CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Nic Baker threw for 460 yards and four touchdowns to lead #7 Southern Illinois (1-0) to a 47-21 victory over Southeast Missouri (0-1) Thursday night in the season-opener for both teams.
 
In the 89th meeting between the longtime rivals, SIU claimed the War for the Wheel trophy for the second-straight season.
 
Baker hooked up with Avante Cox for a 99-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the Salukis opening drive of the contest. 
 
SEMO answered with a 9-play, 65-yard drive capped by a 15-yard pass from CJ Ogbonna to Zack Smith to make it a 7-7 contest with 5:17 remaining in the first quarter.
 
SIU's offense, however, was simply too much for the Redhawks to handle.
 
The Salukis scored on four of their first five possessions of the game and led, 28-7, at the half.
 
SIU widened its lead to 38-7 in the third quarter before Mike Matthews intercepted Baker and ran 10 yards to the end zone at the 6:16 mark of the third quarter. It was the second pick of Matthews' career.
 
Garrett Todd hauled in the first touchdown reception of his career on a 6-yard pass from Christian Perez for SEMO's final scoring play with 1:44 to go in the fourth period.
 
Baker completed 25-of-34 passes and SIU outgained the Redhawks, 553-243. Cox paved the way with 187 receiving yards on five catches.
 
Ogbonna, in his first career NCAA Division I start, threw for 47 yards on 9-of-19 passes and ran for 10 yards on eight carries. Perez threw his first career touchdown pass and finished with 54 yards on 4-of-6 attempts.
 
Hess averaged 5.8 yards per carry on 18 touches. It was the fourth 100-yard game of his career. Additionally, Zion Custis returned four kickoffs for 123 yards.
 
SEMO was penalized 15 times for 133 yards.
 
The Redhawks and Salukis played in front of a limited attendance sellout crowd of 4,075 after a recent structural assessment revealed Houck Field's south grandstand structure has surpassed its lifespan. As a result, the decision was made to cease the use of the south grandstand and main press box areas.
 
SEMO travels to reigning Football Championship Subdivision National Champion and #1 Sam Houston on Sept. 11.