GAME 3 | February 27, 2021 | 12 PM CT Southern Illinois (1-1, 0-1) vs. No. 1 North Dakota State (2-0, 1-0) Carbondale, Ill. | Saluki Stadium (15,000) Series: Salukis trail, 3-9 (H: 3-4, A: 0-5, N: 0-0) against Hampton in 2007. Follow The Game Series versus North Dakota State Watch: ESPN+ or ESPN3 The game against the Bison will be Saluki Radio: Mike Reis, Gene Green and Connor James the 13th meeting all-time between the DE Anthony Knighton eyes sack record WCIL-FM 101.5 Carbondale (Flagship) schools in a series that dates back to 1963. DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 251, Sr.) KATZ-AM 1600 St. Louis, Mo., Tune-In Radio The Salukis won three of the first four has started every game (36) of his Saluki Live Stats: SIUSalukis.com matchups, but currently have an eight- career and is third all-time in sacks at SIU Twitter: SIU_Football | Facebook: SalukiFootball game losing streak against NDSU. with 21.0. He had 6.0 sacks in 2019 season. Instagram: @SIUSalukis | Website: SIUSalukis.com SIU’s last win against the Bison came Knighton is 3.0 sacks shy of breaking the 2020-21 MVFC Standings on Sept. 26, 2009, in a 24-14 decision in school record held by James Phillips (1977- MVFC ALL Coaches Stats Carbondale. QB Chris Dieker threw for 186 80). He also has 36.5 tackles for loss in his North Dakota State 1-0 2-0 1 1 yards and two touchdowns, while RB Deji career, which ties him for fifth all-time at North Dakota 1-0 1-0 — 14 Karim added 127 yards and a touchdown SIU with Brandin Jordan (2006-09). South Dakota State 1-0 1-0 12 3 on the ground to lead the Salukis to the Illinois State 0-0 0-0 7 7 win. Familiar face Missouri State 0-0 0-3 — — North Dakota State associate head South Dakota 0-0 0-0 — — In last year’s regular-season finale, Western Illinois 0-0 0-0 — — the Salukis fell 21-7 to a Bison squad that coach Randy Hedberg was hired in 2014 Southern Illinois 0-1 1-1 — — scored 30 more touchdowns during the after spending six seasons as the co- Northern Iowa 0-1 0-1 5 5 season than any other team in the Missouri offensive coordinator and quarterbacks Youngstown State 0-1 0-1 — — Valley Football Conference. Former NDSU coach at Southern Illinois (2008-13). *Indiana State 0-0 0-0 — — QB and current projected first-round pick Under Hedberg’s tutelage, the Salukis passing game excelled at a record-breaking *Opted out of the 2021 spring season Trey Lance was held to just 146 yards pace. Chris Dieker was a two-time All- through the air and 71 on the ground. Southern Illinois Schedule Saluki RB Javon Williams Jr. scored the lone Conference performer who moved into the Oct. 30 SEMO W, 20-17 SIU touchdown in the second quarter off of top five in 13 different offensive categories Feb. 20 at North Dakota* ESPN+ or ESPN3 L, 21-44 a 28-yard run. in the school record books. Feb. 27 North Dakota St. * ESPN+ or ESPN3 12 PM Dieker rounded out his Saluki career Mar. 6 at Youngstown State* ESPN+ or ESPN3 11 AM Against No. 1 in 2010 with a 20-9 record in three years Mar. 14 Northern Iowa* ESPN+ or ESPN3 12 PM starting under center. He became one of Mar. 20 South Dakota State* ESPN+ or ESPN3 12 PM In six contests against the top team in Mar. 27 at Missouri State* ESPN+ or ESPN3 2 PM the nation, the Salukis have a combined just three quarterbacks in Saluki history to Apr. 3 at Illinois State* ESPN+ or ESPN3 12 PM record of 1-5. The program’s lone win throw for over 5,000 yards in a career. Apr. 10 Western Illinois* ESPN+ or ESPN3 12 PM against a No. 1 opponent came back on *All times Central Oct. 27, 2005, when SIU, led by RB Arkee WR Avante Cox’s hot start Whitlock’s three rushing touchdowns, Junior wide receiver Avante Cox (5-10, 2020-21 Statistical Leaders defeated Western Kentucky 31-20. 170, Jr.) is off to a great start to his junior Rushing Att YDs Avg. TD Long campaign, as the Fort Pierce, Fla., native Javon Williams Jr. 36 164 4.6 2 40 Romeir Elliott 27 118 4.3 1 19 Salukis versus ranked FCS opponents has hauled in a team-high 17 catches for Avante Cox 4 56 12.5 0 29 Southern Illinois owns an all-time 185 yards and a touchdown, in addition record of 48-89 against ranked FCS to 56 yards on the ground on four carries. Receiving Rec YDs Avg. TD Long opponents, dating back to the program’s Cox stands second in receptions per game Avante Cox 17 185 10.88 1 39 first game against a ranked opponent in (8.0), fifth in receiving yards per game Landon Lenoir 9 86 9.56 0 28 (90.5), eighth in the nation for all purpose Justin Strong 5 51 10.20 1 30 1985. The Salukis are 2-8 in their last 10 yardage per game (127.50) and 20th in Jerron Rollins 4 18 4.50 0 8 matchups with a ranked FCS opponent. Izaiah Hartup 2 17 8.50 0 13 Southern’s most recent victory over a total receiving yards (181). ranked opponent came on this year’s Passing Comp-Att-Int Pct. YDs TD season-opener against No. 25 SEMO, 20-17. Redzone success Karé Lyles 27-41-2 65.85 226 2 Southern Illinois has been perfect Nic Baker 12-23-2 52.17 153 0 Karé Lyles in the record book scoring inside the redzone this season as the Salukis are six-for-six inside the 20-yard Defense Tackles TFL Sack INT PBU Quarterback Karé Lyles (6-0, 210, Sr.) Bryce Notree 11 - 1.0-3 - - began last week’s game against North line. Out of the six trips to the redzone, Makel Calhoun 9 2.0-15 - - - Dakota an efficient 12-of-14 passing for four have resulted in touchdowns for the Bryson Strong 9 - - - - 74 yards before exiting with a rib injury. Salukis. Southern is one of 13 teams in Qua Brown 8 - - - - The senior QB now finds himself tied for the FCS to have perfect scoring success Jonathan Thompson 8 1.0-1 - - 3 second in program history for the highest in the redzone. Out of those 13 teams, Clayton Bush 7 - - 1 - pass completion percentage in a single four hail from the Missouri Valley Football Raquan Lindsey 5 - - - - Conference (North Dakota, North Dakota James Ceasar 4 - - - 1 game (min. 10 attempts) at 85.7%, tying the Anthony Knighton 4 2.0-5 - - - Madison, Wis. , native with his head coach, State, Univ. of Northern Iowa, SIU). Aaron Maddox 4 - - 1 - Nick Hill, who accomplished the same stat 1983 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS | 2007 FINAL FOUR 1 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS Southern Illinois Team Rankings Home sweet home 2020-21 Statistics Nation MVFC Value Southern Illinois won’t see much of the road over the next few weeks, as 3rd Down Conversion Pct 6 1 0.516 three of its next four games will be played in Carbondale. In addition to having 3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense 7 3 0.286 home field advantage in those games, the Salukis will also have support from 4th Down Conversion Pct 10 3 0.667 their home crowd, as approximately 16 percent of Saluki Stadium will be allowed 4th Down Conversion Pct Defense 26 5 1 to attend the game after approval by the campus Emergency Operations Blocked Kicks 2 1 1 Center and with guidance from the state of Illinois and Jackson County Health Blocked Punts 1 1 1 Department. Completion Percentage 12 3 0.615 Fewest Penalties 16 5 10 Lyles among nation’s best in completion percentage Fewest Penalties Per Game 13 3 5 While a lot of attention is focused on the Salukis one-two punch of running Fewest Penalty Yards 16 5 98 Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game 5 4 49 backs Romier Elliott (5-6, 190, So.) and Javon Williams Jr. (6-2, 245, So.), Karé First Downs Defense 17 5 34 Lyles has had a great start to the season. Lyles ranks fifth-overall in the FCS in First Downs Offense 12 2 41 pass completion percentage (.659), 11th in passing yards (226) and 24th in total Fumbles Lost 22 5 3 offense (120.0). Kickoff Return Defense 15 4 19 Kickoff Returns 9 3 20.33 Salukis continue to thrive on third-down Net Punting 4 2 42.44 Southern Illinois leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference and ranks sixth Passes Intercepted 7 1 2 in the country in third-down conversion percentage at 51.6%. Defensively, SIU Passing Offense 12 2 192.5 ranks among the best on third-down defense, as the Salukis hold their opponents Passing Yards Allowed 3 1 85.5 to a 28.6% conversion rate, which stands as the seventh-best mark in the FCS. Passing Yards per Completion 22 4 9.62 North Dakota State is the national leader with a staunch defensive conversion Punt Return Defense 13 3 5 rate of 14.3%. Punt Returns 6 3 10 Red Zone Defense 17 3 1 Red Zone Offense 1 1 1 Gualdoni kicking his way into the record books Rushing Defense 24 6 255 Southern Illinois kicker Nico Gualdoni (6-1, 218, Sr.) has 16 career field goals, Rushing Offense 12 3 175 placing him just six shy of cracking the top-10 in program history.