SIU over WIU 24-14

CARBONDALE -- Southern Illinois cornerback Korey Lindsey returned an interception for a 48-yard touchdown to lead the Salukis to a 24-14 victory over Western Illinois on Saturday.

Southern Illinois (7-2, 5-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference) held Western Illinois (5-4, 3-3 Missouri Valley Football Conference) scoreless in the first period of the game. Saluki running back Larry Warner opened the game with a 56-yard touchdown followed by another touchdown from Damian Sherman off a 3-yard pass from quarterback Chris Dieker.

Herb Donaldson put Western Illinois on the board with 6-yard touchdown run in the second period. The score at the half was 14-7 Southern Illinois.

The Salukis came back from the break to score a field goal, which was followed by a touchdown from Western Illinois' Carl Sims. Lindsey finished the game, intercepting a pass by Leatherneck quarterback Matt Barr at the Saluki 24-yard line.

Dieker had 177 yards and three sacks for the Salukis. Barr had 94 yards and was sacked twice.

The Salukis had more first downs (15-12), more rushing yards (132-80), more passing yards (177-94) and more total offensive yards (309-174) than the Leathernecks.