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Saluki Notebook

Kill credits fans for "complete stadium win"

The 12,326 fans at Saturday's game screamed and stomped their feet on the aluminum bleachers - and the Salukis heard them.

Coach Kill and the players credited the victory, in part, to the McAndrew faithful.

"It was a complete stadium win," said SIU head coach Jerry Kill, who saw his players pump up the crowd before big plays and respond with a big stop.

The fans were particularly helpful in the final 10 minutes, when Northern Iowa quarterback Tom Petrie was knocked out and the Panthers were forced to rely on freshman quarterback Eric Sanders.

SIU quarterback Joel Sambursky credited the stadium with rattling Sanders, who threw a few lame ducks, an interception and accidentally stepped out of the back of the end zone during his brief tour of duty.

"I'm telling you, that's tough on an opposing quarterback, especially a kid who just comes in," Sambursky said.

SIU still No. 1

For the third straight week, SIU is the undisputed best team in I-AA football.

The Salukis are still receiving a vast majority of first-place votes, although Furman, Georgia Southern and Stephen F. Austin received a few. The Gateway still has three teams in the top 25 despite last week's loss and a 1-3 record, Northern Iowa is still ranked.

Delaware, following its first-week dethroning, has climbed back to No. 4 in both polls, and received one first-place vote in the coaches poll.

Turner earns special teams honors

Craig Turner heroically rescued SIU Saturday with two massive plays, and for his efforts, the league has awarded him the Gateway Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.

Turner picked up 107 yards on only six carries during the 40-36 win over Northern Iowa, and helped spark the Saluki comeback with a 71-yard touchdown run.

Turner is now third on the team in rushing despite carrying the ball only 15 times, and is averaging a ridiculous 13.9 yards per carry since head coach Kill pulled his redshirt off before the William Penn game.

"I've done a lot of dumb things in my life," Kill said after the game. "That's a pretty smart one right now because without him, we're not sitting here enjoying a victory."

Big play Quorey Payne

Another one of Saturday's big play heroes was receiver Quorey Payne, who caught only two passes but picked up 130 yards and two touchdowns.

Payne is now third in the Gateway in receiving yards per game despite only 12 catches, and averages a whopping 30.9 yards per catch.

"I've always had confidence in Quorey Payne, we're just getting him the ball more," Sambursky said.

Headsets still horrible

Once again, Kill worked through a technological handicap to win the game.

Despite ordering new headsets last week, SIU still struggled with the new ones and played half the game without them.

Kill attempted to maintain his composure with the situation after the game, but he is obviously upset about the situation.

"Again, we didn't have a headset off and on during the damn game," Kill said. "It's very frustrating."

Goforth back from the dead

Only a few weeks after being declared out for the season, receiver Phil Goforth played sparingly in Saturday's game.

He did not catch a pass and has only 13 receiving yards on the year, but Kill said he was glad to have him back.

Upsets galore in gateway

Northern Iowa's bid at SIU failed, as did Youngstown State's at Western Kentucky, but two Gateway teams registered stunning wins Saturday.

Southwest Missouri State defeated Western Illinois 36-31 at home and is on the fringe of being ranked. Illinois State fell to projected cellar dweller Indiana State in overtime Saturday after fumbling the ball at the 1-yard line, getting a promising season off to a horrible start.