 "Photo:")
Another second-half letdown by the SIU football team and five field goals by New Hampshire kicker Tom Bishop led to a first-round exit for the Salukis in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs Saturday at McAndrew Stadium.
The Salukis failed to convert on several key opportunities in the second half, including two mid-range field goals by SIU kicker Kyle Dougherty, and the Wildcats outscored SIU 13-3 en route its opening-round victory.
SIU gained just 29 yards of offense in the third quarter on its five possessions. Its last possession of the quarter resulted in a blocked punt that New Hampshire safety John Clements returned for a touchdown to give the Wildcats a 26-13 lead with 34 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Clements' return was one of a handful of instances where New Hampshire's special teams made a significant impact. On top of the return, the Wildcats' kickoff return gave New Hampshire solid field position throughout the game.
"That was probably the difference in the game," SIU head coach Dale Lennon said. "The points that resulted directly from the kickoff returns enabled them to get some field goals."
Bishop's five field goals tied a FCS playoff record for most field goals in a game by a kicker. The senior kicker connected on attempts from 27-, 35-, 28-, 33- and 32-yards and scored more than half of New Hampshire's 29 points.
New Hampshire head coach Sean McDonnell said Bishop's reliable right leg proved to be a major factor in New Hampshire's first playoff win since 2006.
"Not only did (Bishop) have a hell of a game kicking field goals but he punted the heck out of the football for us," said New Hampshire head coach Sean McDonnell. "I can't say enough about how our special teams played today."
The Salukis struggled offensively and punted or turned the ball over on eight of their nine drives in the second half.
An SIU offense that scored at will at times this season, was held in check by a stifling New Hampshire defense.
"It was just one of those days where things weren't clicking at all times," SIU head coach Dale Lennon said. "We hung in there and did everything in our power to make something happen at the end of the game but we came up short and it didn't come through for us."
The Salukis trailed 16-13 after the first half on the heels of an 80-yard drive that resulted in a New Hampshire touchdown to give the Wildcats the three-point lead. Lennon said the score teamed with Clements' blocked punt return were the two key plays that led to SIU's demise.
The first-half deficit marked just the second time SIU had trailed entering the second half, the other coming in SIU's 33-7 loss to Northwestern Sept. 13.
SIU scored on a pair of early field goals by kicker Kyle Dougherty from 47- and 30-yards out and later connected on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Chris Dieker.
The Wildcats, though, responded each time with scores of their own on each ensuing drive.
McDonnell said one of the keys to the Wildcats' victory was their ability to shut down Payton Award candidate Larry Warner, who rushed for 93 yards but no scores.
Warner, who averaged 6.1 yards per rush this season, averaged 4.4 yards per carry and was frequently stopped at the line of scrimmage or shortly thereafter.
"I know they came in expecting to run the football on us and I thought we did a great job of containing Warner," McDonnell. "We got them out of rhythm. They were throwing on first down and a couple things. I thought they were out of kilter a little bit."
New Hampshire advances to face Northern Iowa on Saturday at the UNI Dome at a time to be announced.
Brian Feldt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 256 or bfeldt@siude.com.
