Sports Zone Oct. 21, 2023: SIU football and volleyball homecoming action; SEMO, UT Martin football stay unbeaten in conference play

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The 12th-ranked Southern Illinois University football team took its shot at No. 1 South Dakota State on Saturday.

In a game dominated by the defenses, South Dakota State held a 14-0 lead entering the 4th quarter, but the Salukis offense finally broke through with 12:07 to go.

Nic Baker’s 24-yard touchdown pass to D’Ante Cox cut the Jackrabbits lead to seven.

But then, as the Jackrabbits are wont to do, they methodically worked their way down the field on their ensuing possession, running 15 plays and taking over 9 minutes off the clock before a Hunter Dustman 44-yard field goal pushed the lead to 10.

SIU continued to fight, getting into field goal range for Thomas Burks, who knocked home a 39-yard field goal to make it a one-score game again with 32 seconds left.

But down to one timeout, the Salukis had to try an onside kick, and it went untouched out of bounds, sealing the deal on a 17-10 victory for the undefeated Jackrabbits.

The Salukis (5-2) will hit the road to Macomb to duel with Western Illinois next Saturday.

And across campus at Davies Gym, the Salukis volleyball team clashed with Illinois Chicago in a Missouri Valley Conference matchup. The Flames would get the best of SIU, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-20.

The Salukis have now lost six matches in a row, but they still sit at 12-10 overall. They will head east to Indiana for matches with Indiana State and Evansville next Friday and Saturday, respectively.

In other college football, Southeast Missouri State posted an impressive 28-3 road win over Tennessee Tech, and Tennessee Martin shut out Charleston Southern, 17-0. Both teams are 3-0 in conference play, and the two will meet in Martin on Nov. 11.