CARBONDALE, Ill. - Steve Walker hobbled over to the North Dakota State bench. About a minute later he was on his back, his hands over his face.
The 10 fingers hid the disappointment of a probable serious knee injury while teammates and coaches took turns consoling him. His homecoming of sorts had ended in Southern Illinois' 9-0 win at McAndrew Stadium.
Walker, from Lockport, Ill., was playing in front of about 50 friends and family. His last appearance in the state of Illinois ended with a high school state championship in 2002.
Saturday's curtain call ended in agony. Initial prognosis was damage to two ligaments.
Facing third-and-9 at the Saluki 26, Walker found some room up the middle on a quarterback scramble.
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He tried to hurdle an SIU defender but was stopped in his tracks.
Walker tumbled head over heels and landed on the ground in obvious pain. He quickly hobbled off the field, but it was obvious his day was over.
He finished 7 of 17 for 67 yards and one interception.
Freshman Ryan Parsons took over and went 2 of 6 with one interception.
"Ryan came out and competed," said Bison head coach Craig Bohl. "He hadn't had an opportunity to play a whole lot this year."
Parsons engineered one impressive drive. Starting from its own 20, NDSU reached the Saluki 24 midway in the fourth quarter before a fourth-and-2 pass was incomplete.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546
