Redhawks Drop War for the Wheel to Southern Illinois, 34-20

Saturday, September 12

Carbondale, Ill.

6 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

1-2 , 0-0

Southern Illinois

2-1 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Southeast Mo. St.	10	3	7	0	20
Southern Ill.	7	6	0	21	34

9/12/2026 10:14:00 PM | Football

Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. – DJ Williams threw for 286 yards and ran for four touchdowns, including three in the fourth quarter to lead Southern Illinois (2-1) to a 34-20 win over Southeast Missouri (1-2) Saturday night at Saluki Stadium.

In the 94th meeting between the schools located just 48 miles apart, SIU won the War for the Wheel trophy for the second year in a row.

SIU trailed, 20-13, entering the fourth quarter.

Immediately after Teagan Cobb's 70-yard punt pinned the Salukis at their own 3-yard line, Williams completed a 71-yard pass to Kyle Thomas who was tackled at the Redhawks 26-yard line.

Six plays later, Williams scored on a 2-yard run to tie things up at 20-20 with 7:48 remaining in the fourth quarter.

On SEMO's next possession, Gavin Shepard intercepted Braylen Ragland and ran 12 yards to the Redhawks 30-yard line.

Chandler Chapman's 16-yard run then set up a 13-yard run by Williams at the 4:11 mark. That touchdown gave the Salukis their first lead of the night.

SEMO managed to get to SIU's 37-yard line, but David Obadein picked off Ragland and returned his interception 57 yards to the Redhawks 32.

That turnover resulted in a 30-yard touchdown run by Williams to finish off a 21-point fourth quarter for the Salukis.

SIU scored a touchdown on the first play of the game, but it was wiped away by a pass interference penalty. That opening drive ended with a punt and SEMO went to work for the first time at its 12-yard line.

The Redhawks drove to the Saluki 29-yard line before settling for a 39-yard field goal by Justin Keller to grab a 3-0 edge with 8:31 remaining in the first quarter.

LJ Minner, Jr. put a big hit on Eddie Robinson who fumbled the ball on the play. Josiah Raven recovered for SEMO at the Redhawks 49-yard line.

On the next play, Ragland threw a 49-yard pass downfield to Demetrius Pearce giving SEMO a first-and-Goal at the 2-yard line. Payton Brown scored his first touchdown of the season on a 1-yard run pushing the Redhawks lead to 10-0 with just under four minutes left.

SIU answered with a 16-yard touchdown run by Williams on its ensuing drive. Williams' TD narrowed SEMO's lead to 10-7 at the 1:03 mark.

Williams later hooked up with Kyle Thomas on a 24-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 13-13 with 38 seconds to go. Adrian Patterson blocked Seth Adams' PAT try keeping the score deadlocked at halftime.

SEMO pulled ahead again midway through the third quarter.

With a defender draped all over him, John Anthony, Jr. made an outstanding catch and sprinted down the far sideline to the end zone. The play covered 63 yards giving the Redhawks their final advantage with 7:14 on the clock.

Williams, who did not play at Samford last week after suffering an early-game injury at West Florida (Aug. 27), completed 17-of-30 passes and threw one touchdown in addition to his four rushing TDs.

SIU had 460 total yards to SEMO's 360.

Ragland threw for 316 yards on 20-of-44 passes. Anthony, Jr. caught three passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Combined, there were seven turnovers in the contest. SEMO threw four interceptions, while SIU had one interception and two fumbles lost.

Additionally, the Redhawks had just 44 rushing yards.

Defensively, Cyler Christmas and David Jones each posted seven tackles. Jayden Smitherman came away with his first career interception, as well.

SEMO hosts United Athletic Conference member Central Arkansas in its home-opener on Sept. 19.