TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State wrapped up the first season of Spring Ball under head coach Curt Mallory on Friday evening with a balanced Spring Game that saw the White team take a 14-0 victory over the Blue team.
 
The teams were divided up by having most of the No. 1 defense on the Blue team and most of the No. 1 offense with the White team. The offense of the White team took advantage in the second quarter with two quick scores – a 34-yard passing TD from QB Cade Sparks (4-of-10, 84 yards, TD) to WR Dante Jones (3 rec., 49 yards, TD), and a 23-yard screen pass TD from QB Zach Larkin (8-of-16, 163 yards, 2 TD, INT) to RB Jaquan Keys (3 rec., 34 yards, TD; 7 carries, 13 yards).
 
There was some nice give-and-take, though, with the defense picking off two passes – one by Jamal Jones (7 tackles, 0.5 TFL) on the Blue team that was returned 22 yards and one by Kevin Beacham on the White team.
 
The White team offense put up 321 yards of total offense, including 270 through the air, but despite the numbers the most impressive group was the deep backfield of running backs. Fifth-year senior LeMonte Booker led the way with 48 yards on 15 carries, most coming right up the gut. This was Booker's first game action since missing the entire 2016 season due to a knee injury suffered in Spring Ball last year.
 
"Our biggest optimism is our running backs," said offensive coordinator Jeff Hecklinski. "It's hard to find one or maybe two guys; I think we have four maybe five, and we're adding two young guys in that mix. From that standpoint, I think there's a lot of optimism there. Anytime you have depth at tailback you have a chance to be a good football team."
 
The defensive side of the ball had some massive production on both the White and Blue squads. Junior linebacker Katrell Moss led the way for the Blue team with nine total tackles (five solo) and 1.5 TFL for a loss of eight yards, but other Blue team producers included defensive tackle Norvell McGlaun (7 tackles, 4 solo, 0.5 TFL), defensive end Kenyota Rollins (4 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3.0 TFL) and NIU transfer Rex Mosely (4 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks).
 
On the White team, defensive lineman Pishon Powell had a monster day with eight tackles, 3.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks.
 
"When we first got here, everything was coach-driven," said defensive coordinator Brad Wilson. "It started with Coach Mallory at the top and down through us assistants and to the players. But what you're starting to see now, you're starting to get more player-driven because that message has been so loud and clear from Coach at the top and all the way down through us. Now, the players are starting to embrace it and they're starting to echo."
 
With his first spring under his belt now at Indiana State, Coach Mallory is feeling good about what's coming this fall with Sycamore Football.
 
"I thought we did a nice job of spreading out practices and knowing when we could bang them and tackle and that type of thing, and we were able to keep them healthy, keep them fresh," Mallory said. "I know it was a grind throughout spring as far as the mental part of it, but it felt like we were able to come out of it healthy, which is important as we get into the summer."
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Football team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.