News
SIU Salukis remain at No. 3 in national rankings
Published: Nov 04, 2003 - 10:43 PM
Despite a 28-24 come-from-behind road victory over then-No. 7 Western Kentucky, the SIU football team failed to move up in the national rankings.In the Sports Network/CSTV I-AA College Football Poll, the Salukis received a total of 2,283 points and went from having two first-place votes to receiving eight. Other Gateway Conference teams in the Sports Network poll include No. 6 Northern Iowa, No. 11 Western Illinois and No. 12 Western Kentucky.
SIU also remained at No. 3 in the ESPN/USA Today Division I-AA Top 25 Poll and received five first-place votes. Other Gateway schools ranked were No. 6 Northern Iowa, No. 9 Western Kentucky and No. 10 Western Illinois.
In both polls, McNeese State (7-1) and Delaware (9-0) remained at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.
Sambursky named Gateway Offensive Player of the Week
For the second time this season, SIU sophomore quarterback Joel Sambursky was named the Gateway Offensive Player of the Week.
Sambursky was crucial in leading the Salukis back from an 11-point deficit with just less than four minutes remaining in Saturday's 28-24 victory at defending national champion Western Kentucky.
In the win, Sambursky completed 15-of-22 passes for 228 yards and a game-winning 28-yard touchdown pass to Brent Little with just 55 seconds left in the game. He also ran the ball 10 times for 23 yards including a critical four-yard run on a fourth-and-two during the game-winning drive.
The Liberty, Mo., native has thrown for 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season on 82-of-142 passing.
Kicking woes haunt both SIU and Western Kentucky
Both the Salukis and the Hilltoppers were having trouble with the kicking game Saturday at L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky.
SIU freshman Craig Coffin shanked an extra point, had a field goal blocked in the fourth quarter and fell on his behind after hitting an extra point earlier in the game.
Western Kentucky kicker Matt Lange had troubles of his own, missing two 44-yard field goal attempts in the first half that could have given the Hilltoppers a 13-0 lead at halftime.
On the season, Lange is now 17-of-22 on field goals and 5-of-9 on kicks from 40 to 49 yards.
Salukis match Gateway record for best start
After improving to 9-0 with a victory over Western Kentucky Saturday, the Salukis tied the best start ever for a Gateway team.
Entering the season, only five other teams had even started the year 6-0 with all five going on to compete in the postseason.
SIU is also 5-0 in the conference for the first time in history. The Salukis are tied atop the standings with Northern Iowa, their opponent in the regular-season finale.
This week in the Gateway
With just two weeks remaining on the Gateway schedule, the games take on added meaning for teams hoping to make the playoffs.
SIU welcomes Youngstown State (5-5, 2-3) to McAndrew Stadium for a Saturday game starting at 6 p.m.
The most intriguing match-up of the week will be when No. 6 Northern Iowa (8-1, 5-0) travels to Bowling Green, Ky., to take on No. 9 Western Kentucky (6-3, 3-2) at 4 p.m.
In a game that will be televised on FOX Sports Net, last-place Indiana State (3-7, 0-5) welcomes No. 10 Western Illinois (6-3, 3-2) to Terre Haute, Ind., for an 11 a.m. kickoff.
In a match-up of Gateway cellar dwellers, Southwest Missouri State (4-5, 1-4) welcomes Illinois State (4-6, 1-4) for a 1 p.m. game.
In both polls, McNeese State (7-1) and Delaware (9-0) remained at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.
Sambursky named Gateway Offensive Player of the Week
For the second time this season, SIU sophomore quarterback Joel Sambursky was named the Gateway Offensive Player of the Week.
Sambursky was crucial in leading the Salukis back from an 11-point deficit with just less than four minutes remaining in Saturday's 28-24 victory at defending national champion Western Kentucky.
In the win, Sambursky completed 15-of-22 passes for 228 yards and a game-winning 28-yard touchdown pass to Brent Little with just 55 seconds left in the game. He also ran the ball 10 times for 23 yards including a critical four-yard run on a fourth-and-two during the game-winning drive.
The Liberty, Mo., native has thrown for 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season on 82-of-142 passing.
Kicking woes haunt both SIU and Western Kentucky
Both the Salukis and the Hilltoppers were having trouble with the kicking game Saturday at L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky.
SIU freshman Craig Coffin shanked an extra point, had a field goal blocked in the fourth quarter and fell on his behind after hitting an extra point earlier in the game.
Western Kentucky kicker Matt Lange had troubles of his own, missing two 44-yard field goal attempts in the first half that could have given the Hilltoppers a 13-0 lead at halftime.
On the season, Lange is now 17-of-22 on field goals and 5-of-9 on kicks from 40 to 49 yards.
Salukis match Gateway record for best start
After improving to 9-0 with a victory over Western Kentucky Saturday, the Salukis tied the best start ever for a Gateway team.
Entering the season, only five other teams had even started the year 6-0 with all five going on to compete in the postseason.
SIU is also 5-0 in the conference for the first time in history. The Salukis are tied atop the standings with Northern Iowa, their opponent in the regular-season finale.
This week in the Gateway
With just two weeks remaining on the Gateway schedule, the games take on added meaning for teams hoping to make the playoffs.
SIU welcomes Youngstown State (5-5, 2-3) to McAndrew Stadium for a Saturday game starting at 6 p.m.
The most intriguing match-up of the week will be when No. 6 Northern Iowa (8-1, 5-0) travels to Bowling Green, Ky., to take on No. 9 Western Kentucky (6-3, 3-2) at 4 p.m.
In a game that will be televised on FOX Sports Net, last-place Indiana State (3-7, 0-5) welcomes No. 10 Western Illinois (6-3, 3-2) to Terre Haute, Ind., for an 11 a.m. kickoff.
In a match-up of Gateway cellar dwellers, Southwest Missouri State (4-5, 1-4) welcomes Illinois State (4-6, 1-4) for a 1 p.m. game.
