INDIANA STATE LOSES FOURTH QUARTER LEAD, DROPS CONTEST TO WKU

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State took the lead in the fourth quarter over No. 3 Western Kentucky, but the Hilltopper rushing attack proved too much as Sycamores fell 38-28 in the first Gateway contest of the season.  ISU rolled up an impressive 490 yards of total offense but it was not enough to overcome 293 rushing yards by WKU.  The Hilltoppers improve to 3-1 on the season, while ISU drops to 0-5.

WKU posted 521 total yards but the Sycamores were equally impressive in the offensive slugfest.  ISU racked up 365 yards through the air.  Blayne Baggett went 32-of-53 for 297 yards from the QB position and the Sycamores completed three passes on fake kicks.  Phillip Johnson was two-for-two on fake punt attempts for 61 yards, and Sam Logan passed for a seven yard TD on a fake FG.  But at the end of the game, the WKU rushing attack took its toll on the Sycamore defense as the Hilltoppers scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to overcome a 28-24 deficit and earn the win. 

Western Kentucky looked like it would take control of the game early as it scored on its first play of the game on a 73-yard pass from Haddix to Maurice Perkins to take a 7-0 lead just 16 seconds into the game.  The Hilltoppers' Dan Cline then picked off a Blayne Baggett pass on the Sycamores' first play to regain possession on the ISU 30-yard line.  Haddix and Perkins tried to make it two TD's in two plays, but the pass was over the head of an open Perkins.

The Sycamores answered with a big play as the Sycamore defense forced a fumble by Lerron Moore to halt the WKU momentum.

ISU then marched the ball down the field and tied the score, 7-7, on a 28-yard scamper by Cornel Johnson to finish off a seven-play drive that covered 75-yards.

The Sycamores held the Hilltoppers on their next possession to force a punt and ISU again put together a sustained drive.  However, it was not without a little trickery as ISU used a 28-yard pass by Phillip Johnson on a fake punt to keep the drive going.  Indiana State also converted a second fourth down play later on the drive on the 15-yard line.  But the third time the Sycamores rolled the dice on fourth down the Hilltoppers would not budge and the ISU drive was stopped on the five-yard line.

WKU responded with an impressive 14-play drive that covered 95 yards and regained a 14-7 lead on a Haddix two-yard plunge.  The Hilltoppers held the ball for 5:52 during the possession, which saw WKU use 11 running plays for 90 yards. 

But ISU did not back down as they again marched down the field behind the passing of Baggett and tied the score on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jami Petrowski on the eighth play of the drive.  Baggett completed five-of-six attempts on the possession, which knotted the score at 14-14.

The Sycamore defense stepped up and made a stop on the next WKU possession and gave the ball back to the offense at the 34-yard line.  ISU moved the ball down to the seven yard line, where the Hilltoppers stopped the Sycamores and forced ISU to line up for a field goal.  But ISU converted on its second fake kick of the day as Sam Logan found Andy Jones wide open for a seven-yard TD and a 21-14 advantage, which ISU maintained heading into halftime.

WKU drew first blood in the second half with a 25-yard field goal by Chris James on its first possession of the half to cut the Sycamore lead to 21-17.  The Hilltoppers then forced an ISU punt after four plays and the WKU offense was back on the attack.  A two-yard score by Lerron Moore culminated a 12 play, 64-yard WKU drive to give them its first lead since the early going, 24-21.

The Sycamores looked like it had another drive stall on the 43 yard line, but Phillip Johnson's second converted pass on a fake punt in the game went for 33 yards on 4th-and-15 to keep the ISU offense on the field.  ISU eventually punched it in the end zone on a one-yard run by Cornel Johnson as the Sycamores went back up, 28-24.  The ISU drive finished with 15-plays and covered 74 yards. 

WKU did not mess around on its next possession, as they went 78 yards on three plays, to score what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown on a 47-yard pass from Haddix to Jamison Link.  The TD game the Hilltoppers a 31-28 lead and after stopping ISU, the opposition would add the final score on a 30-yard Haddix strike to Curtis Hamilton.

Lerron Moore was the game's leading rusher as he posted 144 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown for Western Kentucky.  Andre Forte led the Sycamores with 78 yards on 16 carries and two scores.

Sycamore senior Jamie Petrowski was the leading receiver in the game as he hauled in 10 passes for 133 yards and a TD. 

Justin Haddix completed 15-of-22 for 228 yards and three touchdowns through the air.  He also ran 12 times for 68 yards and a TD.

The Sycamores host Youngstown State next weekend for its second Gateway matchup of the season at 1 pm at Memorial Stadium.

COMPLETE GAME STATISTICS