Oct. 19, 2009

www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois moved up two spots to No. 3 in both FCS polls this week following its 27-20 victory over then second-ranked Northern Iowa in the UNI-Dome. The Salukis (5-1, 4-0 MVFC) host Youngstown State (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) this coming Saturday for Family Weekend in McAndrew Stadium and tickets are still available for purchase.

SIU's No. 3 ranking is its highest since finishing the 2007 in the same spot. The Dawgs have won 10-straight Missouri Valley Football Conference games and are looking to tie Western Illinois' 11-consecutive victories from 1997-98 for the second longest streak in league history.

Kickoff for Saturday's game against the Penguins is at 3 p.m. and McAndrew Moment No. 2 will be revealed during the second to last game in the historic stadium. Last season on Family Weekend the Salukis drew a season-high attendance of 14,427, which saw the Dawgs defeat UNI on a last-second 40-yard Kyle Dougherty field goal. Saturday's Family Weekend game is expected to reach the same attendance figure and good weather is in the forecast for Carbondale.

The Salukis are one of just seven schools in the country to have a candidate for the both the Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan Awards. Senior running back Deji Karim is in the running for the Walter Payton Award, given to the Football Championship Subdivision's most outstanding player. Senior inside linebacker Brandin Jordan is a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, honoring the FCS's top defensive player.