CARBONDALE, Ill. – Quarterback Mike DiLiello threw for two touchdowns and running back CJ Evans Jr. ran for another but Austin Peay State University's football team could not overcome a slow start and dropped a 49-23 decision to Southern Illinois Saturday at Saluki Stadium in the season-opener for both teams.

Austin Peay (0-1) broke through midway through the third quarter when kicker Maddux Trujillo converted a 29-yard field goal after the Govs defense recovered a fumble. That exchange appeared to spark the offense, which scored touchdowns on each of its final three drives. DiLiello connected with Kam Thomas and Kenny Odom on his touchdown throws. The DiLiello-to-Thomas connection went for 41 yards before DiLiello found Odum on a 44-yard touchdown play.

Southern Illinois (1-0) kept the Govs bottled up in the first half. After forcing three-and-outs on the first two APSU drives, the Salukis drove the length of the field for touchdowns. Quarterback Nic Baker found Justin Strong for a five-yard touchdown reception to cap a 61-yard drive and open the scoring. The Salukis pieced together a 65-yard drive on their next possession and Ro Elliott scored from a yard out to put the hosts ahead 14-0. The Salukis solidified their control just before halftime, converting a pair of turnovers into touchdowns to take a 28-0 lead into halftime and then held off the Govs' late comeback attempt.

DiLiello completed 20-of-34 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the game completing nine of his final 10 passes for 132 yards. Thomas caught five passes for 72 yards and Odum had four receptions for 66 yards.

Defensively, transfer linebacker Tyler Long led the Govs with 17 tackles and a tackle for loss. Junior linebacker Sam Howard added 10 tackles.

Baker led Southern Illinois with 219 yards on 16-for-23 passing with three touchdowns. He paced a Salukis offense that outgained the Govs 432-253, including a 165-50 edge at halftime.

Austin Peay returns to action in one week when it travels to Rocky Top for a 4 p.m. (CT), Saturday game at nationally-ranked Tennessee.

Scoring Summary

GOVS 0, SIU 7 – After the Govs were held to a three-and-out on their opening drive, Southern Illinois began its drive on its own 39-yard line. The Salukis covered the 61 yards to the end zone in 13 plays. Southern Illinois did not have a legal play go for more than nine yards on the drive. A potential 28-yard touchdown play was negated by penalty, but the Govs committed a personal foul two plays later to put the Salukis in the red zone. Four plays later, Nic Baker scrambled before ultimately finding Justin Strong in the front corner of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown.

GOVS 0, SIU 14 – Southern Illinois extended its lead with its next drive, going 65 yards in 14 plays. Baker completed passes of 15, 14, and 10 yards on the drive. His 10-yard completion to Vinson Davis put SIU inside the red zone. Davis then rushed for five yards, and Baker completed a pass that put the ball at the one-yard line as the first quarter ended. After the break, Ro Elliott navigated through the line and into the end zone for a one-yard score.

GOVS 0, SIU 21 – After forcing an Austin Peay fumble and recovering it at the Govs 21-yard line, Southern Illinois needed just three plays to find the end zone on their fourth drive. Baker scrambled for a 12-yard gain on the drive's first play, and Strong had the next two rushes to score the Salukis' third touchdown.

GOVS 0, SIU 28 – A kickoff and two plays from scrimmage later, Southern Illinois intercepted a tipped pass, and Dune Smith returned the pick 21 yards for a touchdown with 4:42 left in the first half.  

GOVS 0, SIU 35 – After the teams traded punts on their first possessions of the second half, Southern Illinois faced a 2nd-and-17 on their 20-yard line. Baker rushed for seven yards to cover the penalty, then completed a 16-yard pass to Cox for a first down. The Govs forced another 3rd-and-7 in SIU territory, but Baker eluded the Govs rush and found Jaelin Benefield down the SIU sideline for a 54-yard touchdown catch-and-carry.

GOVS 3, SIU 35 – After recovering a fumble, Austin Peay's offense pieced together a 14-play, 63-yard drive. Early on in the drive, Southern Illinois helped keep the drive alive with a pass interference penalty, and two plays later, the Salukis committed a personal foul and the Govs were set up in SIU territory. Jevon Jackson had a 12-yard rush to set up a 4th-and-2 that the Govs converted on a DiLiello pass to Tre Shackleford. DiLiello added a 12-yard completion to Jordan Goco, moving the Govs into the Salukis red zone. The Govs' drive stalled there and Maddux Trujillo converted a 29-yard field goal.

GOVS 3, SIU 42 – Southern Illinois responded immediately to the Govs score, needing five plays to cover 75 yards. Strong opened the drive with a 13-yard run, and Baker moved the ball into Austin Peay territory with a 19-yard pass to Izaiah Hartup. Three plays later, Baker found Hartup in the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown.

GOVS 9, SIU 42 – Austin Peay found the end zone in the fourth quarter, piecing together a four-play, 65-yard drive. DiLiello converted an early 3rd-and-1 with a five-yard completion to Brenen Hawkins. The Salukis committed a holding penalty on the next play and the Govs were in Saluki territory. On the ensuing play, DiLiello connected with Kam Thomas for a 41-yard touchdown completion.

GOVS 16, SIU 42 – The Governors continued their late-game push with a touchdown on their next possession. Austin Peay went 63 yards in seven plays. A Salukis personal foul negated an interception and kept the Govs drive alive. DiLiello rushed for a first down, CJ Evans Jr. ran for another, then dashed into the end zone from six yards out for Austin Peay's second touchdown.

GOVS 16, SIU 49 – Southern Illinois closed its scoring with an eight-play, 46-yard drive that followed a Govs on-side kick attempt. Backup quarterback Hunter Simmons converted a 4th-and-5 with a 12-yard run to keep the drive alive. He completed back-to-back passes to Zach Gibson and Dayton Mitchell to get the ball to the three-yard line. Kaleb Wagner punched it in from there.

GOVS 23, SIU 49 – Austin Peay quickly responded on its next drive, covering 75 yards in four plays. DiLiello capped the drive with a 44-yard touchdown strike to Odum who worked his way into a quiet spot in the defense.