No. 21 SEMO Redhawks outscore No. 7 Salukis, 38-21, at almost sold-out Saluki Stadium
By Jim Beers
CARBONDALE – No. 7 Southern Illinois University hosted No. 21 Southeast Missouri Saturday night at SIU Saluki Stadium. The event has been referred to as the annual “War for the Wheel” game between the Redhawks and the Salukis.
This rivalry game, “War for the Wheel”, was established in 2018, as a friendly incentive for the two local football teams situated just 45-miles from each other and on opposite sides of the Mississippi River. A ships replica steering wheel is awarded to the winning team and that team gets to keep the wheel in its possession until the opposing team wins it back.
2024 marked the 7th “War for the Wheel” and SEMO has won it 4-of-7 times. The record stands as follows: 2018 SEMO, 48-44; 2019 SEMO 44-26; 2020 SIU 20-17; 2021 SIU 47-21; 2022 SEMO 34-31; 2023 SIU 26-25; and 2024 SEMO 38-21.
This annual game has grown in interest over the years as the rivalry-game drew almost a sold-out crowd at Saluki Stadium of 13,421 fans, many of which came to see the Redhawks. The trip was well worth it for SEMO fans as the visitors won by a convincing margin of 17 points, 38-41.
The Salukis came into the game extremely short-handed with several key starters sitting out with injuries, including starting quarterback, DJ Williams. The entire backfield for SIU was new due to Williams and running backs, Shaun Lester, Jr. and Jaelin Benefield being injured last week against Incarnate Word. Marion junior, Hunter Simmons, took over the helm for the Dawgs at quarterback.
SEMO led throughout most of the game, beginning at the 9:56 mark of the game with a touchdown by Kyron Downing on a 12-yard pass from SEMO’s crackerjack quarterback, Paxton De Laurent.
SIU blocked the extra-point kick, and SIU’s Stephen Green, a defensive linebacker from Collinsville, recovered the ball and ran the length of the field for a 2-point score.
The Redhawks led, 6-2 early, then scored again at the 2:06 mark on a 19-yard touchdown pass from DeLaurent. DC Pippin kicked the extra-point to take a 13-2 lead after one quarter of play.
The Salukis got their first touchdown score of the game with 8:25 to play in the first half when Vinson Davis caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Simmons. Paul Geelen kicked the extra-point and the Dawgs were within 4 points, 13-9.
SIU struck again seven minutes later on a 38-yard field goal by Saluki Paul Geelen. That score took place at the end of an 11-play, 66-yard effort. SIU pulled within one point, 13-12, with just 1:45 remaining in the half.
It appeared as if the Dawgs would go into halftime with just a 1-point deficit, however the Redhawks had other ideas. With only 7-seconds on the clock in the first half, SEMO kicker, DC Pippen ended a very promising 8-play, 41 yard drive with a 43-yard field goal to end the half leading by just 4 points, 16-12.
At halftime the score was close and the game was exciting and promising for both sides of the ball. To open the second half, the Salukis ended an 11-play, 43-yard drive with a 43-yard Paul Geelen field goal. At the 8:32 mark in the 3rd quarter, SIU trailed by only one point, 16-15.
The Saluki defense held SEMO on its next possession and the Dawgs orchestrated a 7-play, 48-yard touchdown run by red-shirt freshman Willtrell Hartson, a transfer from Ohio State. On this play, the Salukis had their first and only lead of the game, 21-16, at the 2:06 mark of the 3rd quarter.
Unfortunately, that brief lead would also be the Dawg’s final score of the game! A minute after the Saluki score, SEMO’s Dorian Anderson caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Paxton DeLaurent. Tristen Smith then caught a pass from DeLaurent for a 2-point conversion and the Redhawks led, 24-21, to end the 3rd quarter.
The banged-up Salukis could not respond in the final stretch and their defense could not stop the Redhawks from continuing to score as SEMO would score twice in the final 15:00.
The Redhawks scored at the 11:58 mark of the 4th quarter on a 3-yard pass to Mitchell Sellers from Paxton DeLaurent. That TD capped off an 8-play, 46-yard possession to make a 3-point lead turn into a 10-point game.
The Salukis still had a chance to make up the difference with 11:50 remaining, but SIU couldn’t put together a successful possession. With 3:35 to play, SEMO put nails in the Saluki coffin as Payton Brown scored for the Redhawks on a 1-yard run after DC Pippin kicked the extra-point.
The Redhawks put that score together on an 11 play, 66-yard drive that resulted in the TD that put the game out of reach with SEMO leading, 38-21. With the win, the No. 21 Redhawks improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the OVC. The loss resulted in an overall record of 2-2 for the Salukis. SIU opens conference play next week at No. 6 South Dakota.
Stats for the loss include:
Offensive: 1st Downs: SEMO 22-SIU 24; Yards Rushing: SEMO 148-SIU 62; Yards Passing: SEMO 301-SIU 341; Total Offensive Yards: SEMO 449-SIU 403. Touchdowns: SEMO 5, (4 passing, 1 Rushing) – SIU 2 (1 passing, 1 Rushing); Field Goals: SEMO 1-SIU 2; PAT Return: SEMO 0-SIU 1.
Defensive: Solo Tackles: SEMO 30-SIU 26; Tackle Assists: SEMO 50-SIU 30; Totals: SEMO 80-SIU 56; Tackles for a Loss: SEMO 7 for 31 yards-SIU 3 for 13 yards; Blocks: SEMO 0-SIU-1; Interceptions: SEMO 0-SIU 1.
SIU Head Coach Nick Hill said, “We got off to a slow start, found a way to get the lead in the third quarter, and from that point on, SEMO really controlled the game.”
SIU backup quarterback Hunter Simmons from Marion, Illinois, started the game for his first collegiate game. He completed 28-of-48 passes for 341 yards and one touchdown.
Coach Hill said, “I was proud of Hunter. I think he’ll watch the tape and wish he had a couple of throws, but he took care of the ball. We didn’t turn the ball over and we punted twice and we scored 21 points. We have to score more points!”
The crowd was the second biggest in Saluki Stadium history. The only bigger attendance was against Quincy College in 2010 on opening day of Saluki Stadium. Coach Hill said, “That’s my biggest disappointment, not putting together a better performance out there for everybody who came out.”
Pictured here is the famous wheel that is the trophy or prize for the “War for the Wheel” football game that occurs each fall for the past seven years between Southern Illinois University and Southeast Missouri State University. In the 7-year series, SEMO has win four times, 2018, 2019, 2022, and this year in 2024. SIU has won three times, 2020, 2021, and 2023. The winner of the annual event gets to keep the wheel until the opposing team wins it back. Jim Beers Photo
SIU’s injured star tight end, AJ Quinn (41) leads his team onto the field carrying the maroon Saluki flag Saturday September 21 when the Salukis hosted Redhawks from SEMO. Quinn was injured in spring ball and required surgery on his shoulder. He is hopefully going to be released to play during the final four games of the season. Jim Beers Photo
SIU wide receiver Nah’Shawn Hezekiah (11) just misses a huge pass in the end zone in the first half of the SIU vs SEMO game Saturday September 21 at the nearly sold out Saluki Stadium. Jim Beers Photo
Saluki quarterback, Hunter Simmons (18), a Marion High School product, is about to be tackled by a Redhawk defender Saturday September 21 in the annual “War for the Wheel” game between SIU and SEMO. Simmons was called into duty last week when starting quarterback, DJ Williams, injured his passing hand finger in the 4th quarter. Against SEMO Simmons got his first collegiate start in which he threw for 341 yards and one touchdown completing 28-of-48 passes. Jim Beers Photo
SIU kicker Paul Geelen (97) kicked two field goals and one extra-point in the game against SEMO Saturday September 21. Jim Beers Photo