Momentum can change rapidly in college football, but rarely does it happen in as exciting and shocking a way as it did in Saturday’s game between South Dakota State and Southern Illinois. Trailing 20-14, Southern Illinois had a fourth and goal at the Jack Rabbits’ two-yard line with 3:50 remaining in the third quarter. The Salukis decided to go for the lead — and the outcome was far worse than a turnover on downs.
Running back Javon Williams came in motion from the left, took the handoff from Nic Baker and looked to throw it back to the quarterback. A South Dakota State defender quickly covered Baker as he ran to the flat, however, forcing Williams to look for other options. Williams then sidestepped a defender, rushed ahead and leapt toward the end zone for a score — although not for the team he anticipated.
A wall of South Dakota State defenders converged on Williams at the goal line, helicoptering him into the air and popping the ball out. Jack Rabbits corner Malik Lofton then collected the ball at the three-yard-line and took it 97 yards to the house.
Southern Illinois would’ve tied the game at 20 if Williams scored, but instead South Dakota State extended its lead to 14.
Lofton’s play could’ve deflated the Salukis, but they battled back to tie the game at 35 — via a 19-yard touchdown pass from Baker to wide receiver Landon Lenoir — with only 34 seconds remaining to force overtime. Southern Illinois (5-0) eventually won the game by a score of 42-41, thanks to a 10-yard touchdown run from Donnavan Spencer, giving the Jack Rabbits (4-1) their first loss of the season.
But while South Dakota State lost the game, Lofton won the highlight reel by making one of the sport’s most memorable plays of the season.
