Quarterback Dusty Burk came off the bench to rush for two second-half touchdowns, but it was not enough to overcome a 20-point second-half deficit as Southern Illinois defeated Illinois State 23-17 in the Redbirds Gateway Conference opener before a crowd of 9,830 at Carbondale on Saturday.
Southern Illinois (1-3, 1-1) jumped out to a 20-0 third-quarter lead before holding off a valiant second-half comeback effort by Illinois State (0-5, 0-1).
A blocked punt by sophomore linebacker Andy Papoccia on Southern Illinois first drive of the game gave Illinois State the ball deep in Saluki territory. Despite the good field position, the Birds were unable to capitalize on the big play by their special teams as freshman kicker Steve Carroll pushed his 38-yard field goal attempt wide to the right. The miss was Carrrolls second in seven attempts on the season and his first of two on the day.
Southern Illinois scratched the scoring column first with 11:54 to play in the second quarter when junior running back Tom Koutsos punched the ball into the end zone on a one-yard scoring run up the middle. The Saluki drive, which covered 79 yards on seven plays, was sparked by a 43-yard run by Koutsos and a key fourth-down conversion inside the five-yard line.
After holding Illinois State on defense, the Salukis and Koutsos when back to work on the offensive end, marching 34 yards on seven plays to take a 10-0 lead on a 23-yard field goal by Scott Everhart with 6:48 to play in the first half. Koutsos, who ranks No. 23 nationally with 110.7 rushing yards per game, picked up 107 of his 135 rushing yards in the first half.
Illinois State used a valiant defensive stand to bail out quarterback Kevin Zouzounis after he was picked off by Jeff Morton at the Redbird 28-yard line with 1:40 remaining in the half.
Looking for a spark after a solid showing by his defense, Illinois State head coach Denver Johnson inserted junior Dusty Burk into the game at quarterback on the Birds ensuing possession. The change at signal caller produced the same immediate result for the Redbirds as Burks first pass was tipped, then picked off by Bart Scott at the ISU 32yard line. SIU made good on the second chance with Everharts second field goal of the game, this time from 27 yards out to give the Salukis a 13-0 lead at the half.
Things got worse for the Birds almost immediately after halftime as the Salukis blocked Ryan Hoffmans punt and Jason Newell picked up the ball and scampered five yards into the end zone to give SIU a 20-point advantage less than a minute into the second half.
Southern Illinois looked poised for another scoring drive when Papoccia came up with his second big play of the game, a jarring hit that knocked the ball free from SIU quarterback Kevin Kobe. Senior linebacker Adam Waugh scooped up the loose ball and Burk and the offense went to work on a seven-play, 40-yard scoring drive that was capped by a four-yard touchdown run by the scrambling ISU quarterback.
Everharts third field goal of the game, a 32-yarder with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter, pushed the SIU advantage to 23-7. The seven-play, 40-yard SIU drive was keyed by a 29-yard scamper by running back Brandon Robinson who tallied 76 rushing yards on the day for the Salukis.
Burk and the Redbirds responded with an 11-play, 59-yard drive that culminated in a 38-yard field goal by Carroll to pull ISU within 23-10 with 12:48 to play in the game.
The Birds had another chance to close the gap, however, Carrolls 45-yard field goal with 6:35 remaining sailed wide to the right again. ISU received a much-needed break when defensive lineman Ray Robinson recovered a fumbled snap on the first Saluki play from scrimmage, however, the Birds turned the ball over on downs when Burks fourth-down pass to Mike Andreacchi came up short of the first down marker.
Illinois State got another chance when cornerback DJuan ODonald scooped up a fumble forced by Stuart Sands at the 25-yard line. Four plays later the Birds were in the end zone on a three-yard scoring run by Burk, his second of the game. Carrolls extra point pulled ISU within 23-17 with 3:00 to play.
After holding on defense, ISU went to work on their own 14-yard line with 1:52 remaining but could not muster a first down.
Burk completed 12-of-31 passes for 126 yards and one interception, he also rushed 13 times for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Zouzounis finished the day 3-of-6 for seven yards and one interception. Willie Watts also tallied 81 yards on 24 carries for the Birds while Vito Golson pulled down six catches for 81 yards.
Illinois State returns to action against Gateway Conference member Western Illinois at Hancock Stadium on October 13.
