Nic Baker hit Jacob Garrett with a touchdown pass for the second time in the game to break a tie with 12 minutes, 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and Southern Illinois went on to stun Northwestern 31-24 on Saturday at Ryan Field in Evanston.
Garrett caught Baker’s toss to cap a 19-play, 74-yard drive to put the Salukis ahead 23-17 as SIU (1-2), an FCS program, beat a Big Ten opponent for only the second time. A Missouri Valley Football Conference member, Southern Illinois’ other win over a Big Ten foe — against seven losses — was against Indiana in 2006, when coach Nick Hill was their quarterback.
Advertisement
SIU made it 31-17 when Baker pushed up the middle for a 1-yard score with 5:09 left after Northwestern quarterback Ryan Hilinski fumbled at the Wildcats 10-yard line.
The Salukis needed the extra score. Hilinski capped a 16-play, 75-yard drive with a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass to Malik Washington with 1:19 left.
Advertisement
Baker finished with three touchdowns and 241 yards on 23-of-34 passing. Garrett had 47 receiving yards to go with his two scores.
Tyce Daniel also scored off a Baker pass as the Salukis’ passing game lifted them to the win. SIU finished with 96 rushing yards.
Baker and Garrett stole the show from Hilinksi, who entered averaging 374.5 passing yards in two games. Hilinski threw for more than 300 yards in each of them but on Saturday settled for 214 on 27-of-43 passing.
Hilinksi scored his first rushing touchdown of the season, plowing in on fourth-and-1 late the first quarter, but he also threw two key interceptions
Chicago Tribune Sports
Weekdays
A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.
Evan Hull also scored on a fourth-and-1 for the Wildcats (1-2).
Hull rushed more than 100 yards again, gaining 124 on 25 carries, and added eight catches for 33 yards. He entered leading the nation with an average of 235 all-purpose yards per game.
Southern Illinois: Led by Baker and Garrett and some timely defensive plays, Salukis were plucky in their ninth game against a Big Ten opponent. SIU opens its Missouri Valley schedule next week. The Salukis lost their only other meeting with Northwestern, 33-7 in 2008, in a heavy rainfall in Evanston.
Northwestern: Hilinski and Hull are the headliners but weren’t as dominant in this one. Hilinksi’s accuracy was questionable again as the Wildcats continued to wheel-and-deal against a nonconference opponent. But Northwestern needs to tighten up its play on both sides of the ball, especially as Big Ten play arrives. On the defensive side, Northwestern’s three sacks of Baker helped.
Advertisement
It appeared Combs had intercepted Hilinksi a second time midway through the third and raced in for a touchdown that would have put the Saluki’s up 24-14. But SIU was charged with defensive holding that nullified the play and prompted an unsportsmanlike call against Hill.
Southern Illinois: The Salukis play host to North Dakota on Saturday in their MVC opener.
Northwestern: The Wildcats face Miami-Ohio on Saturday in Evanston in their final nonconference game.
