Southern Illinois (4-0) is off to its best start since 1991 and is the only unbeaten team in the Gateway Conference. The Salukis play Saturday at Indiana State (3-2), which has beaten them nine times in a row. SIU leads the league in scoring at 49.8 points per game and in defense with a 7-point average yield. But those statistics were padded with wins against cupcakes such as Quincy (64-14) and St. Joseph’s (75-0). . . . Led by Muhammad Abdulqaadir, averaging 7.6 yards per carry, Southern ranks No. 4 nationally in Division I-AA, averaging 304.5 yards per game. . . .
Indiana State’s Sam Logan was named the Gateway’s offensive player of the week for gaining 104 yards on five catches, one a 34-yard touchdown, in last week’s 23-7 victory over Eastern Illinois.
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Saturday at Indiana State, 1 p.m.
