in the game,” Middleton said. “We’re going to keep getting better as the season goes on.”

SIU’s longest carry of the season by a running back is 29 yards, and Robinson believes the group is due to bust loose.

“Coaches have been saying it's time for a breakout run,” said Robinson, who rushed for 109 yards in last year’s game at Murray. “We haven't had one of those yet this season, an explosive for a touchdown. There’s plays to be made out there and we just need to go execute.”

Defensively, the Salukis rank second in the conference in sacks per game (2.50) and will look to increase that pressure on opposing QBs in conference play.

“We just have a relentless pass rush out there,” said defensive end Jake Parrella. “If three guys are getting locked up, one guy's always winning. That's the philosophy that Coach (Darius) Davis emphasizes in our room — one person's got to win every rep. We're not going to be perfect, but we gotta get pressure on the quarterback every week.”

Southern’s defense got off to a bumpy start in each of the last two games, but finished strong both times. The defense held SEMO scoreless during its last seven drives, and limited Illinois to one touchdown and two field goals in its last seven drives.

“The last two games we've started out a little slow and then got a rhythm going,” Parrella said. “The goal this week is to play a full, four quarters of dominant football, dominant defense.”

Saturday’s game kicks off at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.