Last Second Field Goal Pushes Salukis Past Redhawks, 20-17

Friday, October 30

Carbondale, Ill.

6 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

0-1

#24 Southern Illinois

1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
SEMO	7	0	7	3	17
SIU	0	3	7	10	20

10/30/2020 10:40:00 PM | Football

Box Score Final Statistics Postgame Notes Highlights Photos

CARBONDALE, Ill.– Nick Gualdoni kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to give #24 Southern Illinois (1-0) a 20-17 victory over #25 Southeast Missouri (0-1) in the annual "War for the Wheel" game at Saluki Stadium.

The 88th meeting between the longtime rivals came down to the final seconds in the only fall contest for both teams.

SIU scored 10 fourth-quarter points against a Redhawk defense that was outstanding all night before showing signs of fatigue during the Salukis final two scoring drives.

Kare Lyles completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Avonte Cox to put SIU ahead, 17-14, with 8:47 remaining in the game.

On SEMO's next possession, Kendrick Tiller ended a 9-play, 57-yard drive with a 32-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-17.

SIU and SEMO each punted before the Salukis took over on downs at their own 37-yard line. Lyles connected with Cox for a 22-yard completion and threw a 19-yard pass to Romeir Elliott to move SIU into the red zone.

Gualdoni kicked the game-winner immediately following a SEMO timeout with two seconds on the clock.

SEMO scored the game's first points on a 2-yard run by Geno Hess. Hess set up his own touchdown after ripping off a 64-yard run down the far sideline. His seventh career touchdown gave the Redhawks a 7-0 lead with 3:27 in the first quarter.

The Redhawk defense held SIU to only a field goal as SEMO held a 7-3 advantage at the half. SEMO outgained SIU, 184-81, on the ground in the game's opening 30 minutes.

SIU intercepted Andrew Bunch for the second time in its own end zone and covered 65 yards in six plays to take its first lead of the night with just under five minutes left in the third quarter. Williams Jr. dashed 40 yards to put the Salukis ahead 10-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Salukis tried to catch SEMO off guard with an onside kick, but LaDarrius Rule recovered in excellent field position at the SIU 47-yard line.

Zion Custis ran for a combined 17 yards on back-to-back carries to get the Redhawks to SIU's 26. Three plays later, Bunch threw a nice 21-yard touchdown pass to Johnny King to grab SEMO a 14-10 lead at the 2:21 mark of the third quarter.

SEMO piled up 281 rushing yards averaging over six per carry (6.1). The Redhawks also committed seven penalties for 71 yards.

Hess ran for 128 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts. It was the second 100-yard game of his career.

In his first career start under center at SEMO, Bunch completed 6-of-15 passes for 53 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 115 yards on nine carries. He became the first SEMO quarterback to rush for over 100 yards in a game since Kyle Snyder finished with 116 yards at Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 25, 2014.

Defensively, SEMO had two takeaways with Shabari Davis and Lawrence Johnson each getting an interception. For Johnson, the pick was the first of his career. Johnson, Bydarrius Knighten and Mike Matthews all tallied seven tackles.

The Redhawks will go 114 days before playing their next football game. SEMO kicks off its seven-game Ohio Valley Conference spring season when it hosts Murray State on Feb. 21.