CARBONDALE, Ill. – The University of Dayton football team went on the road to face the highest-rated team the Flyers had ever played, and Southern Illinois more than lived up to the billing, as the eighth-ranked Salukis cruised to a 55-3 win in Carbondale, Ill.

It was the most points scored against the Flyers since Illinois State scored 56 on Sept. 1, 2012, and the fewest scored by Dayton since a 19-3 loss to Wagner in the 1987 Division III national championship game on Dec. 12, 1987.

UD is now 1-1 on the season, while Southern is 2-1.

1st Quarter -- Southern Illinois 10, Dayton 0
•    Southern Illinois jumped out to a 10-0 lead on the strength of two long running plays.
•    Justin Strong had a 40-yard run on SIU's first play from scrimmage, leading to a 25-yard field goal by Nico Gualdoni with 7:58 left in the opening period.  
•    On SIU's next series, Javon Williams Jr. ran 73 yards for a touchdown.  
•    Southern outgained Dayton 193-23 in total offense.

2nd Quarter -- Southern Illinois 38, Dayton 0
•    SIU exploded for 28 points in the quarter.
•    Dayton's first play in Saluki territory came at the 5:29 mark of the second quarter.
•    The Flyers threatened to get in the board, but SIU's Anthony Knighton blocked Sam Webster's 37-yard field attempt.  
•    Southern held a 245-66 advantage in total offense in the quarter, leading to 438 yards vs. 89 yards gained in the first half.  

3rd Quarter -- Southern Illinois 48, Dayton 3
•    SIU added another 120 yards in total offense, while UD had its most productive quarter, with 94 yards.
•    The Flyers got on the board with a 15-play, 65-yard drive that ended on a Sam Webster 28-yard field goal.

4th Quarter -- Southern Illinois 55, Dayton 3
•    With both teams substituting liberally, the Salukis got another 100 yards while Dayton gained 35.
•    The Salukis got the ball for the last time on their own 15 with 3:57 left in the game, moved into Dayton territory and then graciously took a knee three times to end the game.

BY THE NUMBERS
•    Jack Cook was 14 of 24 for 131 yards in the game.  He completed 10 of 15 passes in the third quarter.
•    During the game, Cook moved into third place for career passing yards at Dayton (5,383).  Will Bardo is second with 6,803, and the record holder is Kevin Hoyng with 8,862.
•    Andrew Holder and Tyler Mintz each caught three passes.  Holderer led with 37 yards.
•    Jake Chisholm ran the ball 19 times for a tough 66 yards.
•    Joe Bubonics led the Dayton defense with 11 tackles (10 solo) with a pass break up.
•    Zach Rumpke had a sack among his eight tackles.
•    Brandon Easterling also had eight hits.
•    Webster's field goal in the third quarter extended UD consecutive games-without-being -shutout streak to an active NCAA-best 489 games.
•    The 52-point deficit was the most for a Dayton football team in 100 years.  UD was beaten 78-0 by Bethany during the 1921 season.

UP NEXT
•    Dayton's next game will be the 2021 Pioneer Football League opener.
•    The Flyers will host new league member Presbyterian. 
•    It will be the University's Family Weekend Game, and the Flyers will also be observing the Hilinski's Hope Foundation's College Football Mental Health Week.
•    Kickoff with the Blue Hose at Welcome Stadium is at 1 p.m. ET.