Sept. 1, 2005

Final Stats

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - An opportunistic Southern Illinois team roared to a 37-10 halftime lead and cruised to a 58-23 win over Southeast Missouri in the season opener for both teams.

SIU blocked two punts with both blocks resulting in touchdowns and returned a fumble for a score to put the game out of reach in the first half. Braden Jones blocked both punts and returned a fumble 26 yards for a score.

Southeast got a 71-yard touchdown pass from Mike Haley to T.J. Milcic late in the first half and got the first score of the third quarter when Monroe Hicks returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown. The final Southeast points came on a 24-yard pass from Kevin Ballatore to Scott NesSmith.

The first points of the season came on a 32-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Collin Schermann.

Quarterback Joel Sambursky became the all-time Saluki passing leader in the first quarter andwas 20-33 for 276 yards and two TD's with one interception.

Arkee Whitlock led the Saluki ground attack with 27 carries for 126 yards and one TD.

Southeast goes on the road on Saturday, Sept. 10, to play Division I-A Kent State.