CARBONDALE—Almost everything the Southern Illinois Salukis did Saturday worked to perfection.

Until they tried to play head games with NIU kicker John Ivanic.

Ivanic’s 32-yard field goal with just :12 showing on the clock propelled the Huskies past stubborn SIU, 10-9.

The field goal, which spoiled the Salukis’ homecoming party and helped NIU forget a frustrating, mostly Saluki-dominated afternoon, came after SIU called a timeout to “ice” Ivanic.

After the game, Ivanic said SIU’s timeout helped him concentrate and forget about a misfire on an earlier field goal attempt.

“Luckily they (SIU) gave us some time (with the timeout),” Ivanic said. “It gave me some time to settle down, get situated and think about what I had to do. It gave everyone a chance to take a breather and concentrate.”

NIU linebacker Mike Hollingshed’s interception of Reggie Edwards’ desperation pass as time ran out sealed the win, which moved NIU’s record to 5-3. SIU fell to 4-3.

Ironically, the penalties and mental mistakes that kept NIU behind 9-7 most of the afternoon worked in the Huskies’ favor in the final 2:19, which saw NIU drive from its own 26-yard line to the SIU 17.

After NIU lost a costly fumble on a reverse play at its own 38-yard line with 3:36 left, the NIU defense forced SIU to punt.

NIU’s Rodney Taylor signalled fair catch on the punt, which was downed at the NIU 8, but in the process, a Saluki defender hit Taylor and was whistled for a kick-catching interference penalty. The penalty moved the ball out to the Huskies’ 26, and coupled with a 15-yard walk-off on an illegal participation (12 men) penalty later in the series, assisted the NIU drive.

NIU quarterback Marshall Taylor (7 of 9 passing, 107 yards) broke a pair of tackles on a 9-yard run and hit tight end Claude Royster on passes of 19 and 6 yards in the drive’s key plays. The illegal participation penalty moved the ball to the Saluki 17 after Taylor and Royster hooked up on the six-yarder at the SIU 32-yard line with :32 left.

NIU had to know it was in for a battle when Saluki kicker John Bookout, who drilled three of four field goal attempts, cut an early 7-0 NIU lead to 7-3 with a 47-yard kick (at the 8:20 mark of the first period) that bounced high off the crossbar before caroming through the uprights.

The Huskies opened the game in impressive fashion, marching 76 yards in four plays to take a 7-0 lead. Rodney Taylor’s (14 carries, 64 yards) 11-yard touchdown run with 13:50 left capped the drive. Marshall Taylor hit Mark Clancy on a 43-yard post pattern and Kurt Cassidy on a 15-yard curl on the first two plays.

But from there until NIU’s final possession, three fumbles, 49 yards-worth of penalties and the SIU defense hurt NIU.

“I thought SIU did a great job of controlling the ball and moving up and down the field,” NIU coach Jerry Pettibone said. “I told our players in the locker room that they had a lot of opportunities to quit. But our defense did a great job with our backs to the wall.”

Mike Higgins and Ron Delisi led the Huskies with 18 and 16 tackles respectively. Delisi and Rodney Akis ended the Salukis’ second and third-to-last drives with key sacks.

Offensively, Steve Henriksen performed admirably at fullback, gaining 54 yards in six attempts.