Sports Zone Sept. 30, 2023: SIU, Paducah Tilghman football stay unbeaten, Eastman sets school record

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The Southern Illinois University football team aimed to stay unbeaten as they began conference play against Missouri State on Saturday.

The Salukis got the ball first, and senior running back Ro Elliott wasted no time giving his squad the lead, as he took the third play from scrimmage 64 yards to the house to put the Salukis in front by seven just 54 seconds into the game.

After another touchdown five minutes later, the Salukis led by multiple scores for much of the first half.

Missouri State cut the lead to three in the third quarter, but SIU answered with a 19-yard strike from Nic Baker to tight end Aidan Quinn to push the lead back to 10.

The Bears would not get any closer, and SIU’s perfect season continues with a 33-20 victory. The Salukis will head east to take on the Youngstown State Penguins next Saturday.

Speaking of unbeaten football teams the Paducah Tilghman Blue Tornadoes are cutting a path through the Kentucky high school football scene. They are now 7-0 after downing Logan County, 63-20, on Friday night.

In college volleyball, Southeast Missouri State dropped a five-set thriller to SIU-Edwardsville. The Redhawks won two of the first three sets but dropped the last two 25-21, 15-6. SEMO will host Tennessee Martin Friday night at 6:00 at Houck Field House.

Both SEMO and SIU soccer will return to action on Sunday. The Redhawks will head north to Edwardsville to take on SIUE at 2 pm, while the Salukis will hit the road to Normal to duel with Illinois State at 1 pm.

SEMO cross country runner Hannah Eastman set the 6,000-meter school record on Friday with a time of 21:12.5, which was good for 10th out of more than 200 runners at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo.