SIU smokes North Dakota

CARBONDALE -- Running back Larry Warner rushed for 256 yards and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lead Southern Illinois past North Dakota 40-21 on Saturday afternoon.

Warner's first touchdown came after a 75-yard run for the Salukis (6-2), who have won four in a row and are 4-0 at home for the season.

North Dakota took a 7-3 lead in the first quarter when Danny Freund threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Grover Blair. But the Salukis countered with 24 unanswered points, scoring two more times in the first quarter for a lead they never again gave up.

Freund finished 27-for-36 for a 310-yard passing game with two touchdown receptions for the Fighting Sioux.

The Salukis took a 20-3 lead into the second half and managed to score in every quarter.