Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Despite a valiant offensive effort from senior Antoine Brown on his final day in a Sycamore uniform, Indiana State fell to North Dakota State by the score of 56-17 on Senior Day at Memorial Stadium in front of 2,878 fans.
The 2009 season concludes with the Sycamores owning a 1-10, 1-7 MVFC record while North Dakota State improves to 3-7, 2-5 MVC.
Antoine Brown went out for the Sycamores in fine fashion, rushing for a career-high 111 yards on 23 attempts with a 42-yard touchdown included. Brown also was the team's leading receiver, catching six passes for 35 yards. It marked the second time this season Brown eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark as he had 102 yards on the ground at Illinois State (10/17).
Ryan Roberts went 13-of-23 passing for 119 yards, including a long of 28 to Darrius Gates.
Aaron Archie led the team defensively with 16 tackles, boosting his season total to 117. Those 117 tackles now rank 15th best all-time for the Sycamores in a single season.
NDSU's Pat Paschall gained 129 yards on 16 carries and scored four touchdowns.
The Bison got on the board first with a 29-yard touchdown run to give the NDSU a quick 7-0 advantage just over two minutes into the first quarter.
Braulio Martinez connected on a 38-yard field goal at the end of the quarter to cap a 15-play, 52-yard drive which consumed 8:27 of the clock to cut the NDSU lead down to 7-3.
North Dakota State made it back to the end zone quickly on a three-play, 49-yard drive that took just 51 seconds off the clock to give the Bison a 14-3 lead. In the second quarter, Ryan Roberts plunged in from a yard out to inch the Sycamores closer to the Bison, 14-10 with 10:29 left in the second quarter.
After NDSU stretched the lead back to 21-10 on a 2-yard run by Paschall, Brown countered with a 42-yard touchdown scamper to make it 21-17 with 2:22 left before the break.
NDSU came right back with nine yard touchdown pass just before the half for the 28-17 lead.
The Bison added a block punt return for score, a Paschall 4-yard run and a 3-yard score by Sam Ojuri in the third quarter as well as a 15-yard pass from Voigtlander to Jose Mohler in the fourth for the 56-17 victory.
