Salukis host “first ever” playoff game in Saluki Stadium with win over Colonels; Advance to Final-16 at No. 4 Idaho
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The No. 14 Southern Illinois University Saluki Football Team hosted Nicholls State Saturday November 25 in the first round of the 2023 NCAA FCS National Football Playoffs. It was the first playoff game ever hosted by SIU in the “new” Saluki Stadium since its opening 13 years ago.
SIU senior tailback Ro Elliott (1) scores his second touchdown of the SIU vs Nicholls State FCS Playoff game Saturday November 25. Elliott scored his first TD on a 3-yard run at the 12:03 mark of the first quarter completing a 9-play, 74 -yard possession that took 2:51. His second TD came at the 12:10 mark of the 3rd quarter on a 60-yard run that took just 11 seconds and 1 play. The Salukis shut out the Colonels, 35-0 to advance to the second round of the playoffs in the Sweet-16. Jim Beers Photo
The Salukis, who compete week-in and week-out against the best teams in the Nation in the Missouri Valley Conference, dominated the game from start-to-finish against the unranked Nicholls State Colonels. SIU won, 35-0, in a shut out of the Southland Conference Colonels who were winners of their conference with a 6-4 record.
The Salukis entered the game with 7-4 record in the MVC. During the regular season, the Dawgs had a great, 14-11, win against the FBS Northern Illinois University Huskies. They also beat Austin Peay (9-2) in the first game of the season by a score of 49-23. A huge SEMO come-from-behind win, 26-25, was another accolade in the SIU record book.
Aidan Quinn (41) a Saluki tight end scores SIU’s third touchdown of the first quarter with 59-seconds left to play in the quarter. Quinn’s TD resulted from a 14-yard pass reception from quarterback Nic Bawer. The TD gave SIU a 21-0 lead over Nicholls State to close the first quarter. The possession took 2:08 on seven plays that covered 80 yards. To the right, Izaiah Hartrup (5) a junior wide receiver celebrates the TD. Jim Beers Photo
The 31-3 pounding by Youngstown State was SIU’s first loss after starting 4-0. The Salukis played No. 1 South Dakota State in a well-played, hard-fought game, falling, 17-10, on Homecoming day October 21. The Salukis were the only team in the country to play South Dakota State so close.
SIU then lost, 14-7, against No. 3 South Dakota on November 4. The Saluki’s final loss of the season was at North Dakota State November 11 by a score of 34-10.
SIU’s Vinson Davis III (11) scores the final touchdown of the game Saturday November 25 when SIU hosted Nicholls State in Round 1 of the 2023 FCS National Football Playoffs. Vinson, a wide receiver, scored at the 6:09 mark of the 3rd quarter on a 7-yard pass from quarterback Nic Baker. The TD capped a seven play, 39- yard possession that took 3:53. Vinson’s effort gave the Salukis a 35-0 lead. The Dawgs won with that final score to advance to the Round 2 “Sweet-16”. Jim Beers Photo
All of SIU’s losses were to nationally-ranked teams, all of which joined SIU in the field of 24 teams selected to compete in the 2023-24 NCAA FCS National Football Playoffs.
South Dakota State (11-0) is the No. 1 Seed in the playoffs while South Dakota (9-2) is the No. 3 Seed. Both earned a First Round bye November 25.
Youngstown State (8-4) won, 40-7, over Duquesne, and North Dakota State (9-3) won, 66-3, over Drake.
SIU Head Football Coach Nick Hill, formerly of DuQuoin fame, leads his No.14 Saluki Football Team out of the tunnel and onto the field Saturday November 25 when SIU hosted Nicholls State in the first round of the 2023 FCS National Championship Football Playoffs. The Dawgs won, 35-0, to advance to Round 2 Saturday December 2nd at Idaho. Only 16 teams remain in the tournament. Jim Beers Photo
Each of the above-mentioned teams that beat SIU in regular season games come from the Missouri Valley Conference, the No. 1 FCS Conference in America.
The Salukis finished tied for 7th in the MVC this season. The final MVC rankings included No.1 South Dakota State (8-0); No. 2 South Dakota (7-1); No. 3 (tie) North Dakota State (5-3); No. 3 (tie) North Dakota (5-3); No. 3 (tie) Youngstown State (5-3); No. 3 (tie) Northern Iowa (5-3); No. 7 (tie) Southern Illinois (4-4); No. 7 (tie) Illinois State (4-4); No. 9 Missouri State (3-5); No. 10 (tie) Murray State (1-7); No. 10 (tie) Indiana State (1-7); and No. 12 Western Illinois University (0-8).
Six of the 12 Missouri Valley teams earned bids to the 2023-24 NCAA FCS Football Playoffs including No. 1 South Dakota State, No. 3 South Dakota; Southern Illinois, North Dakota, North Dakota State, and Youngstown State.
The SIU Saluki Football Team ends the first round FCS Playoff game with a long-time tradition of going to the home side of the field and serenading the loyal fans with the singing of the school fight song, “Go Southern Go”. The boys are not the best singers, but they sure can play football having just finished a 35-0 shut out of the Nicholls State Colonels. The Dawgs will now advance to the “Sweet-16” second round of the playoffs to face the Idaho Vandals Saturday December 2nd at 9 p.m. The game will be aired on ESPN 2 and on the ESPN Plus digital Platform. Jim Beers Photo
The Salukis were ranked as high as No. 5 nationally during the season and as low as No. 18 in the Top-25 polls. The October 30th poll had SIU ranked No. 10 in the FCS Stats Perform Poll and No. 11 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. SIU came into the playoffs November 25 ranked 14 in the nation.
Against Nicholls State in Round 1, the Salukis dominated the game from the opening kickoff. The Salukis led 21-0 after just one quarter of play. Neither team scored in the second quarter. SIU led, 21-0 at halftime.
The Dawgs scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter to lead, 35-0 after three quarters. Neither team scored in the final quarter as SIU shut out the Colonels, 35-0, to advance to the second round.
The Salukis first score was at the 12:03 mark in the first quarter when Ro Elliott scored on a 3-yard run. Jake Baumgarte kicked the extra point and the Dawgs led, 7-0. The SIU possession took 2:51 and covered 74 yards on nine plays.
The second SIU score came at the 8:28 mark when Justin Strong ran it into the end zone from 1-yard out. Jake Baumgarte kicked the extra point and the Salukis led, 14-0. The Dawg’s second possession took 2:18 and covered 35 yards on five plays.
Quarterback Nic Baker then hit tight end Aidan Quinn on a 14-yard pass for SIU’s third touchdown with just :50 left to play in the first quarter. Jake Baumgarte kicked the extra point and the Dawgs led, 21-0. That possession lasted 2:08 and covered 80 yards in seven plays.
Ro Elliott struck again in the 3rd quarter at the 12:10 mark on a 60-yard touchdown run. This possession just took 11-seconds and covered 60 yards on one play. Jake Baumgarte kicked the extra point and the Salukis led, 28-0.
The final score of the game was also in the 3rd quarter when wide receiver Vinson Davis III caught a 7-yard pass from Nic Baker at the 6:09 mark. Jake Baumgarte was perfect for the day kicking extra points with his 5th extra point kick to give the Dawgs a 35-0 lead.
In the win, the Salukis recoded a nice balance of yardage with 181 yards passing and 177 yards rushing. Two of Southern’s five touchdowns were from the air and three were on the ground.
Quarterback Baker was 12-of-22 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. SIU senior running back, Ro Elliott, ran nine times for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Elliott, a 5’5” tailback just recently returned to the SIU lineup after recovering from a very painful toe injury.
Head Coach Nick Hill said, “I don’t know how he does the stuff he does, but he maneuvers and cuts. He’s little, but he takes on defenders and breaks tackles. He’s a beast and it’s good to have him back!”
The SIU defense was stellar as usual. The defense has not given up a touchdown in the past two games and has only allowed a total of nine points in those two last games.
Late in the first half, the Nicholls Colonels looked as if they were going to score. Nicholls State had the ball 4th-and-goal and SIU defender PJ Jules sacked the quarterback to end that that threat and close out the first half with SIU in the lead, 21-0.
Regarding the win, SIU Coach Nick Hill said, “It as a special day for our program and Saluki Nation. When I got this job you have a vision of playing a lot of playoff games in that place. It’s been a goal of ours to play one, and our guys to come out and were not just satisfied with being here but to play really well team football, I’m proud of the guys!”
Next up for SIU in Round 2 will be No. 4 Seed Idaho (8-3). The game is Saturday December 2 at 9:00 p.m. Central time. The game will be televised in ESPN 2 and on the ESPN Plus digital platform. This will be the first national televised SIU football game since 2021.
The Idaho Vandals play in the Big Sky Conference and come into the game with an 8-3 record. They are seeded No. 4 in the 24-team playoffs. The field is now down to 16 teams. The top-8 seeds did not have to play in Round 1 last week on Saturday November 25. SIU and Idaho have never met.
The Salukis are making their third playoff appearance in four years. In 2021 SIU advanced to the Elite 8 when they beat Weber State before losing to South Dakota State.