 "Photo: Edyta Blaszczyk ~ Daily Egyptian")
Head football coach Dale Lennon told his team to forget about its historic win Saturday.
“We got to put (Northern Iowa) behind us,” Lennon said. “That’s why you just can’t make too big of a deal of it. and it’s tough to do sometimes because a lot of the fans, they want to congratulate you … but we have to put our full focus on Youngstown and start another week of preparation.”
SIU (5-1, 4-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) will look to avoid a letdown game after its first win in Cedar Falls, Iowa since 1983 as the Salukis take on the Youngstown State Penguins at 3 p.m. Saturday at McAndrew Stadium.
Even with a 4-0 record in the conference and a victory over the then No. 2 team in the Football Championship Subdivision, the Salukis find themselves tied with South Dakota State Jackrabbits for the lead in the Valley. The Penguins (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) find themselves just on the outside and a victory over the Salukis could put them in the conference championship mix.
Senior linebacker Chauncey Mixon said the team’s focus has not drifted from Youngstown State.
“We were all excited about the (Northern Iowa) game, but starting this week, we have to change our focus over to the Penguins,” Mixon said. “We can’t afford to lose our focus on the next matchup.”
The Salukis will face a Youngstown State squad that is near the top in several defensive categories.
The Penguins send out the top pass defense in the conference, allowing only 176 yards in the air per game. The defense is third in overall defense, allowing only 285 yards per game. The Penguins have also picked off nine passes and recorded 12 sacks.
Lennon said the Penguins defense will challenge the Salukis, but SIU is ready to challenge their defense as well.
“They’re a good football team, and there is a reason that they’re 4-2,” Lennon said. “They have a great defense, but we’re going to go out there and do what we do on offense, and go after them with that.”
That defensive unit will look to stop Deji Karim from making SIU history.
The senior running back is looking to become the fastest Saluki to reach 1,000 yards in a season in terms of carries. Karim has 959 yards on 119 carries and needs 41 yards on his next 11 carries to break the all-time SIU record held by Muhammad Abdulqaadir.
Lennon said the offensive plan has not changed despite the Penguins defense.
“It’s the same thing for us,” Lennon said. “We’re going to go against a pretty good defensive line here that’s going to make it difficult for us to run, but you still have to work with what you do best.”
Senior linebacker Brandin Jordan said the team needs to focus Saturday, or the historic victory at Northern Iowa will mean nothing.
“If we go out there and give a weak effort, then we’re going to lose,” Jordan said. “And that big win will be for nothing. Nobody will care about that win anymore. They’ll care about you losing.”
Ryan Voyles can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 256
