SIU wide receiver Landon Lenoir had a game-high 93 receiving yards and scored the Salukis’ lone TD in Saturday’s 23-16 loss at Northern Iowa. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)

With no timeouts, less than 2 minutes, 30 seconds on the clock and trailing by a touchdown in the fourth quarter Saturday, the Southern Illinois offense quickly moved 66 yards in seven plays.

The final 9 yards to paydirt – and a potential game-tying touchdown – proved the most difficult at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

The third-ranked Salukis threw four consecutive incompletions in the end zone to fall short, 23-16, against No. 16 Northern Iowa. The loss was the first Missouri Valley Football Conference defeat of the season for SIU (6-2 overall, 4-1 MVFC).

Despite outgaining the Panthers (5-3, 3-2) in total yards, 410-285, SIU turned the ball over three times to a UNI defense that ranks third nationally in turnovers gained.

“Yards don’t get you any points,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “The goal was to win. Now, you have to score, you can’t turn it over.”

UNI’s defense, which is ranked 20th in total defense nationally, held the Salukis to only three points in the second half.

Here are three things Prairie State Pigskin learned about the Southern Illinois loss:

Turnovers take a toll

SIU quarterback Nic Baker threw for 306 yards – including a 52-yard, second-quarter TD to wide receiver Landon Lenoir.

But his two fourth-quarter interceptions and two other drives that ended on downs in the last 4:04 hindered the SIU comeback attempt. For the game, Baker finished 27-for-42 passing and was sacked three times. He also lost a first-quarter fumble when he was sacked by defensive lineman Devin Rice.

The pass to Lenoir was the only TD on the day for SIU, which had to settle for three Nico Gualdoni field goals inside UNI territory and was only 1-for-3 on trips inside the red zone.

“I think if you asked a lot of teams if you could move the ball and throw for 300 yards up here, they would take it,” Hill said.

Southern also was 4-for-15 on third-down conversions and 0-for-4 on fourth downs.

2. Defensive shuffle

The first-quarter ejection of middle linebacker Bryce Notree after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties removed one of SIU’s key leaders from the field.

The second penalty, according to the Southern Illinoisan newspaper, was whistled when Notree wasn’t even on the field. That call was followed by a penalty on Hill.

Losing Notree led to a bigger impact for junior college transfer Zach Burrola and freshman Jakari Patterson, who racked up 13 and 10 tackles, respectively. Burrola also forced a fumble while Patterson had one of seven tackles for loss.

3. Run down in Cedar Falls

SIU teams fell to 4-15 historically in Cedar Falls, Iowa, after Saturday’s loss. Their last win came in 2013.

The Panthers got their offense going via 182 yards on the ground, the most UNI has gained over the past four games. Meanwhile, SIU managed only 104 yards on the ground, led by sophomore Romeir Elliott, who gained 57 yards on three carries. No other SIU back had more than 26 yards.

UNI’s leading rusher was Cal transfer Bradrick Shaw, who had 126 yards on 24 carries.

News and notes

SIU star wide receiver Avante Cox returned to the lineup after missing two games with a shoulder injury. He caught six passes for 84 yards and ran the ball three times for 13 yards. … Saluki senior WR Landon Lenoir led all receivers with 93 receiving yards (four catches). … SIU defensive lineman Jordan Berner had one sack and led the team with two tackles for loss. … Freshman linebacker Branson Combs, a converted wide receiver, had two interceptions for SIU.

What’s next?

The Salukis host Missouri State at noon Nov. 6 in Carbondale.