TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Senior Darrius Gates ran for 143 yards and scored a school record five touchdowns as the Indiana State Sycamores defeated the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 41-30 Saturday afternoon in Memorial Stadium.

Gates not only set the single game touchdown mark but also set the single season mark as he now has 15 touchdowns this season. His five touchdowns broke Steve Brandenburg's standard of four, set in 1961 against Ball State and his 15 scores tops the old record of Willie Lee's from the 1972 campaign. Gates now has 90 points for the season which is also a new school record breaking Scott Bridges' mark from 1984.

The win was ISU's fifth straight at home this season and improves them to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Indiana State has now won five consecutive games for the first time since 1995 and earned its first victory over South Dakota State in three tries. ISU's five victories are its most since 2002 and the Trees 3-2 start to league play is the best since the 1995 & 1996 teams started with that record.

South Dakota State fell to 3-5, 3-3 MVFC.

The Sycamores took a 13-0 lead in the opening period on two Gates touchdowns. The first came with 10:26 remaining in the opening quarter as Gates ran in from four yards out to complete a 12 play-89 yard drive. His second touchdown came four minutes later on another four yard run to complete a seven play-86 yard play with 6:10 left in the opening quarter.

After South Dakota State scored on a 30 yard Peter Reifenrath field goal just four seconds into the second quarter, Gates tacked on his third touchdown of the game, this time on the receiving end of a 16-yard scoring strike from Fouch with 13:24 left in the half. The Jackrabbits fought back after that, scoring on a seven yard run by Kyle Minett and an 11 yard pass from Thomas O'Brien to Colin Cochart to cut the ISU lead to 20-17 at the intermission.

Indiana State pushed their lead to 17 points midway through the third quarter as Gates set a school record with his 14th touchdown this season and the fourth of the day on the receiving end of a 14-yard scoring strike from Fouch with 10:37 left in the third quarter. Ben Obaseki scored on a one-yard run with 8:44 left that put ISU on top 34-17. The Jackrabbits got the lead back down to 10 four minutes later on a two yard run by Kyle Minnett.

Gates set his second record of the game three minutes into the fourth quarter as he scored on a 11 yard run for his fifth touchdown of the game, a single game record at Indiana State. The Jackrabbits answered with 10:43 left on a one yard run by Minett but the Sycamores shut out the Jackrabbits the rest of the way.

Ronnie Fouch finished the contest with a 17-of-24 passing effort for 284 yards, extending his school record to five consecutive games with at least 200 yards passing. His favorite target on the day was senior Bryant Kent who caught six passes for 103 yards.

Defensively, Larry Carter paced the Sycamores with 12 tackles while Calvin Burnett added 10 to go with a team-high five pass breakups. Ryan Roberts had three tackles, including the only quarterback sack of the day for the Trees. Ben Obaseki recovered a fumble which Roberts forced.

Burnett posted an interception in the contest while Larry King had the other. King was credited with a 20-yard return of his interception.
Notably, Brett Sheldon, who has been featured nationally for his battle for a roster spot despite living with a physical handicap made his collegiate debut in the game's second quarter and kicked his first career extra point.

The Sycamores return to action on Saturday, November 6 when they host Northern Iowa. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. (ET). UNI downed Youngstown State 34-30 on Saturday to give the Panthers a 4-1 mark in league play heading into next week's battle for first place.