(WSIL) --Â Southern Illinois came up empty in the red zone late in the game Saturday in a loss to Northern Iowa.
The No. 3-ranked Salukis (6-2, 4-1) out-gained the No. 16 Panthers (5-3, 3-2) on the day, 410-285, but costly turnovers and having to settle for three field goals were the difference.Â
SIU quarterback  passed for 306 yards, but he was picked off twice, once on a deflected ball at the line of scrimmage, and he fumbled once.
"I think if you asked a lot of teams, if you could move the ball and throw for 300 yards up here, they would take it," said Saluki head coach . "Now, you have to score, you can't turn it over. The goal was to win. Yards don't get you any points."
The Salukis slipped into second place, one game behind 5-0 North Dakota State, with three games remaining. The two teams don't play each other this season, but the Bison still have to play at South Dakota State.
The Salukis host a critical game next Saturday against Missouri State, which is 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the MVFC. The Bears are coming off a dramatic comeback win over North Dakota, while Southern will look to bounce back from it's first loss to an FCS team this season.