Gameday
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (12,764)
Sycamore Radio: ESPN Radio 1300 AM
Play-By-Play: Brian Fritz
Analyst: Pete Emmert
Series Information
Series Record: First Meeting
This will be the first between the two schools in the history of both programs. South Dakota State, along with North Dakota State, joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference prior to the 2008 season and are playing several of the league's schools for the first time.
Setting The Stage
Indiana State (0-7, 0-3 MVFC) return home to face off against South Dakota State (3-4, 2-1 MVFC) for the first time in school history. The Sycamores were defeated last weekend at Western Illinois by a score of 56-0, but will be looking to play well in front of their home fans, students and alumni on Homecoming at Memorial Stadium. Antoine Brown led ISU with 18 carries for 60 yards, with a long run of 14 yards in the fourth quarter. Freshman Ryan Roberts, seeing his first action of the season at quarterback, had 10 carries for 18 yards on the ground while going 2-for-4 for five yards through the air. The Jackrabbits are coming off a home loss to nationally ranked Cal Poly last weekend by a score of 42-28. Indiana State's last homecoming victory came in 2006, when the Sycamores defeated Missouri State, 28-22, in front of a big crowd at Memorial Stadium.
An Indiana State Win Over South Dakota State Would ...
* Snap the Sycamores' 21-game losing streak, dating back to a 28-22 Homecoming victory over Missouri Valley Football Conference rival Missouri State in 2006.
* Give Indiana State its first home win since 2006, when the Sycamores defeated Missouri State, 28-22, on Homecoming in front of a big crowd at Memorial Stadium.
* Give Indiana State its first home Homecoming win since 2006, when the Sycamores defeated Missouri State, 28-22, in front of a big crowd at Memorial Stadium.
* Give the Sycamores their first win against South Dakota State in school history (first meeting).
* Give Indiana State its first conference win since 2006, when the Sycamores defeated Missouri State, 28-22, on Homecoming in front of a big crowd at Memorial Stadium.
* Give Trent Miles his first collegiate head coaching victory.
The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State is led by first-head head coach Trent Miles, a 1987 graduate of ISU as well as a native of Terre Haute, Ind. Miles made his debut as a collegiate head football coach on against Eastern Michigan and will be looking for his first victory at Indiana State. Prior to coming to ISU, Miles spent three seasons (2005-07) as the running backs coach at Washington under head coach Tyrone Willingham and three years at Notre Dame (2002-04) as the wide receivers coach.
The South Dakota State Head Coach
John Stiegelmeier is in his 12th season as the head coach at SDSU, compiling a 71-55 record with the Jackrabbits. During the 2007 season, SDSU claimed its first conference title since 1963 by winning the Great West Football Conference championship. After starting 0-3 for the second consecutive season, SDSU reeled off seven wins in its final eight games, including a 29-24 victory over previously undefeated North Dakota State the final week of the season, to claim the GWFC title with a 7-4 overall record and 4-0 mark in league play.
South Dakota State Scouting Report
The Jackrabbits (3-4 , 2-1 MVFC) have not played a league contest since losing by a score of 34-20 at Northern Iowa on Sept. 20. SDSU opened the league slate with home wins over Youngstown State and Western Illinois on Sept. 6 and 13, respectively. SDSU enters Saturday's matchup as one of five teams with one loss in conference play. Quarterback Ryan Berry is the catalyst on offense, as he's thrown for 1,974 yards and 12 touchdowns for an average of 282 yards per game for the Jackrabbits. His favorite target is JaRon Harris, who's caught 43 passes for 640 yards and seven touchdowns. On defense, linebacker Jimmy Rogers leads the way with 61 tackles, including 26 solo stops, to go along with a half tackle for loss and an interception in seven games.
The Last Time Out
MACOMB, Ill. - The Missouri Valley Football Conference's leading rushing team showed why they hold that title, as No. 15 ranked Western Illinois pounded the Hanson Field grass for 333 yards rushing on way to topping Indiana State by a score of 56-0. The Sycamores (0-7, 0-3 MVFC) could muster only 135 yards in total offense, while giving up 452 total yards to the Leathernecks (5-2, 3-1 MVFC).
A Man Of Many Talents
Freshman Ryan Roberts was truly a man with many talents on Saturday at Western Illinois. After seeing playing time on defense in the team's first six games of the season, Roberts saw his first action of the season at quarterback against the Leathernecks. Roberts had 10 carries for 18 yards on the ground while going 2-for-4 for five yards through the air. Roberts was added to the depth chart as the backup because of an injury to Charles Dowdell and the suspension of Calvin Schmidtke. He was then forced into action after starter Matt Seliger was ineffective early in the game for the Sycamores.
Playing Penalty Free Football
Indiana State struggled on Saturday against No. 15 Western Illinois, but it was not due making mistakes via the penalty. The Sycamores had no penalties in their game against the Leathernecks and only turned the ball over once on an interception by quarterback Matt Seliger. Prior to Saturday's game, the Sycamores had committed 26 penalties for a total of 210 yard in six games played.
Scott Continues To Lead On Defense
Linebacker Quinton Scott has been a defensive stalwart for the Sycamores this season and he proved that on Saturday against No. 15 Western Illinois. The linebacker collected a team-high 11 tackles, including eight solo stops, for the Sycamores. Scott has finished with double-digit tackle three times this season, with all three coming in the last four games. He now leads the team with 64 tackles on the season, including 35 solo stops, to go along with 3.5 tackles for loss, a half of a sack and two forced fumbles.
I Want The Ball
You won't hear freshman Alex Sewall calling for the ball very often, but he certainly got his hands on the ball against No. 15 Southern Illinois. Sewall force two fumbles on the day for the Sycamores to go along with seven solo tackles to lead the team. Sewall now leads the team with three forced fumbles on the season and he has also recovered a fumble in seven games played.
Young Guns
Of the 53 players that saw action for the Sycamores in the season opener at Eastern Michigan, a total of 34 of those players were seeing their first-ever collegiate action of any kind. ISU started five players on offense, one newcomer on defense, plus one more on special teams against the Eagles.
