CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – DJ Williams threw for 342 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 151 yards and two other scores leading #11 Southern Illinois (3-1) to a 59-31 win over Southeast Missouri (1-3) Saturday night at Houck Field.
 
The 93rd meeting between the longtime rivals was played in front of a sellout crowd of 8,050. SIU re-claimed the ship wheel's trophy with its victory in the annual War for the Wheel rivalry.
 
SIU jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead with two touchdowns in the first 2:32 of the contest.
 
Williams dashed 75 yards to the end zone on the game's opening play from scrimmage and the Salukis capitalized on a turnover with a 3-yard touchdown run by Shaun Lester to grab their fast two-score lead.
 
SEMO got on the board with a 12-play, 77-yard drive that ended on a 7-yard run by Jax Leatherwood making it 14-7 with eight minutes to go in the first quarter.
 
After Chris Presto picked off Leatherwood, SIU scored again. Williams ran his second touchdown of the game in from four yards out to push the Salukis lead to 21-7 with 11:17 remaining in the second quarter.
 
The Salukis tacked on 10 more points when Williams threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Vinson Davis III and Paul Geelen kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the first half giving SIU a 31-7 advantage at the half.
 
SEMO started the second half strong by scoring on its first possession.
 
The Redhawks covered 79 yards in eight plays and Leatherwood hooked up with Cam Pedro on a 22-yard touchdown pass to cut SIU's lead to 31-14 with 12:13 left in the third quarter.
 
SIU used a 61-yard completion from Williams to Davis III to set up their next score. Williams threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Fabian McCray putting the Salukis ahead, 38-14, in just 41 seconds.
 
SEMO made it to SIU's 1-yard line but settled for a 28-yard field goal by Justin Keller making it a 38-17 game with 6:03 left.
 
On the Salukis ensuing drive, Davis III scored on a 69-yard touchdown reception. Davis III sprinted 63 yards after the catch to widen SIU's margin to 45-17 at the 4:43 mark.
 
Cole Ruble scored his first touchdown of the season on a 2-yard run to cap an 8-play, 75-yard march.
Then, SIU countered with an 18-yard touchdown reception by Jay Jones and Lester scored on a 42-yard run.
 
Brandon Epton, Jr.'s 34-yard touchdown reception dropped the Salukis lead to 59-31 with 2:41 in the fourth quarter. Epton, Jr. concluded the night with 94 rushing yards, as well. 
 
Leatherwood completed 33-of-47 passes for 422 yards and two touchdowns. Kalvin Gilbert and Pedro each went over 100 receiving yards with 125 and 105, respectively.
 
SEMO finished with a season-high 569 yards of total offense.
 
Williams completed 18-of-25 passes and averaged 15.1 yards per carry on 10 attempts. Davis III caught eight passes for a game-high 185 yards and two touchdowns.
 
SIU gained 606 total yards and did not have a turnover.
 
The Redhawks begin Ohio Valley Conference-Big South Association play at UT Martin on Sept. 27.