North Dakota at Southern Illinois
Carbondale, Ill. (Saluki Stadium)
SIU holds a 2-1 series edge
Kickoff: 2 p.m. (CT)
TV: Midco Sports Two
Radio: Home of Economy Radio Network (Pregame Show @ 1 p.m., CT)

Grand Forks, N.D. - After coming back in the final moments to win 27-24 at Northern Arizona last weekend, North Dakota will resume Missouri Valley Football Conference action this weekend at Southern Illinois. The Fighting Hawks and Salukis will square off at Saluki Stadium at 2 p.m. (CT) on Saturday.

Last weekend, the Fighting Hawks had the ball with 1:42 remaining and were trailing 24-20. Tommy Schuster and the Hawks went to work from their own 25 and Schuster was sensational in the final drive, going a perfect 5-for-5 through the air and capping the game-winning drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass on a reverse flea flicker to Jack Wright. The final offensive play for UND looked to be a Tyler Hoosman rush that turned into a Bo Belquist end around before the ball found its way back to Schuster who threw a 23-yard dart to Wright in the end zone for the go-ahead score. The UND defense stood tall in the final 53 seconds to secure the 27-24 victory.

Schuster was efficient in the game, going 21-of-32 through the air for 206 yards, two scores and no interceptions. Belquist was his favorite target with six grabs for 56 yards, including a touchdown that put UND up 20-17 with just over five minutes left in the game. Belquist's score was unbelievable, as he not only broke a tackle and kept himself on two feet at the five-yard line, but he also leapfrogged a defender on the way to the end zone with a fantastic second effort.

Hoosman had the second 100-yard rushing game of his career, gaining 102 yards on the ground on 12 carries for 8.5 yards per carry in the contest. Defensively, C.J. Siegel made the Lumberjacks pay for throwing his way, taking a 50-yard interception to the house early in the second quarter, while also adding his first sack of the season early in the game to force an NAU field goal that landed wide right. Kadon Kauppinen and Wyatt Pedigo were the top tacklers for UND with nine and eight takedowns apiece.

Last weekend for the Salukis, Southern Illinois upended Northwestern in Evanston by a final tally of 31-24. SIU scored 17 points in the second half to knock off the Wildcats. Quarterback Nic Baker finished 23-of-34 for 241 yards for three touchdowns while throwing an interception. Baker spread the ball around, with four Salukis recording four receptions to lead the team.

Javon Williams Jr. and Nic Baker each rushed 10 times and picked up 55 and 16 yards, respectively, while Baker found the end zone with a one-yard sneak late in the game.

P.J. Jules led SIU defensively with 11 tackles, all solo, a sack and a forced fumble.

The top 25 matchup between No. 19 North Dakota and No. 24 Southern Illinois will air live on Midco Sports Two. The game will also be carried by the Home of Economy Radio Network with the pregame show starting at 1 p.m. (CT). 

FULL GAME NOTES ARE HERE.