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Sambursky hits up Sycamores for 246 yards

They say first impressions last a lifetime.

But in the case of Brandon Jacobs and Joel Sambursky, it was more like one week. Two tops.

Jacobs didn't know what to think of his new team's starting quarterback when he arrived in Carbondale from Auburn early in the summer. At 6-feet-nothing with curly locks and an arm more like a catapult than a cannon, Sambursky's look doesn't necessarily shout stud quarterback.

"When I came here, I looked at the guy and said, 'there is no way that guy is our starting quarterback,'" Jacobs said.

Sambursky quickly proved his worth, though, and Indiana State got a good sampling early Saturday night in the Salukis' 59-10 trouncing.

Before bodies on the field could even get fully acclimated to the blistery weather, Sambursky was already hot. Sambursky opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown on an option run and, five minutes later, he connected with Brent Little for a 35-yard touchdown score.

In the second quarter Sambursky found Quorey Payne for a five-yard score, Little for an 82 yard touchdown-the Salukis' longest of the season-and Kellen Allen for another five yard score.

Allen's touchdown with 34 seconds remaining in the quarter put the Salukis up 42-3, more than enough of a halftime lead to send Sambursky to the bench in the regular season finale.

But one half of play was enough to rack up an incredible 246 yards on 12-of-13 passing and five touchdowns, four through the air.

"Everyone's playing the run so much they're putting eight or nine in the box, so we are going to take advantage of it," Saluki head coach Jerry Kill said. "We are doing a good job of taking what the defense gives us. Just an excellent half for Joel Sambursky." Has Sambursky ever had such a productive half of football?

"No, I definitely probably haven't," Sambursky said. "It was a lot of fun. Guys just got open and I was able to get them ball."

With Indiana State focused on stopping SIU's running attack, the play action pass worked picture perfect Saturday night.

Both of Little's touchdowns were off play action passes, and many more big plays through the air came from safeties biting on the ball fake.

"We do a great job of selling the play action, and Joel does a great job of finding the open people," said Terry Jackson, whose 95 yards rushing made him one of three running backs demanding the defense's attention Saturday.

Sambursky's outstanding half put a rather large exclamation point on what has been a tremendous season for the junior quarterback. Sambursky ranks second in the Gateway with 2,061 yards through the air, first in passing efficiency (175.3) and first in touchdown passes (19) with just four interceptions.

Sambursky scoffs at the notion, but as the starting quarterback of the Gateway champs, his impressive numbers have to put him in top consideration for conference offensive player of the year.

Saturday night following the game, Sambursky had the support of his teammates. "Nobody out-competes Joel night in and night out," Little said. "The guy gives 110 percent effort. He's a great guy to be deserving of it."

Said Terry Jackson: "He's done everything for this team. He's the glue that keeps this team together. One thing I can say about Joel is he never makes mistakes. I think that's why we win."

So, what does Jacobs think now?

"He's just a determined guy," Jacobs said. "He's going to get what he wants when he wants it. He's a great football player."