Southern Illinois got a little help from the Region’s friends.
The Salukis set program records for points (47) and yards (659) in its near-miss Saturday at Indiana.
Former Andrean quarterback Matt DeSomer (Lowell), now listed as a wide receiver, rushed for 34 yards in eight carries in his first significant action with SIU.
Cornerback Ryan Neal (Merrillville) started against the Hoosiers. He chalked up four solo tackles and one assist in the 48-47 loss.
*Andrean grad Mason Zurek (St. John) shredded Hampton-Sydney with three touchdowns, the longest for 18 yards, in Wabash’s 35-3 rout of Hampden-Sydney. He rushed for 134 yards in 26 carries. Defensive back Austin Brown (Griffith) chalked up seven tackles.
*Wheeler’s Gavin Voss accounted for 12 of St. Joseph’s 30 points in an opening victory at Edinboro. He kicked 44, 38 and 29-yard field goals and three extra points.
Braxton Shelton rushed for 96 yards. He jump-started the offense with a 53-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Jessie Pourch sparked the defense with a 31-yard TD on his third interception of the game.
*Wide receivers Stephen Simms (Valparaiso) and Mark Strbjak (Munster) scored touchdowns for St. Xavier in a 34-28 victory over St. Francis, Ill. Simms caught eight passes for 93 yards and added 47 yards on two kickoff returns. Strbjak picked up 31 yards on four receptions, scoring on an 8-yard play.
The Fighting Saints stayed close behind Dyer’s Don Butkus, who pestered SXU by completing 25 of 44 passes for 271 yards. He fired three TD passes, including a 71-yarder.
More Top Picks Signs Of Dyslexia In Middle School Students
*Valparaiso’s Greg Thome started at strong safety for Chicago, which scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to overcome Case Western. Thome was credited with three solos and an assist.
*Valparaiso’s Ryan Nix kicked eight straight extra points and a 42-yard field goal in St. Francis of Ft. Wayne’s 59-16 rout of Olivet-Nazarene. His field goal was the Cougars’ longest since 2007.
*Crown Point’s Brett Bayer booted a 30-yard field goal and four extra points in Elmhurst’s 31-17 victory over Loras.
*Offensive lineman Doug Bickel (Munster/Andrean) saw action in Rose-Hulman’s 29-14 victory over Kalamazoo.
*Manchester’s Brenner Cruce (North Judson) carried four times for 10 yards in an opening loss to Trine. Starting linebacker Taylor James (LaPorte) figured in five tackles for Trine.
Soccer
St. Joseph’s was picked to finish last in the GLVC preseason poll, but countered with a 3-2 overtime victory at IPFW. Junior midfielder Alex Becker (Portage) assisted on one of Erick Turner’s two goals.