Southern Illinois University - Obelisk Yearbook (Carbondale, IL)

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Illinois took a three point lead in the first quarter, but by halftime the Salukis were leading 14-6. Illinois dominated the third quarter. The Illini scored 22 points compared to three points for Southern on a 45 yard Ron Miller field goal. Trailing 28-17 in the fourth quarter, Southern desperately needed a big play to get back into the game. The offensive squad was having problems, so the ever- present defense came to the rescue. SIU defensive back Ira Davis picked off a lack Trudeau pass and returned it 22 yards for the touchdown. Kevin Brown, quarterback, added the two point con- version on a pass to Sebron Spivey leav- ing the Salukis only three points behind, 28-25. IAboveJ Saluki Safety john' Field drags down an Illinois ball carrier to slow the IlIini's march down- field. fliightl Saluki running back Byron Mitchell evades an Illini defender to carry the pigskin for more yardage.

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'I24 Sports FOOTBALL Just paw print . , ,, . it.,.fii,mw9W,. U0lhtwr-ff-ff-K The Dawgs get a High 5 after scoring seven points against the Fighting Illini during the second quarter. Illinois came back in the third quarter to win 28-25. QUIGG away story by TEVEN ICH IU was traveling to Champaign to play the Fighting Illini in Memorial Stadium. People throughout the state had been looking forward to the game for over a year. The teams were ready, the fans were excited and the sportscasters had predicted Illinois to win by as many as 30 points. One writer for the Chicago Tribune had even predicted Southern to be a 60 point underdog. When the game ended, Illinois had won, 28-25, but the Salukis left everyone be- lieving they were a team to be reckoned with this season. The Salukis made a championship-style effort in front of 76,330 screaming fans, the largest crowd to ever watch an SIU game. Illinois expected the Dawgs to be overcome by the size of the audience and forget about playing football. Not so. Saluki fans, much in the minority in the standing-room-only stadium, cheered loudly for the valiant effort by the young Saluki squad. Toward the end of the first half the Illinois fans had little to cheer about as the Salukis manhan- dled the Illini up and down the field. Illinois Coach Mike White admitted that SIU should have won the game.

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On Southern's next possession, Brown moved the Salukis from their own 20 yardline to the Illinois 24 yardline. With first down and just over two minutes remaining, Brown threw two incomplete passes and lost seven yards on a broken- play sack. The fieldgoal team came onto the field with 1:06 remaining. Miller's 48 yard field goal attempt fell just three yards short of the crossbar and a sigh of relief came from the Illinois bench and the fans. The Illini had narrowly escaped the snapping jaws of the win-hungry Salukis on their first trip into the realm of Big Ten football. QRightJ Bruce Phibbs pulls the ball toward his body as he prepares for a hit from an Illinois linebacker. Phibbs picked up five yards after the hit. IBelowj Salukis Brad Crouse, 96, and Vernon Curley, 76, go up to meet the ball during an Illi- nois fieldgoal attempt. QUIGG A-37 if if I Quiec 126 Sports Q