ST. LOUIS -- A Missouri Valley Football Conference team will be featured on national or regional distribution at least 18 times this fall, including four contests that are part of the Missouri Valley Football-produced television package.

For the 12th-straight season, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is coordinating an in-house television package. The games will be produced for syndication on over-the-air and cable television stations throughout the Midwest. Each of the four conference-produced games will air live or taped on FS Midwest and Fox College Sports (FCS), which has a national distribution of 55 million homes.

The league's production company is Kansas City-based Niles Media Group.  Niles Media Group coordinates all aspects of production – compliance with Fox Sports Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago on-air guidelines, commercial reels, in-telecast graphics, satellite transmission and uplink, etc. – for each telecast.  Niles Media Group also handles production of public service announcements, commercial spots and video promotional items.  The league's 2010 package, plus other national and regional telecasts, is below (additional clearances may be added at a later date):


Date Game (Network) -- Air Time
Sat., Sept. 4
Youngstown State at Penn State, 11:00 a.m. CT (Big Ten Network)
North Dakota State at Kansas, 6 p.m. CT (FCS Central)

Sat., Sept. 11
Illinois State at Northwestern, 11 a.m. CT (Big Ten Network)
Western Illinois at Purdue, 11 a.m. CT (Big Ten Network)
Indiana State at Cincinnati, 11:05 a.m. CT (FS Ohio)
Southern Illinois at Illinois, 6:30 p.m. CT (Big Ten Network)
*North Dakota State at UNI, 6:37 p.m. CT (KWWL)

Sat., Sept. 25
*Missouri State at Illinois State, 6 p.m. CT (MVFC TV)
South Dakota at North Dakota State, 6 p.m. CT (North Dakota NBC)

Sat., Oct. 9
*UNI at Southern Illinois (Homecoming), 2 p.m. CT (MVFC TV)
*Illinois State at Indiana State (Homecoming), 2:05 p.m. CT (WTWO)

Sat., Oct. 16
*Youngstown State at Western Illinois (Family Weekend), 6 p.m. CT (MVFC TV)

Sat., Oct. 23
*Youngstown State at South Dakota State, 2 p.m. CT (Midcontinent Cable)
*Indiana State at North Dakota State, 3 p.m. CT (North Dakota NBC)
*Illinois State at UNI (Homecoming), 4:05 p.m. CT (KWWL)

Sat., Oct. 30
*South Dakota State at Indiana State (Family Day), 2:05 p.m. CT (WTWO)

Sat., Nov. 6
*Southern Illinois at North Dakota State, 3 p.m. CT (North Dakota NBC)

Sat., Nov. 13
*South Dakota State at North Dakota State (Dakota Marker), 3 p.m. CT (MVFC TV)


*denotes MVFC games

Includes only the conference-produced package and other games targeted for national or significant regional distribution; does not include institutionally produced games targeted for tape-delay.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Southern Illinois seniors Korey Lindsey and Mike McElroy have been selected to the 2010 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List that was released Monday by The Sports Network.

Lindsey, a cornerback, and McElroy, a safety, are among a group of 20 players that will be considered for the award that is presented annually to the FCS' national defensive player of the year.

Both players are coming off monster 2009 seasons. McElroy's seven interceptions last year tied for the fourth most in the nation and Lindsey was right behind with six picks.

McElroy, who returned one interception 80-yards for a touchdown against Missouri State, is the teams leading returning tackler after having 78 stops a year ago. He was a First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 2009 and a second team honoree in 2008. He garnered ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second team accolades in 2009 where the Lowell, Mich. native had 7.0 tackles for a loss and four pass breakups.

"Mike McElroy is the type of student-athlete that every coach in the country wants on his team," head coach Dale Lennon said. "On the field, he's a fierce competitor and strong leader who will put the well being of his team ahead of his personal goals. In the classroom, his commitment to academic success parallels his dedication to the game of football. Mike exemplifies the positive qualities of what is good in college athletics."

Lindsey, a Baton Rouge, La. native, has intercepted six passes in each of the past two seasons and enters the year ranked No. 3 in school history with 13 career picks. He was a Sports Network third team All-American in 2008 and was named to four All-America teams in 2009, including first team accolades from the AFCA and Associated Press. Lindsey was a First-Team All-MVFC selection in both 2008 and 2009. He had 63 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, four pass breakups and one fumble recovery last year.

"Korey Lindsey is an extremely talented cornerback who possesses remarkable football instincts," Lennon said. "Because of this combination, Korey has consistently been a big play defender for the Saluki defense and has produced several game winning plays during his tenure at SIU. Korey has the potential to become one of the most decorated defensive players in Saluki football history."

Southern Illinois is one of only three schools, along with Appalachian State and Richmond, to have more than one candidate nominated for the award.

The Sports Network has awarded the Buchanan Award annually since 1999. Saluki safety Alexis Moreland was considered for the award in 2004, although he did not make the final ballot. Linebacker Brandin Jordan finished ninth in the voting last year.

The Buck Buchanan Award is named for the legendary Grambling State and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle. The watch list can undergo revision during the 2010 season, when updated lists are announced on Oct. 4 and 25. Ballots will be sent to a panel of approximately 200 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries after the regular season on Nov. 22.   The winner will be announced at The Sports Network/Fathead FCS Awards Presentation on Thursday, Jan. 6, the night before the national championship game.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — South Dakota State University running back Kyle Minett is one of 20 players named to the preseason watch list for the 2010 Walter Payton Award, which is awarded to the top offensive playerin the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

A native of Ruthton, Minn., Minett enters his senior season third among returning FCS backs and fourth on the SDSU career charts with 3,069 career rushing yards. A two-time second-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, he has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, rushing for 1,289 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2008 and 1,304 yards and 16 TDs last season. In addition, Minett has 79 career receptions for 720 yards and seven scores.

Minett, who was named to the Associated Press All-America Third Team in 2009, is the first SDSU football player to be nominated for the Walter Payton Award, which is sponsored by Fathead.com and presented by The Sports Network. The Walter Payton Award watch list will be updated on Oct. 4 and 25, with ballots sent to a panel of approximately 200 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries after the regular season on Nov. 22. Three finalists will be announced on Dec. 1 and invited to The Sports Network/Fathead FCS Awards Presentation Jan. 6 — the night before the FCS national championship game — in Frisco, Texas.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Five individuals and one team have been selected for induction into the University of Northern Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame this fall. The induction will take place on Sept. 18 during this year’s Hall of Fame Weekend as the Panther football team takes on Stephen F. Austin.

The 2010 Hall of Fame class includes former softball standout Lindsay Wood, former football star and NFL veteran Dedric Ward, former All-American wrestler Joel Greenlee, former volleyball player Molly O’Brien and Lee Miller, the recipient of the Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award. The 1964 State College of Iowa (now UNI) football team will also be inducted.

Dedric Ward was an All-American wide receiver on the UNI football team from 1993-96. In his time as a Panther, Ward rewrote the UNI and Gateway Football Conference record books like no receiver ever had before. Over four seasons, he amassed 3,876 receiving yards and made 41 career touchdown receptions – both records that still top the all-time lists at UNI and in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Ward’s consistency showed with three consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards, leading the Gateway Conference each year from 1994-96. At one point, he went 27 consecutive games with a reception, and he ended his career as UNI’s all-time leader in receptions with 176. In 1995 – the first of two All-American seasons – he led the nation with 116.4 receiving yards per game. Ward ended his UNI career with 43 touchdowns – the second-most in school history – and 256 career points, the school record for a non-kicker. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Ward ranked No. 2 in the NCAA in all-time receiving yardage behind only Jerry Rice. Ward went on to play eight seasons in the NFL for the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys, totaling 167 receptions and 2,307 yards.

Lee Miller, the recipient of the Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award, started a lifetime connection with UNI as a student in 1949, playing on the football team for one season. Miller graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952 but did not disappear from the University scene, contributing in many different capacities over the next half-century. Over the years, he has served as the Director of Alumni and Development for UNI, the campanile fundraising chair and coordinator of the fund drive for the UNI-Dome. Miller initiated the Parents’ Association and the Students’ Association at UNI, as well as being a longtime member of the President’s Club, recruiting many new members along the way. He also served as director of the UNI Foundation and Director of Athletic Development. Miller has also lobbied the Iowa State Legislature in favor of UNI on numerous occasions.

Under the direction of head coach Stan Sheriff, the 1964 State College of Iowa football team posted a 9-2 record and won the only bowl game in school history. The Panthers dominated the trenches all season long, averaging 267.7 rushing yards per game and allowing only 103.7 rushing yards per game to lead the North Central Conference in both categories. SCI outscored its conference opponents 150-48 on its way to a 5-1 record in the league and a tie for the conference championship. On the strength of their overall 8-2 regular season record, the Panthers were invited to the 1964 Pecan Bowl in Abilene, Texas, where they defeated Lamar Tech, 19-17. The Pecan Bowl also served as the NCAA Midwest College Division Championship, one of only four bowl games in the College Division for the 1964 season. Fullback Randy Schultz was the star of the Panthers' rushing attack, gaining 1,232 yards in 11 games, including 160 yards in the Pecan Bowl on 38 carries. Schultz was named a first-team All-American and guard Phil Minnick received honorable mention All-American honors.

The annual University of Northern Iowa Football Media Day will be held
Wed., Aug. 11, from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the UNI-Dome. Head Coach Mark
Farley and his staff invite you to attend the Media Day in order to
become better acquainted with this year’s student-athletes and coaching
staff.

The schedule of activities includes:

9:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast (UNI-Dome North Concourse)
10 a.m UNI Team Photo
10:15 a.m. Photo & Video sessions begin
10:30 a.m. Mark Farley Press Conference (UNI-Dome North Concourse)
11 a.m. Requested UNI student-athlete, coach interviews (UNI-Dome field
level)

ST. LOUIS – Nineteen student-athletes highlight more than 300 who earned selection to the 2009-10 Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll, as announced by the league office. Those 19 student-athletes earned the league’s highest academic achievement by capturing the Missouri Valley Football Conference President’s Council Academic Excellence Award.

The President's Council Academic Excellence Award requires a minimum 3.8 cumulative grade point average (through Fall 2009 semester), participation in athletics a minimum of two years, and the student-athlete must be within 18 hours of graduation. Also, 82 student-athletes received the league’s Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award. That requires a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for the previous two semesters, a minimum 3.2 cumulative grade point average, and participation in athletics. Freshmen are not eligible.

In addition, the Missouri Valley Football Conference has announced its 2009-10 Honor Roll, which recognizes academic achievement of student-athletes. To qualify for the Honor Roll, a student-athlete must have recorded a minimum 3.2 grade point average for a specified term (Fall 2009), must have been a member of an athletics team, and must have a minimum of 12 hours of enrollment during the fall.

Illinois state university
COMMISSIONER’S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD - Michael Seefeld.
HONOR ROLL - Eric Brunner; Graham Corcoran; Pat Cucci; Tyler Doering; Luke Drone; Dean Eastman; Steven Fetzer; Cliffton Gordon; Alton Hairston; Brent Holtz; James Hoyt; (EJ) Edmund Jones; (William) Jake Knecht; Zach Kutch; Matt Lancaster; Erik Madsen; Jasen Massey; Kedric Meredith; Matt Mose; Jordan Neukirch; Nathan Rebholz; Dave Rivas; Michael Seefeld; Corey Shandrick; Mike Slack; Jonathan St-Pierre; Keenan Wimbley; Michael Wood; Dane Zumbahlen.

Indiana State university
COMMISSIONER’S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD - Alex Bettag; Julian Easterly; Koby Kraemer; Daniel Millington; Matthew Seliger; Alexander Sewall.
HONOR ROLL - Alex Bettag; Cory Bichey; Wade Bush; Larry Carter; Julian Easterly; Jeramie Gray; Roderick Hardy; Luke Harris; Koby Kraemer; Donald Lough; Fn Lutz; Michael Mardis; Daniel Millington; Kamerin Mitchell; Gabriel Mullane; Dillon Painter; Matthew Seliger; Alexander Sewall; Benjamin Toney; Justin Wood; Michael Woods; Lawrence Young.

Missouri state university
PRESIDENTS COUNCIL ACADEMIC AWARD - David Arkin; Jared Emery.
COMMISSIONER’S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD - David Arkin; Jordan Chiles; Jared Emery; Wes Miller; Jacob Murphy; Chad Peachey.
HONOR ROLL - David Arkin; Justin Aumen; Jordan Chiles; Brent Chojnacki; Jared Emery; Brandon Hilt; Kurt Kutter; Derek Miller; Wes Miller; Jacob Murphy; Chad Peachey; Waylon Richardet; Travis Simmons; Matt Swann; Miguel Warren.

North Dakota state university
PRESIDENTS COUNCIL ACADEMIC AWARD - Kyle Belmont; Nicholas Mertens; Victor Schuring.
COMMISSIONER’S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD - Jeff Curtis; Gerry Ebel; Brock Gion; Drew Hushka; Ryan Jastram; Scott Stoczynski; Austin Vetter; Matthew Voigtlander.
HONOR ROLL - Joseph Blackmore; Thor Brown; Garrett Bruhn; Amos Buehner; Derrius Colvin; Ryan Drevlow; Daniel Eaves; Andrew Grothmann; Joel Helbling; Jared Hines; Justin Howard; Logan Hushka; Hank Jacobs; Brock Jensen; Justin Juckem; Matt Kittelson; Derrick Lang; Daniel Luecke; Andrew Nack; Robert Ollman; Matthew Phillips; Matthew Veldman; Cooper Wahlo; Gary Williams.
university of northern iowa
PRESIDENTS ACADEMIC AWARD - Colin Dietrich; Josh Mahoney; Sam Peterson; Austin Zlab.
COMMISSIONER’S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD - Ben Boothby; Stacy Chinander; Colin Dietrich; Billy Hallgren; Ryan Mahaffey; Josh Mahoney; Kane Thompson; Austin Zlab.
HONOR ROLL - Kaleb Admire; Collin Albrecht; Kyle Bernard; Ben Boothby; Stacy Chinander; Zach Cutkomp; Colin Dietrich; Jordan Gacke; Jacob Gonnering; August Hadenfelt; Billy Hallgren; J.P. Helgens; Austin Howard; John Hubbard; Daniel Kruger; Ryan Mahaffey; Josh Mahoney; Andre Martin; Mac O'Brien; Schuylar Oordt; Adam Pinckney; Matt Strathman; Jay Teply; Jacob Thome; Kane Thompson; Sam Tim; Caleb Walter; Luke Warren; Blake White; Austin Zlab.

south Dakota state university
PRESIDENTS ACADEMIC AWARD - Tyler Duffy; Casey Knips; Dean Priddy.
COMMISSIONER’S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD - Casey Bender; Ryan Crawford; Casey Cuppy; Seth Daughters; Tyler Duffy; Josiah Fitzsimmons; Matt Hylland; Brad Iverson; Isaiah Jackson; Corey Jeske; Conrad Kjerstad; Casey Knips; Tyrel Kool; Jake Ludemann; Ryan McKnight; Kyle Minett; Jordan Miranda; Adam Monke; Saunders Montague; Alex Olinger; Jordan Paula; Dean Priddy; Dan Schmidt; Ross Shafrath; Brett Tigges.
HONOR ROLL - Danny Batten; Steven Bazata; Casey Bender; Alex Beyer; Joseph Blackman; Zach Buchner; Dominque Clare; Colin Cochart; Ryan Crawford; Jared Crumly; Casey Cuppy; Seth Daughters; Derek Domino; Tyler Duffy; Erich Feller; Jonathan Fick; Brian Fischer; Josiah Fitzsimmons; Glen Fox; Brandon Hubert; Matt Hylland; Brad Iverson; Isaiah Jackson; Corey Jeske; Chris Johnson; Josh Kage; RC Kilgore; Conrad Kjerstad; Casey Knips; Tyrel Kool; Nathan Koskovich; Travis Lindstrom; Jacob Ludemann; Tyler Luethje; Ryan McKnight; Kyle Minett; Jordan Miranda; Josh Miranda; Adam Monke; Saunders Montague; Alex Olinger; Jordan Paula; Dean Priddy; James Rogers; Aaron Rollin; Dan Schmidt; Ross Shafrath; Garett Steers; Taylor Suess; Trevor Tiefenthaler; Brett Tigges; Mason Winterboer.

southern Illinois university
PRESIDENTS ACADEMIC AWARD - Tony Colletti; Ryan Kernes; David Pickard; B.J. Thompson.
COMMISSIONER’S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD - Joe Allaria; Chance Coda; Tony Colletti; Jonate Govan; Kyle Harruff; Beau Hoffman; Connor James; Ryan Kernes; Mike McElroy; Ryan Patton; David Pickard; B.J. Thompson.
HONOR ROLL - Joe Allaria; Chris Arthurs; Taylor Beasley; Scott Becker; Chris Bittle; Bradley Briggs; Lance Caldwell; E.J. Clark; Chance Coda; Tony Colletti; George Danilkowicz; Dathan Deisher; John Goode; Jonate Govan; Tyler Graves; Kyle Harruff; Rik Hicks; Beau Hoffman; Terrence Isaiah; Cameron James; Connor James; Ryan Kernes; Mike McElroy; Paul McIntosh; Bryce Morris; Derrick Nsubuga; Joe Okon; Ryan Patton; David Pickard; Elliot Robinson; Ryan Rushing; Kyle Russo; Jason Seaman; Shawn Smith; Jason Stegman; B.J. Thompson; Houston Walker; Brandon Williams; Ryan Wood; Fred Wright.

western illinois university
PRESIDENTS ACADEMIC AWARD - Matt Barr.
COMMISSIONER’S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD - Matt Barr; Kyle Glazier; Michael Harmon; Myers Hendrickson; Eric Lines; Kevin Palermo; Lito Senatus; Jordan Valle; Victor Visoky.
HONOR ROLL - Steve Adams; Matt Barr; Robert Boney; Dominick Corsiglia; Sam Dancer; Teague Dentino; Antoine Ford; Kyle Glazier; Michael Harmon; Myers Hendrickson; James Holtschlag; Kieron James; Brandon Kreczmer; Michael Lamphear; Eric Lines; Wil Lunt; Kevin Palermo; Brennan Parks; Sam Power; Cody Reardon; Rick Richardson; Carter Ridenour; William Ritter; Andrew Robiskie; Lito Senatus; Derek Shay; Marcus Showalter; Gary Sumlin; Jordan Valle; Victor Visoky; Matt Warner.

Youngstown state university
PRESIDENTS ACADEMIC AWARD - Stephen Blose; Ben Nowicki.
COMMISSIONER’S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD - Kyle Banna; Stephen Blose; Erik Johnson; Marc Kanetsky; Brian Mellott; Ben Nowicki; Aaron Pitts.
HONOR ROLL - Dan Banna; Kyle Banna; Theo Barnes; Stephen Blose; Jamaine Cook; Draye Ersery; Rob Fernback; Tyler Figueroa; Jaimie Frasure; Chris Gammon; Gannon Hulea; Erik Johnson; Marc Kanetsky; Andy Kowicki; D.J. Main; Luke Matelan; Brian Mellott; Torrance Nicholson; Ben Nowicki; Torrian Pace; Aaron Pitts; Justin Rechichar; Dom Rich; Eric Rodemoyer; Greg Sazdanoff; Nate Schkurko; Scott Sentner; Carson Sharbaugh; Kevin Smith; Brandon White; Lenny Wicks.

South Dakota State's Danny Batten was taken Saturday in the sixth round of the NFL draft as the 23rd pick in the round and 192nd overall pick.  He is the first Jackrabbit drafted in the NFL draft since South Dakota State joined the league for the start of the 2008 season.

Batten, a defensive end/outside linebacker from Gilbert, Ariz., led the Jackrabbits in both tackles for loss (17) and sacks (nine) during the 2009 season.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year and third-place finisher in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision ranks, Batten ranked second on the squad with 85 total tackles. He was nearly a consensus All-American, earning accolades from the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Sports Network and Associated Press.

He joins fellow MVFC players Deji Karim (RB, Southern Illinois) and TE Clay Harbor (TE, Missouri State) as the three who were drafted on the final day of the 2010 NFL Draft.

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Deji Karim, Southern Illinois running back from 2007-09, was selected in the sixth round with the 180th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2010 National Football League Draft on Saturday, April 24.   He's the third-highest draftee of a former league RB (behind Brandon Jacobs, Jeremi Johnson).

Karim becomes the 21st Saluki selected in the NFL Draft and the fifth running back. He is the first SIU player taken since 2004, when the New York Giants selected running back Brandon Jacobs with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round.

Karim came to Southern Illinois after two seasons at Northeast Oklahoma A&M Junior College. He led the Salukis in 2007 with eight rushing touchdowns, but missed the 2008 season with a knee injury.

He burst onto the national scene in 2009 with an all-world year, as he led the Football Championship Subdivision with 1,694 rushing yards and guided Southern Illinois to the No. 1 national ranking for three weeks, its second-straight Missouri Valley Football Conference Championship and the Elite Eight of the FCS Playoffs. Karim broke the SIU single-season record for all-purpose yards (2,339) and showed his versatility by averaging 30.9 yards on 14 kickoff returns with one touchdown.

The 5-9, 200-pound running back had a long laundry list of awards in his senior season. He was named a first team All-American by four different services and was the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year. Karim finished third in the voting for the 2009 Walter Payton Award, which is given out to the most outstanding player in the FCS.

He finished his career with 2,080 rushing yards, 26 rushing touchdowns, 10 career 100-yard rushing games and averaged 6.58 yards per carry. Karim only fumbled once in 351 career touches at Southern Illinois.  Karim, a native of Oklahoma City, Okla. was a Putnam City North High School teammate of Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in this years draft. He joins former Salukis Bart Scott (linebacker - New York Jets) and Jacobs in the NFL.

Missouri State TE Clay Harbor, a consensus All-American, has been drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 4th Round of the 2010 NFL Draft.  He is the 16th highest draftee in MVFC history (at 125) and first MSU player drafted in 10 years.  Two players, including LB Jason Williams of Western Illinois and DB Nick Schommer of North Dakota State.

No Bear has been drafted since 2000 when another tight end, Brad St. Louis, was the 210th overall pick by the Bengals. St. Louis, like Harbor, was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Silver Anniversary Team in 2009, and recently completed his nine-and-a-half year pro career with Cincinnati.

Missouri State has had 15 players drafted in the program's history, including guard Tom Mullen who was the 28th overall selection in 1974 and No. 2 pick of the second round when the Giants picked him up. The Bears also have had two sixth-round picks -- Mike Murphy in 1979 (Oilers) and Keith Williams in 1986 (Falcons).

BROOKINGS, S.D. - No. 3 Southern Illinois dominated No. 9 South Dakota State in a 34-15 victory Saturday at Coughlin Alumni Stadium to secure at least a share of SIU's fifth Missouri Valley Football Conference Championship and its seventh-straight playoff appearance.

The win was the 13th conference victory in a row for the Salukis, as they tied Northern Iowa's MVFC record for the most consecutive league victories. Southern Illinois has now won eight-straight games this year and stands at 8-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference. The Dawgs can secure the outright league title with a win next weekend against Missouri State in the final regular season game at McAndrew Stadium.

"I thought our coaching staff and players had a very good week of preparation and our players did a great job of executing today," head coach Dale Lennon said. "We took advantage of every opportunity they gave us today. It's a good win, but at the same time it is game No. 9 and now we have to move on to game No. 10. We can't afford to lose our edge and can't be too satisfied with what we've accomplished so far."

South Dakota State (7-2, 6-1 MVFC) came into the game with the nation's top scoring defense that only allowed 89 yards rushing a game, but the Salukis had a field day on offense. Deji Karim became the first running back to rush for over 100 yards against the Jackrabbits this season, as he had 127 yards on 21 carries. SIU as a team racked up 280 yards on the ground and 388 of total offense.

The Saluki defense held SDSU to 14 yards rushing and had six sacks against the Jackrabbit offensive line that came into the game with just nine sacks allowed in their first eight games. SDSU finished with 342 yards of total offense, but 154 of that came in the fourth quarter after the final outcome was pretty much set in stone.

Lance Caldwell had a pair of interceptions for the Dawgs, as they have now picked off a pass in 10-straight games. He returned one of his picks 75-yards for a touchdown right before halftime and that was the fifth longest interception return for a touchdown in school history.

Redshirt freshman Paul McIntosh put up good numbers in the win. He threw for two touchdowns and had 184 yards of total offense (108 passing, 76 rushing). Jeff Evans and John Goode were the recipients of his two touchdown passes and junior kicker Kyle Dougherty made a pair of field goals.

The Salukis meant business right from the get-go and scored on four of their first five possessions. Defensively they had five sacks in the first half and held the Jacks to just 130 yards on 47 plays in the first 30 minutes.

Southern Illinois forced the Jacks to go three-and-out on the games opening drive thanks to a sack by Brandin Jordan. That set up SIU's first possession where Kyle Dougherty hit a season-long 49-yard field goal to start the scoring Saturday.

After a couple more sacks by Kyle Walker and the Saluki defense, Southern Illinois got the ball back and drove down 70 yards on eight plays for a touchdown late in the first quarter. McIntosh passed the ball directly out to Joe Allaria, who caught it and took it in 21-yards for a touchdown. The play was ruled a lateral because the pass went backwards, thus giving Allaria his second career rushing touchdown.

After the turn of the first quarter, South Dakota State found themselves with a first-and-goal at the SIU one-yard line. The Saluki defense stuffed them on their first two tries setting up a third down. There the Jacks tried to go around the left side, but Robert Spann blew the play up in the backfield, allowing Marty Rodgers and Jason Seaman to drop Tyler Duffy for a four-yard loss.

That forced the Jacks to settle for a 23-yard Peter Reifenrath field goal at 12:19 to make it a 10-3 Saluki lead.

Midway through the second quarter the Saluki defense once again forced the Jacks into a punting situation on a fourth-and-25. SDSU punter Dean Priddy mishandled the snap allowing Mike McElroy to tackle him at the Jackrabbit six-yard line.

Two plays later McIntosh hit Goode for a four-yard touchdown pass to put SIU up 17-3 with 6:39 left in the half.

Karim set up what was appeared to be the last score of the first half with a 41-yard rush that led to a 22-yard Dougherty field goal. However, Caldwell intercepted a Ryan Crawford pass and had his long return for a touchdown to give the Salukis a 27-3 lead going into the locker rooms.

Southern Illinois came out in the third quarter and picked up right where they left off. SIU received the kickoff to start the period and McIntosh led them down 80 yards on eight plays for a score. The touchdown came on a 40-yard pass to Jeff Evans, who made a great catch by the front pylon in the end zone.

The Jackrabbits drove down into the Saluki red zone late in the third quarter, but once again the Dawgs held their own. On a fourth-and-six at the nine-yard line, Caldwell intercepted his second pass of the game in the end zone and downed it for a touchback.

Before the Jackrabbits' last couple of drives late in the fourth quarter, they had negative eight yards rushing the ball. SDSU did add a pair of late touchdowns, but nothing could dampen the Saluki victory to give them their fifth conference championships since 2003.