Nov. 16, 2008

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University won two of the Missouri Valley Football Conference's weekly honors Sunday. S Marty Rodgers was named Defensive Player of the Week and RS/RB Larry Warner earned Special Teams honors.

A native of Webb City, Mo., Rodgers made a game-changing play when he returned an interception 57 yards for a touchdown to give SIU a 28-14 lead with six minutes left in the first half against South Dakota State Saturday. Rodgers became the third Saluki to run back an interception for a TD this year. He also led the Salukis with nine tackles, tying his season-high.

Warner, who hails from Vicksburg, Miss., led SIU in rushing, receiving and all-purpose yardage, and scored a pair of TDs vs. the Jackrabbits. Warner rushed for 76 yards and one TD on 19 carries and led all receivers with six catches for 73 yards. He returned a kickoff 89 yards for a TD en route to his game-high 269 all-purpose yards. Warner, who has returned three kickoffs for TDs this season, broke SIU's all-time career record in kick returns for TDs.

SIU took two of the league's weekly honors for the third time this season.