In a game of offensive spurts, the Southern Illinois football team exploded in the final quarter, scoring 20 unanswered points to beat NIU 34-31.

The Salukis (2-0) started the comeback by intercepting NIU (0-2) quarterback Dan Nicholson with 10:30 remaining in the game. SIU cornerback Brandon Williams returned the interception for 52 yards and six points.

This was the second interception of the game for Nicholson who, in the first quarter, had a pick returned for 55 yards by SIU defensive tackle Larry Luster. The 310-pound lineman also scored a touchdown on his return.

“We were trying to take short stuff underneath and he was sitting on it,” Nicholson said of his second interception. “He made a good play.”

The Chicago native completed 21 of 27 passes for 223 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

NIU came back later in the quarter after recovering an SIU fumble. The Huskies drove to SIU’s 16-yard line and faced fourth-and-2. Huskie tailback Justin Anderson went for the conversion but fumbled the ball, which SIU recovered.

Anderson finished with 78 yards on the ground and 87 yards and two touchdowns via the air. The Chicago native became the feature back, as fellow tailback Montell Clanton tore his right ACL.

NIU middle linebacker Tim McCarthy was also injured in the game. The junior hurt his right MCL and ACL. The Huskies were also without linebacker Cory Hanson, as NIU coach Joe Novak said earlier in the week that he took a shot from Iowa.

With 4:06 left in the game, SIU went on a 16-play drive to score another touchdown. SIU faced two fourth down situations in the drive, and converted both occasions.

“I think we played in spurts in the game,” SIU head coach Jerry Kill said. “We got in at the right time, and were fortunate to execute some plays.”

Still down 28-31 and with 1:01 minutes left, SIU prepared for an onside kick. Saluki kicker Kyle Dougherty booted the ball high in the air toward the Huskie sideline. A multitude of players fell in the area of the kick.

Once the referees examined the pile, they deemed SIU had the ball at its own 43-yard line.

With 39.1 seconds left, the Salukis faced another fourth down. At midfield and three to go, SIU quarterback Nick Hill watched tight end Ryan Kernes move towards the right, then spin left, and catch a 20-yard pass.

Hill then threw a 30-yard touchdown on the next play. The senior ended his night with three touchdowns and 238 yards.

Tipped passes were key for the Salukis in their final two drives. Multiple times NIU or SIU tipped a pass that the Salukis would catch.

Down 34-31 and with 21.6 seconds remaining, NIU received the kickoff and formed a scrum. The ball shuffled through the group til wide receiver Preston Williams ran to NIU’s 20-yard line.

After a 15-yard pass the Huskies had one chance left. With 5.3 seconds left on the clock Nicholson dropped back and fired the ball down the field, in hopes of a miracle. Instead SIU picked off the quarterback for a third and final time.

“This is what you learn from. We have no one to blame but ourselves,” Novak said “If you’re part of athletics long enough you’ll be a part of a few of these. It just seems like I’ve been a part of too many of these.”