Getting after it center, it forces them to bring another guy on you.” In SIU coach Dale Lennon’s 3-4 system, the hris Arthurs has a nose tackle, more than any unique gift as other lineman, controls Southern Illinois the tactics of the defense. University’s returning Win, and the Salukis’ four nose guard. linebackers, two of which The largest of the were preseason allSalukis’ three starting conference this year, have defensive linemen, weight-wise, Arthurs has a field day at the line of scrimmage. Lose, and the the ability to dominate a blockers that were football game without originally drawn up to not getting a tackle. He merely has to take up get past the line of as many blockers as he can, scrimmage end up in the secondary, paving the way on any given play, with for a run typically more very little wiggle room. than 10 yards. “It starts with Last year, the Salukis’ dominating the center,” run defense was second said Arthurs, a 6-foot, only to national 295-pound senior from Wheaton. “You control the semifinalist Northern Iowa
BY TODD HEFFERMAN THE SOUTHERN
C
in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. SIU allowed an average of 112 yards per game on the ground, as the opposition found it tough to move Arthurs and defensive ends Chance Coda and Dolapo Adubifa. All three present the same problem, albeit in different ways. Arthurs, a straight power guy, recorded only 17 tackles in 12 games but was named an honorable mention all-conference pick because coaches could tell how much of a disruption he was. “The nose guard is really the most important person of our defense, like the anchor base,” SIU inside linebacker Brandin Jordan
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Salukis’ defensive line looks to lead SIU back to the FCS playoffs said. “Sometimes he’ll be in there getting doubleteamed, triple-teamed, just getting blasted. He’s just in there, fighting. He doesn’t ask for anything. He’s basically the workhorse of the defense without the cowbell.” Coda, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound sophomore, led the group with 23 tackles as a freshman starter last year. A former running back/linebacker at Catholic Central High School in Michigan, Coda was also an all-state wrestler and uses his footwork as well as anyone in the league. Adubifa, a 6-2, 260-pound senior who’s a cross between the other two, played in 11 of the team’s 12 games and earned 13 tackles. “The big thing with our defensive line; they have to occupy blockers and make people stay on them,” Lennon said. “Because of that, they have to get a good initial surge, and, any time a defensive line gets any type of penetration into the backfield, it’s going to disrupt an offensive play. That’s what we look for our guys to do. Get off the line of scrimmage, make some penetration, occupy as many blockers as they possibly can. “They take the bullets for the linebackers, and then the linebackers come in and clean up.” Jordan, a Buchanan Award nominee this year, created as many messes as he cleaned up behind SIU’s big three last season. A first team all-conference pick as a junior, he finished second on the team in tackles (81) and had a fumble recovery,
PAUL NEWTON / THE SOUTHERN
Defensive end Dolapo Adubifa (left) and nose tackle Chris Arthurs are two-thirds of the Salukis’ defensive line.
interception and seven tackles in SIU’s 27-24 win over Northern Iowa. As a guy who begins almost every play behind the defensive line, he can tell when it’s not as effective as usual. Failure by the defensive line brings an extra man into his comfort zone. “Well, if I had a choice, I’d definitely like them to push them back, but if they do stalemate, that works, too,” Jordan said. “As long as they’re not coming back and stepping on my toes.” The Salukis will experiment with trying to move Arthurs around a little more in the 3-4, which allows for more shifting than a traditional 4-3 set. Outside linebackers typically change ends before the football is snapped, and can change a 3-4 formation into a 5-2 pretty quickly.
With 10 players back on defense that started at least one game, SIU may take more chances behind its big three. And with three returning starters up front, and two AllAmerican candidates behind them (Jordan and outside linebacker Chauncey Mixon), the Salukis may have the type of dominating defense that controls more than the line of scrimmage. “Like coach (Bubba) Schweigert said, if we can eliminate the big play and be sound in all of our schemes, concentrate and play hard every day, we could definitely be one of the best defenses in the country,” Arthurs said. “With all the veterans we have back, we definitely have high expectations.” todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com 618-351-5087
Dawgs could be dangerous with backfield by committee
Don’t get sidelined with injuries...
BY TODD HEFFERMAN THE SOUTHERN
SIU SALUKIS
Southern Illinois University’s legendary running backs went by one name. Koutsos. Arkee. Jacobs. In search of its seventh straight Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth, the Saluki football team might have to build legends by committee this fall. Fifth-year senior tailback Deji Karim may have the burst Larry Warner did last season, when Warner led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in all-purpose yardage, but Karim will start the season behind junior Richard White. White, a 5-foot-9, 188pound backup last year, averaged 4.4 yards per carry in 11 games. He missed the public scrimmage last week because of a turf toe injury, but is expected back for the opener at Marshall this weekend. With Karim, a speedster who led the Salukis with eight rushing touchdowns in 2007, he could be one of SIU’s biggest playmakers this season. “Both Richard and Deji definitely have the nod early, just because they’re kind of our 1-2 running backs,” SIU second-year coach Dale Lennon said. “They’ve done it in the past, so they have some experience. That’s where you start.” The committee continues past Karim and White with fullback Lucien Walker and redshirt freshman Anton Wilkins. True freshman Steve Strother, who had 26 yards on six carries in Thursday night’s scrimmage, could also be in the mix.
Head coach: Dale Lennon (111-36 career record, 9-3 at SIU, 13th season) Last year: 9-3 (7-1 MVFC, tied for first), lost to New Hampshire in first round of FCS playoffs Preseason poll: Second, nine first-place votes Stadium: McAndrew Stadium (17,324) Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-4 Offensive starters returning/lost: 7/4 Defensive starters returning/lost: 9/2 Lettermen returning/lost: 41/12 Schedule Sept. 5 At Marshall, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 19 Southwest Baptist, 6 p.m. Sept. 26 North Dakota State, 6 p.m.* Oct. 3 At Western Illinois, 6:05 p.m.* Oct. 10 Illinois State, 2 p.m. (Homecoming)* Oct. 17 At Northern Iowa, 4:05 p.m.* Oct. 24 Youngstown State, 3 p.m. (Family Weekend)* Oct. 31 At Indiana State, 11:05 a.m.* Nov. 7 At South Dakota State, 1 p.m.* Nov. 14 Missouri State, 2 p.m.* Nov. 21 At Southeast Missouri State, 1 p.m. * MVFC game All five return for their second years in Lennon’s system, which produced a 9-3 squad in 2008. SIU tied Northern Iowa for the MVFC crown, and won the league’s automatic bid to the playoffs with a 27-24 victory over the Panthers at McAndrew Stadium. “We got a lot more trust in the coaches. We established everything early and begin another season,” White said. “It’s just a lot more trust with the coaches. We know what we have to do.” Other than establish a backfield identity, SIU must figure out its offensive line in order to keep its record playoff streak alive. Before 2003, SIU hadn’t been in the football playoffs since 1983, the year the Salukis won the Division I-AA national title.
SIU returns three offensive tackles from last year’s squad, but shifted one. Fifth-year senior Mike Nitti got to stay at left guard and David Pickard got to stay at left tackle, but right guard Shawn Smith moved from right guard to right tackle. Sophomore Bryan Boemer played in eight games last year and takes over for the departed Mike Farrell at center. Ball State transfer John Purdy is expected to start at the right guard spot after dropping 25 pounds in the offseason. Junior Chris Dieker returns to lead the offense after throwing for 2,083 yards and 16 touchdowns. Five of his top six wide receivers from last fall return, as well as tight end Ryan Kernes.
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The Southern Illinoisan Wednesday, September 2, 2009 Page 3
Farley, Panthers try to find way Leathernecks look to familiar face to keep Pat Grace on the field BY TODD HEFFERMAN
BY TODD HEFFERMAN THE SOUTHERN
Behind quarterback Pat Grace, Northern Iowa tied Southern Illinois for the Missouri Valley Football Conf-erence title and reached the national semifinals. With Grace for a full season, the Panthers might win the national championship. The 6-foot-2, 230pound Grace threw for 14 touchdowns and tied for the team lead with 11 more on the ground during UNI’s 12-3 season last year. He missed three games, but still threw for 2,041 yards. “Pat missed five football games, did not start three of them, did not play any in three conference games,” UNI coach Mark Farley said. “During the Richmond game, he went down. Those things play a factor in your season.” The Panthers, the preseason favorite for this year’s league title, probably won’t struggle running the football. UNI returns four of five offensive linemen. Senior Derrick Law, who scored nine touchdowns in 2008
NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS Head coach: Mark Farley (75-28 career, 75-28 at UNI, ninth season) Last year: 12-3 (7-1 MVFC, tied for first, lost to Richmond in FCS semifinals) Preseason poll: First, with 26 first-place votes Stadium: UNI-Dome (16,324) Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Offensive starters returning/lost: 9/2 Defensive starters returning/lost: 5/6 Lettermen returning/lost: 42/18 Schedule Sept. 5 At Iowa, 11 a.m. Sept. 12 South Dakota, 4:05 p.m. Sept. 19 St. Francis (Pa.), 4:05 p.m. Sept. 26 At Missouri State, 1 p.m.* Oct. 3 Indiana State, 4:05 p.m.* Oct. 10 At North Dakota State, 3 p.m.* Oct. 17 Southern Illinois, 4:05 p.m.* Oct. 24 At South Dakota State, 2 p.m.* Nov. 7 Youngstown State, 4:05 p.m.* Nov. 14 Western Illinois, 6:35 p.m.* Nov. 21 At Illinois State, noon* * MVFC game as a backup to Corey Lewis, returns to take over for the school’s all-time leading rusher. Defensively, UNI returns three defensive linemen and two linebackers, including Buchanan Award nominee James Ruffin. UNI gets SIU at the UNI-Dome this season, for Homecoming, no less. The Salukis won the
league’s automatic bid last year with a 27-24 victory at McAndrew Stadium off Kyle Dougherty’s gamewinning field goal. SIU hasn’t won in Cedar Falls, Iowa since 1983. “We scheduled them for Homecoming this year, and I think we did that for a reason,” Grace said. “We want them at the Dome, and we’re going to be ready when they come.”
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WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS
To try to get people to forget about Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois is moving a familiar face to his position. Dre Gibbs, an all-conference fullback, will move a few steps over in the Leathernecks’ pro formation offense as he takes over tailback duties. Donaldson became the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s all-time leading rusher (4,746 yards) and led all of Division I college football in scoring (12 points per game) and rushing (162.2 yards per game) last year. Gibbs rushed for 573 yards on 78 attempts filling in for the injured Javid Milton.He averaged 7.3 yards per carry and scored five times, earning third team All-American honors from The Sports Network. “He runs the ball very much like Herb did,” WIU coach Don Patterson said. “He’s similar, frame-wise, and the same kind of north-south runner that Herb was a year ago. We are talking about replacing the all-time leading rusher in conference history, so those are big shoes to fill, but I think Dre Gibbs is
Head coach: Don Patterson (62-45 career, 62-45 at WIU, 11th season) Last year: 6-5 (4-4 MVFC, tied for fourth) Preseason poll: Fifth Stadium: Hanson Field (16,368) Offense: Pro Formation Defense:: Multiple Offensive starters returning/lost: 6/5 Defensive starters returning/lost: 6/5 Lettermen returning/lost: 32/19 Schedule Sept. 5 At Sam Houston State, 6 p.m. Sept. 12 At Northern Illinois, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 Stephen F. Austin, 6:05 p.m. Oct. 3 Southern Illinois, 6:05 p.m.* Oct. 10 At Youngstown State, 5 p.m.* Oct. 17 Missouri State, 3:05 p.m.* Oct. 24 At Indiana State, 2:05 p.m.* Oct. 31 North Dakota State, 1:05 p.m.* Nov. 7 At Illinois State, 1 p.m.* Nov. 14 At Northern Iowa, 6:35 p.m.* Nov. 21 South Dakota State, 1:05 p.m.* * MVFC game
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going to fill those shoes very, very well for us.” Two starters return on the offensive line, which has produced a 1,000-yard rusher six straight seasons. Quarterback Matt Barr returns for his junior season after throwing for nine touchdowns and 134.7 yards per game as a sophomore. Leading receiver Carl Sims graduated, and the Leathernecks only return 10 of 22 letterwin-
ners at that position. WIU might not have to score a lot of points to win, however. Six defensive starters return, and coach Don Patterson said even without NFL draft pick Jason Williams, his team’s linebacking corps will be strong. “We have very little difference at the 1s and 2s at the linebacking position on defense,” Patterson said.
Bears move to 3-4 to utilize better speed BY TODD HEFFERMAN
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Terry Allen likes the speed of his team this season, and intends to use it. Allen, a five-time league coach of the year, is moving Missouri State’s 4-3 in reverse this season. The Bears will move to a 3-4 when they open at Arkansas on Saturday night, hoping to improve a defense that ranked 116th out of 118 Football Champ-
ionship Subdivision teams in total offense allowed. “We’ve got a whole bunch of guys coming back with a whole bunch of experience, but, to be honest with you, we weren’t very good, defensively, last year,” Allen said. “So we’ve changed some things. We’ve moved some personnel around. We’ve moved linebackers to defensive end. We’ve moved strong safeties up to outside linebacker.”
The Bears allowed 470.3 yards per game during last year’s 4-7 campaign. Missouri State finished 3-5 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, beating Youngstown State, Illinois State, and Indiana State in overtime. This year, with four returning starters on the defensive side of the ball, Allen hopes to keep the Bears on the upswing. SEE BEARS / PAGE 7
Four-man race to lead SDSU offense BY TODD HEFFERMAN THE SOUTHERN
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE JACKRABBITS
Ryan Berry led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in passing and total offense last season. His replacement, one of four quarterbacks as of Friday, will inherit similar tools of a big season. “Offensively, we have a huge void at quarterback,” South Dakota State coach John Stiegelmeier said. “We have four guys who we rotate in. All got even reps during spring ball. One guy did not emerge, so I don’t know if that’s good or bad. We’ll find out in the fall.” The good news for the Jackrabbits is they have more time than any other team in the league to figure out who will succeed Berry. SDSU began practicing Aug. 15 and begins the season with its off week. That could give Stiegelmeier a long look at senior Ryan Crawford, junior transfer Lee Mondol, redshirt freshman Thomas O’Brien and true freshman Mike Whittier. Crawford is the only one of the four to throw a pass in a Jackrabbit uniform. The Jackrabbits lost their leading receiver from last year’s 7-5 squad, all-con-
Head coach: John Stiegelmeier (75-56 career, 75-56 at SDSU, 13th season) Last year: 7-5 (6-2 MVFC, third) Preseason poll: Third Stadium: Coughlin-Alumni Stadium (15,000) Offense: Pro Set Defense: 4-3 Offensive starters returning/lost: 6/5 Defensive starters returning/lost: 8/3 Lettermen returning/lost: 42/13 Schedule Sept. 12 Georgia Southern, 6 p.m. Sept. 19 Indiana State, 6 p.m.* Sept. 26 At Illinois State, 7 p.m.* Oct. 3 At Cal Poly, 8:05 p.m. Oct. 10 At Missouri State, 2 p.m.* Oct. 17 North Dakota State, 6 p.m.* Oct. 24 Northern Iowa, 2 p.m.* Oct. 31 At Youngstown State, 3 p.m.* Nov. 7 Southern Illinois, 1 p.m.* Nov. 14 At Minnesota, TBA Nov. 21 At Western Illinois, 1:05 p.m.* * MVFC game ference pick JaRon Harris, but return senior Glen Fox. Fox caught 10 of Berry’s 30 touchdown passes last year and tallied 792 receiving yards. In the backfield, SDSU returns Kyle Minett, a preseason all-conference pick who averaged 107.4 rushing yards per game last year. Minett, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound junior, averaged 5.1 yards per carry and scored 14 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 44
passes with four touchdowns. Up front, SDSU returns left tackle Casey Knips, right tackle Casey Bender and tight end Colin Cochart. Defensively, the Jackrabbits return their top eight tacklers from last season, including Buchanan Award nominee Danny Batten. The senior defensive end led SDSU with 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks last season.
Penguins putting train wreck season behind them BY TODD HEFFERMAN THE SOUTHERN
Youngstown State could make a big resurgence after a train wreck of a season in 2008. Before the season, video coordinator Shawn Coin died of an apparent heart attack after a practice. Once the season began, it didn’t last long for AllAmerican defensive tackle Mychal Savage. The Penguins lost Savage in the first quarter against Ohio
State in the season opener. The injuries didn’t stop there, as 26 players missed at least one game in YSU’s 4-8 campaign. Twenty missed multiple games, including defensive end Luke Matelan and tackle Torrance Nicholson. The Penguins’ record was its worst since joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference for the 1997 season. “We will be a relatively young team again this year,” YSU coach Jon
Heacock said. “We had several injuries last year, which most of you are aware of, but we’ll get a couple of those guys back, the most prominent being Mychal Savage.” Savage, an All-American in 2007, anchors one of the best defensive lines in the league. Junior college transfer Crispin Fernandez, the only defensive player to start all 12 games last year, returns after SEE PENGUINS / PAGE 6
Bison hope to bounce back BY TODD HEFFERMAN THE SOUTHERN
NORTH DAKOTA STATE BISON
Quarterback Nick Mertens said third-andshort was almost a given for North Dakota State’s offense last season. Tailback Tyler Roehl, an honorable mention allconference player, averaged 6.2 yards per carry in 11 games. One of the toughest runners in the league, even when it appeared Roehl didn’t have anywhere to go, he found a way to get past the line of scrimmage. Of the Bison’s 200 first downs last season, 108 of them came on the ground. Roehl also found his way into the end zone more often than not, leading the Bison with 13 touchdowns. “There were a few times where there wasn’t a hole there, and he pushed the line back,” Mertens said. To bounce back from a disappointing 6-5 season last year, Mertens and NDSU hope to spread the wealth a little more. Picked to win the first nine-team Missouri Valley Football Conf-erence last season, NDSU dropped three of its first four conference games and never recovered. Mertens, a
Head coach: Craig Bohl (49-17 career, 49-17 at NDSU, seventh season) Last year: 6-5 (4-4 MVFC, tied for fourth) Preseason poll: Fourth, with one first-place vote Stadium: Fargodome (18,700) Offense: West Coast Defense: 4-3 Offensive starters returning/lost: 4/7 Defensive starters returning/lost: 4/7 Lettermen returning/lost: 45/19 Schedule Sept. 3 At Iowa State, 7 p.m. Sept. 12 At Sam Houston State, 6 p.m. Sept. 19 Wagner, 6 p.m. Sept. 26 At Southern Illinois, 6 p.m.* Oct. 3 Illinois State, 1 p.m.* Oct. 10 Northern Iowa, 3 p.m.* Oct. 17 At South Dakota State, 6 p.m.* Oct. 24 Missouri State, 6 p.m.* Oct. 31 At Western Illinois, 1:05 p.m.* Nov. 14 At Indiana State, 1 p.m.* Nov. 21 Youngstown State, 1 p.m.* * MVFC game 6-foot-1, 221-pound senior, threw 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions as a junior, fueling rumors of a quarterback battle. One emerged, and at press time, Mertens and junior college transfer Dante Perez were battling for the starting spot this week against Iowa State. Whoever takes over the offense will have three returning starters on the line, but a brand-new crop of ballcarriers.
“We’ve got some pretty big and strong offensive linemen who have pretty good athleticism, so, we’re certainly going to build our offense around those guys and our quarterback, but it’s certainly going to be challenging replacing those other players,” NDSU coach Craig Bohl said. “However, we feel like we’ve recruited well, and come out of the spring well.”
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The Southern Illinoisan Wednesday, September 2, 2009 Page 5
PENGUINS: Ready to put bad season in past FROM PAGE 5 earning second team allconference honors. Fernandez finished with 45 tackles and a team-best 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Ten of the team’s 12 players that started on the line at some point return. YSU also returns all three of its linebackers and cornerbacks De’Angelo Wilson and Lenny Wicks. Heacock, a defensive coordinator before becoming the head coach in Youngstown, will return to that role after the Penguins allowed 29.2 points per game last season. Quarterback Brandon Summers returns to lead the offense. In his last four games, Summers threw for 864 yards and 11 touchdowns.
YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS Head coach: Jon Heacock (54-39 career, 54-39 at YSU, ninth season) Last year: 4-8 (3-5 MVFC, tied for sixth) Preseason poll: Sixth Stadium: Stambaugh Stadium (20,630) Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Offensive starters returning/lost: 5/6 Defensive starters returning/lost: 9/2 Lettermen returning/lost: 45/19 Schedule Sept. 5 At Pittsburgh, noon Sept. 12 Austin Peay, 3 p.m. Sept. 19 At Northeastern, noon Sept. 26 At Indiana State, 11 a.m.* Oct. 3 Missouri State, 5 p.m.* Oct. 10 Western Illinois, 5 p.m.* Oct. 24 At Southern Illinois, 3 p.m.* Oct. 31 South Dakota State, 3 p.m.* Nov. 7 At Northern Iowa, 4:05 p.m.* Nov. 14 Illinois State, noon* Nov. 21 At North Dakota State, 1 p.m.* * MVFC game
Position battles reign in Normal BY TODD HEFFERMAN THE SOUTHERN
New coach Brock Spack inherited a lot of athletes in Normal. The former defensive coordinator at Purdue moved Illinois State into a spread offense, and may have the types of athletes he needs to be effective in it. Wide receiver Eyad Salem was a first team allconference pick last season for the 3-8 Redbirds. Returning running back Geno Blow joined Salem on the preseason all-conference team. Defensively, defensive back Kelvyn Hemphill also made the preseason allconference team as a junior. “We’ve changed an awful lot on the offensive side of the ball with a spread offense, similar to what we did at Purdue, but with our own little wrinkles involved with that,” Spack said. “Hopefully, we get the ball to Eyad more than we did last year.” Salem caught 63 balls for 843 yards last season, becoming the 17th player in ILS history to post 1,000
ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS Head coach: Brock Spack (first season) Last year: 3-8 (2-6 MVFC, eighth) Preseason poll: Eighth Stadium: Hancock Stadium (14,000) Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Offensive starters returning/lost: 5/6 Defensive starters returning/lost: 9/2 Lettermen returning/lost: 44/16 Schedule Sept. 3 At Eastern Illinois, 7 p.m. Sept. 12 At Illinois, 6 p.m. Sept. 19 Austin Peay, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 26 South Dakota State, 7 p.m.* Oct.3 At North Dakota State, 1 p.m.* Oct. 10 At Southern Illinois, 2 p.m.* Oct. 17 Indiana State, 2 p.m.* Oct. 31 At Missouri State, 1 p.m.* Nov. 7 Western Illinois, 1 p.m.* Nov. 14 At Youngstown State, noon* Nov. 21 Northern Iowa, noon* * MVFC game or more receiving yards in a career. Who throws to him this season appears to be a two-headed question, and one that includes a local. Marion product Matt Brown, The Southern’s Player of the Year in 2007, is currently battling sophomore Drew Kiel for the starting quarterback spot. Brown, a redshirt freshman, is not expected to
start this weekend’s opener at Eastern Illinois on Thursday night, but is expected to see time. “When you’re around great quarterbacks before, you’re looking for a guy that can, when he steps in the huddle, everybody’s better,” Spack said. “Hopefully, we find that guy in the next couple weeks.”
Sycamores face even tougher road for first victory BY TODD HEFFERMAN THE SOUTHERN
Quincy University was supposed to be the good start for the Indiana State football team. Instead, the NAIA Hawks rallied from 17-0 down to hand the Sycamores their NCAAworst 27th straight loss last week. Now, Indiana State will have to try to snap the streak at, possibly, the best opponent it will see all season, Louisville. Indiana State and the Cardinals square
Page 6 Wednesday, September 2, 2009 The Southern Illinoisan
off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Indiana State returned 39 letterwinners from last season, including 21 starters, more than any other team in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. With 34 newcomers, however, the Sycamores are still one of the youngest teams in the league. “We’ve taken the right steps,” second-year INS coach Trent Miles said at MVFC Media Day. “It’s just time for us to start winning football games.”
Early on last week, it appeared the Sycamores were on their way to doing that. INS sophomore kicker Braulio Martinez hit a 40-yard field goal for the game’s first points. The lead went to double digits on a 5-yard touchdown pass from new quarterback Chris Stutzriem to former quarterback Ryan Roberts, who is now a fulltime wide receiver. Tailback Darrius Gates then pushed the lead to 17 on a trick play. SEE SYCAMORES / PAGE 7
BEARS: Want to use speed FROM PAGE 4 In three years, Allen, a 15-year vet with a 107-80 record, has taken MSU from one league win to three in 2008. Linebacker Byron Hightower tied for third on the team with 71 tackles last season. Junior safety Skylar Smith, another returning starter, had 79. Cornerback Cedric Alvis started all 11 games and had 50 tackles and two interceptions. Quarterback Cody Kirby returns to lead the offense, which returns two offensive linemen and tight end Clay Harbor.
SYCAMORES: Hoping for a win this year FROM PAGE 6 The Hawks tied the game with 43 seconds to play, but missed the chance to take the lead when they missed the extra point. In overtime, they were able to recover an Indiana State fumbled snap by Stutzriem to gain possession. Needing only a field goal to win, Quincy marched to the 1-yard line, where quarterback Sam Donatucci plunged in for the game-winner. Indiana State opens conference play Sept. 19 at South Dakota State.
MISSOURI STATE BEARS Head coach: Terry Allen (107-80 career, 12-21 at MSU, 17th season) Last year: 4-7 (3-5 MVFC, tied for sixth) Preseason poll: Seventh Stadium: Plaster Field (16,300) Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-4 Offensive starters returning/lost: 6/5 Defensive starters returning/lost: 4/7 Lettermen returning/lost:: 41/18 Schedule Sept. 5 At Arkansas (in Little Rock), 6 p.m. Sept. 12 Tennessee-Martin, 6 p.m. Sept. 19 Murray State, 6 p.m. Sept. 26 Northern Iowa, 1 p.m.* Oct. 3 At Youngstown State, 5 p.m.* Oct. 10 South Dakota State, 2 p.m.* Oct. 17 At Western Illinois, 3:05 p.m.* Oct. 24 At North Dakota State, 6 p.m.* Oct. 31 Illinois State, 1 p.m.* Nov. 7 Indiana State, 1 p.m.* Nov. 14 At Southern Illinois, 2 p.m.* * MVFC game
INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES Head coach: Trent Miles (0-12 career, 0-12 at INS, second season) Last year: 0-11 (0-8 MVFC) Preseason poll: Ninth Stadium: Memorial Stadium (12,764) Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Offensive starters returning/lost: 10/1 Defensive starters returning/lost: 9/2 Lettermen returning/lost: 39/15 Schedule Aug. 27 Quincy 26, INS 20 OT Sept. 5 At Louisville, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 Eastern Illinois, 11:05 a.m. Sept. 19 At South Dakota State, 6 p.m.* Sept. 26 Youngstown State, 11 a.m.* Oct. 3 At Northern Iowa, 4:05 p.m.* Oct. 17 At Illinois State, 2 p.m.* Oct. 24 Western Illinois, 2:05 p.m.* Oct. 31 Southern Illinois, 11:05 a.m.* Nov. 7 At Missouri State, 1 p.m.* Nov. 14 North Dakota State, 11:05 a.m.* * MVFC game
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SIU: Will feature a backfield by committee FROM PAGE 3 SIU’s preseason No. 7 ranking from the FCS coaches poll and The Sports Network, however, stem from its projected defense. The Salukis, who
owned the second-best rushing defense in the league last year, return nine starters and 10 players who started at least one game. All three defensive linemen return up front, and
three of SIU’s vaunted linebacking corps are back, led by senior Brandin Jordan. Jordan, a Buchanan Award nominee as one of the best defensive players in the country, could have a career year.
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