SIU football prepares for second-round playoff matchup at fourth-ranked Idaho

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – With a 35-0 victory over Nicholls State in the rearview mirror, the focus of the Southern Illinois University football team is now squarely on a test, and a tough one at that, at No. 4 Idaho in the second round.

“We’re just out there having fun, flying around.” 

Which is exactly what the SIU defense has been doing all year, and nose tackle Kam Bowdry is the anchor of this top tier unit, which he said is fueled by… 

“Just believing and trusting in each other. Early in the year, Coach James told us, we were going to have to buy in, the defense, the team’s going to go as far as the defense goes, so we’ve just believed and bought in ever since.” 

And that buy-in has resulted in two shutouts in the last five games, including against Nicholls State, and Bowdry said the defense takes great pride that goose egg in the other team’s score column. 

“We don’t want any points,” he said. “We don’t want anyone to score, so especially when it gets to the third or fourth quarter and there’s a zero on the board, you’ve got to keep it there. Whatever you do, you’ve got to keep it there.” 

Salukis running back Ro Elliott, who has reached the end zone a team-high nine times, said SIU’s defense takes some pressure off of the offense. 

“We just know that we have a great defense and we’re going to get the ball back, so something that we didn’t do the last drive or if we unfortunately turn it over, that’s part of the game, but we’ll just get it back and do our thing,” he said.

And as the Salukis prepare for one of the toughest road environments in college football, quarterback Nic Baker said the team is embracing this opportunity. 

“This is what you play for when you come to play college football,” he said. “You want to go play in a tough environment, in a dome, packed house. It’s what you live for.” 

Kickoff from the Kibbie Dome is scheduled for Saturday at 9 p.m.