UNI led for just :25, but it was the final :25 as the Panthers rallied from a 28-7 halftime deficit and 40-28 fourth-quarter deficit to win 43-40, handing No. 2 Southern Illinois (10-1, 6-1) its only loss of the year. The win gave UNI (9-2, 6-1) a share of the league title and the Gateway’s automatic I-AA playoff berth. Western Kentucky beat Youngstown State, 37-13; [...]

Ten Gateway Conference players have been named to their respective district Academic All-America teams this week. QB Russ Michna and OL Perry Cox of Western Illinois both hold perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point averages and represent the league on the District V team. Joining Michna and Cox on the All-District V University Division Football Team are TE Chris Kupec of Southern Illinois; RB Jake Shields [...]

Southwest Missouri State wide receiver Steven Rush, Cal Poly linebacker Jordan Beck, and Maine return man Arel Gordon have been honored as national I-AA players of the week by The Sports Network. Rush was also selected as one of this week’s “All-Stars” by I-AA.org. Rush had a magnificent receiving day against Illinois State, Beck was all over the field in the Mustangs’ win over UC [...]

Tags: National Honor

After earning a share of its first Gateway Conference title with a 24-17 victory over Youngstown State this past Saturday, the Salukis climbed one more notch in the national polls to No. 2 — their highest ranking since winning the national title (No. 1 ranking) in 1983. SIU tops a list of four Gateway schools in the polls this week, as Western Illinois, Western Kentucky, [...]

With its 24-17 win against Youngstown State last week, Southern Illinois (10-0/6-0) claimed at least a share of its first Gateway Conference title. In 18 previous seasons, the Salukis have finished better than fifth only three times: 1991 (t2nd), 1986 (t2nd), 1985 (t3rd). SIU tied for sixth place last year, and was picked sixth in this year’s Gateway preseason poll. Duel in the Dome The [...]

This week’s Players of the Week in the Gateway Football Conference are WR/RS Steven Rush of SMS; LB Karl Maslowski of Western Kentucky; P Pat Jordan of Indiana State; and Brad Durham of SMS. Offensive WR/KR Steven Rush, SMS Jr., 5-11, 196, Omaha (Neb.) North High Rush caught 6 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns and returned three kickoffs for 161 yards and a [...]

A Southern Illinois victory, coupled with a UNI loss has given the unbeaten Salukis their first Gateway Football Conference title in the league’s 19th season. SIU became the first Gateway team to start a season 10-0 with a 24-17 victory against Youngstown State. Southern Illinois tied for sixth last year in the league race at 2-5 (4-8 overall), and the Salukis were picked sixth in [...]

Southern Illinois has matched the best start in league history with its 9-0 beginning, while UNI is keeping pace as the Panthers are 8-1. Both teams are 5-0 in league play and both are ranked in the Top 10 nationally. Meanwhile, Western Illinois and Western Kentucky are in the Top 10 of the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll, while the two Westerns are 11th and 12th, [...]

Tags: Southern

The Indiana State-Western Illinois game will be on TV airwaves this week. Ben Boyle, Richard Baldinger and Scott Warmann will call the action from Memorial Stadium, beginning at 12 noon (EST)/11 am (CST). The game will be shown live on Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports Digital Nets. The game is tape delayed on Metro Sports (Kansas City) at 6 pm CST. (A complete Gateway [...]

This week’s Players of the Week in the Gateway Conference are QB Joel Sambursky of Southern Illinois; LB Erik Dandy of Western Kentucky; RS Michael Sparks of SMS, and Ben Deike of UNI. Offensive QB Joel Sambursky, Southern Illinois So., 6-0, 195, Liberty (Mo.) High In a game that was dominated by two of the league’s best defenses, QB Joel Sambursky was a difference-maker at [...]

Tags: Gateway, Players of the Week