Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com

FIGHT TO FIRST from ISU Blue on Vimeo.

SETTING THE STAGE
Indiana State continues year three of the Trent Miles Era on Saturday, Nov. 6, as they take on Northern Iowa in what has developed into a battle for first place positioning in the 2010 Missouri Valley Football Conference race. Saturday's game is set for a 3:05 p.m. (ET) kickoff at Memorial Stadium (12,700). The game will air live world-wide on Sycamore Vision with Vaso Michels and Marty Ledbetter calling the action. The game will also be carried live on ESPN Radio (92.7 FM & 1300 AM), with Brian Fritz and Ernie Thompson calling the action for the Nelligan Sports Marketing Radio Network. Action can be heard live worldwide on GoSycamores.com. ISU will also be running a live blog on GoSycamores.com and will be providing regular updates at facebook.com/Sycamores as well as twitter.com/IndStAthletics. Fans interested in watching the contest on Sycamore Vision may buy a pay-per-view subscription on GoSycamores.com.

THE NORTHERN IOWA SERIES
Indiana State trails Northern Iowa 22-4 in the all-time series and have dropped each of the last seven meetings, dating back to a 21-19 Sycamore victory in 2002 at Memorial Stadium. The Panthers are 10-3 against ISU inside Memorial Stadium and hold a 12-1 lead at the UNI-Dome.

THE COACHES
INDIANA STATE: Trent Miles (Indiana State '87)
- Overall: 6-25 (3rd Season)
- at Indiana State: 6-25 (3rd Season)
- vs. Northern Iowa: 0-2
- vs. Missouri Valley Football Conference: 4-17
NORTHERN IOWA: Mark Farley (Northern Iowa, '86)
- Overall: 87-35 (10th Season)
- at Northern Iowa: 87-35 (10th Season)
- vs. Indiana State: 8-1
- vs. MVFC: 51-18

QUICK HITS
- Indiana State is looking for just its fourth undefeated home season since moving to Memorial Stadium in 1967. ISU finished 4-0 in 1968 & 1985 while going 5-0 in 1980. No ISU team has ever finished a season 6-0 at home.
- Sycamore quarterback Ronnie Fouch has set a school record by passing for over 200 yards in five consecutive contests and will be looking for number six against Northern Iowa on Saturday.
- Indiana State's 3-2 league mark after the victory over South Dakota State is tied with the 1988, 1995 & 1996 squads for the best start to league play in the history of the program. Only the 1988 team has gone 4-2 in league play since the 1986 campaign when the Trees joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference (then Gateway Football Conference).

An Indiana State Win Over Northern Iowa Would ...
• Give Indiana State six consecutive victories (its most since downing St. Cloud State, Drake, Western Illinois, Southern Illinois, St. Cloud State and Missouri State in succession from 1985-1986).
• Give Indiana State a total of four conference victories in 2010, a total which matches the Trees total league victories from 2004-2009 combined (six seasons) and its most in a single league season since going 4-2 in 1988.
• Give Indiana State a victory over a nationally-ranked team for the first time since 1999.
• Improve ISU to 4-2 in MVFC play, tying the 2010 Trees with the 1988 squad for best start to a league season.
• Give Trent Miles victories over five different league members during his three-year tenure at ISU.

The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State head coach Trent Miles (Indiana State, 1987) is 6-25 (.194) overall in his third season as a head coach, all with the Sycamores. He is 4-17 all-time in MVFC games, including a 4-7 mark at home and a 0-10 mark on the road. During his career, he is 6-10 in all home games, 0-15 on the road and 2-2 in games decided by three points or less. Miles is 0-2 all-time against Northern Iowa, including a 0-1 record at Memorial Stadium. With the Trees, Miles is 1-2 in overtime games, and 0-5 in shutouts. Saturday's game is Trent Miles' 32nd game as Indiana State head coach.

The Northern Iowa Head Coach
The Northern Iowa head coach is Mark Farley who is 83-35 in his 10th season with the Panthers. Against ISU, Farley is 8-1 and he is 51-18 against members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Scouting The Panthers
Northern Iowa is 5-3 on the season, including a record of 4-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Panthers own a half game lead over Western Illinois and a one game lead of Indiana State and Missouri State in the current league standings. UNI is led by junior quarterback Tirrell Rennie who has amassed 948 rushing yards as well as 1,099 passing yards on the season.

A Little History
This marks the 106th season of football at Indiana State, dating back to 1896. The University did not field teams from 1899 to 1900, 1908 or from 1910 to 1919. ISU owns an all-time record of 344-468-22 and is competing for the 25th consecutive season as a member of the MVFC.

What's Transpired
Indiana State won its season opener with a 57-7 decision over St. Joseph's (Ind.) on Sept. 4. The Sycamores scored the game's first 23 points against the Pumas en route to the 50 point victory. ISU was led by senior Darrius Gates who finished with 160 rushing yards while freshman Shakir Bell burst onto the scene with 133 yards on the ground in his Sycamore debut. ISU trailed just 12-7 at halftime at two-time defending BIG EAST Champion Cincinnati en route to falling 40-7. Ronnie Fouch found 11 different receivers as he finished 23-of-38 passing for 161 yards and a touchdown pass to Alex Jones. Indiana State dropped its Missouri Valley Football Conference opener at Western Illinois by the score of 40-7 on a sloppy track in Macomb, Ill. ISU was led by Brock Lough who compiled 38 muddy yards on the ground and scored the lone ISU touchdown of the contest with his 1-yard run in the third quarter. The Sycamores improved to 2-2 on the season with a convincing 56-22 victory over Quincy. Bell and Gates both eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark and Ronnie Fouch became the first Sycamore quarterback to go over the 200-yard passing mark and throw four touchdowns in a single-game since the 2006 season. The Sycamores kept up their winning ways and improved to 3-2 on the season with a convincing 59-24 Homecoming victory over Illinois State. The Sycamores were led by Ronnie Fouch, who completed 16-of-22 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns while Shakir Bell ran the ball 14 times for 146 yards with a touchdown. Bryant Kent paced the Trees with seven receptions for 118 yards and a pair of receptions. ISU won its fourth game of the season and third in a row with a thrilling 38-35 overtime victory over Missouri State. Ronnie Fouch threw for 311 yards in the victory while the Sycamore defense racked up four quarterback sacks. The Trees came back from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to knot the game at 35-all and Cory Little kicked a 32-yard field goal in overtime to earn the win. The Sycamores winning streak ended at North Dakota State, dropping a 27-15 decision to the Bison despite jumping out to a 12-0 first half advantage. ISU was led by Ronnie Fouch who threw for 330 yards and touchdown. Darrius Gates set a new school record by scoring five touchdowns as the Sycamores improved to a perfect 5-0 at home with a 41-30 victory over South Dakota State. Gates rushed for 143 yards while Ronnie Fouch completed 17-of-24 passes for 284 yards and two touchdown passes.

The Calvin Burnett Show
Indiana State freshman Calvin Burnett was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Defensive Player & Newcomer of the Week for his efforts against South Dakota State. Burnett was extremely active on Saturday as he tallied a career-high 10 tackles in the 41-30 victory over the Jackrabbits. He also posted an interception which thwarted a Jackrabbit drive late in the game to secure the Sycamores third MVFC victory of the season. Burnett also posted five pass breakups in the contest.

Opening The Gates
Darrius Gates rushed 23 times for 143 yards and three touchdowns on the ground as the Sycamores downed South Dakota State, 41-30 at Memorial Stadium to improve to a perfect 5-0 on the season at home. Gates also caught three passes for 39 yards with two more touchdowns through the air. Gates' five total touchdowns in the game is a new school record, breaking a mark that had stood since 1961. He also now has 15 total touchdowns on the year, which is a new school record and his 90 points scored this season is likewise a new school standard. Gates' long rush of the contest was a 29-yarder while his 14-yard touchdown reception sparked the Trees to a 21-point second half. Gates now has five 100-yard rushing games this season and has scored three rushing touchdowns in three games this year.

Fouch Keeps Climbing
Quarterback Ronnie Fouch completed 17-of-24 passes for 284 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Sycamores downed South Dakota State, 41-30. Fouch's 284 passing yards gives him a school record five consecutive games of going over the 200-yard passing mark. Both of his TD pass completions went to Darrius Gates on throws of 16 and 14 yards. He completed two passes in the contest for over 50 yards each as he found Justin Hilton for a 63-yard completion and found Bryant Kent on a 52-yard strike. Fouch now has 15 touchdown passes on the season and needs just two more to tie Jeff Miller for the school record of 17 touchdown passes for a season. Miller tossed his 17 scoring strikes during the 1985 campaign. Additionally Fouch has thrown for at least 200 yards in each of the last five games (including 300-yard performances against Missouri State and North Dakota State). Fouch currently is second in the league with a 142.58 pass efficiency rating, which is 14th best in the nation.

One Of The Best Valley Seasons In School History
Indiana State's 3-2 start to league is tied for the best start to MVFC play for the Sycamores with the 1988, 1995 & 1996 teams which raced out of the gate to 3-2 starts as well. It marks the fourth time in the 25 years of competition within the league that ISU has started with at least three victories in their first five tries. Only the 1988 team has ever achieved a record of 4-2 through the first six league contests.

Sycamores Among The Most Improved FCS Teams
Indiana State is among the most improved teams in FCS football this season as they have taken their 1-10 mark from 2009 and are 5-3 so far in 2010, for a +4 victory total over last year. That improvement margin is ranked in fourth-best nationally. The most improved team in FCS is Southeast Missouri State who was 2-9 in 2009 and are 8-1 in 2010.

This Is Our House!
Indiana State improved to 5-0 for the 2010 season at Memorial Stadium with its victory over South Dakota State, giving the Sycamores five home victories for the first time since 1995. The Sycamores have assured themselves of a winning record at home for the first time since going 3-2 during 2004. Four teams have finished the season perfect at home (1968, 1975, 1980 & 1985) though now team has ever amassed a perfect 6-0 record at home in a single season. Additionally, the Sycamores are looking for their sixth consecutive victory at home, which would be the longest home field winning steak for the Trees since winning the same amount consecutively between 1985 and 1986.

Kent Goes For Over 100 Yards Receiving Against South Dakota State
Bryant Kent hauled in six catches for 103 yards, including a 52-yard bomb against South Dakota State. It marked the second time this season that Kent has gone over the 100-yard receiving mark.

Sycamores Getting It Done On The Line
Indiana State is amassing rushing yards at a 206.38 per game average, which is fifth in the league and 20th in the nation, which is a credit to the offensive line. The Sycamores have also allowed just 1.25 quarterback sacks per game, which is third in the MVFC and is 29th nationally. Conversely, the Sycamore defensive line is getting it done as Ben Obaseki is first in the league with his .88 quarterback sacks per game average, a number which is tied for ninth in the nation. Obaseki's 1.81 tackles for loss average is tops in the league and is eighth nationally.

Doin' Something For The First Time!
Indiana State has had a 200-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver in consecutive games for the first time in school history with several individual performances against Quincy and Illinois State. Ronnie Fouch has been over the 200-yard mark in both contests while Shakir Bell has reached 100-yards rushing in both games and Bryant Kent has reached 100 yards receiving in each of the last two weeks.

Points Are Starting To Pile Up
Indiana State has scored 280 points through its first eight games this season, averaging 35.0 points per game which ranks third in the league and is ninth-best in the nation. The school record for points in a season is 319, which was tallied by the 1992 squad. Through the first eight games of the record-breaking 1992 season, the Sycamores had scored 240 points.

Gates Leading The Scoring Charge & Nearing Top 10 Rushing At ISU
Indiana State senior Darrius Gates has reached the end zone a total of 15 times this season and leads the team in scoring with 90 points, which are both new school records. The school record were Willie Lee's 13 touchdowns in 1972 and 82 points, set by Scott Bridges in 1984. Gates 11.25 ppg average ranks first in the league and is second nationally. Gates has also amassed 1,596 career rushing yards, which is seventh-best in school history and is 402 yards behind Jim Brumfield's 1,998 yards for sixth place.

Gaining Some National Respect
The Indiana State football team received votes in both national FCS polls this week after winning their fourth contest in the last five tries with a solid 41-30 victory over South Dakota State at Memorial Stadium. ISU received 30 votes in The Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25 Poll, which is good enough for 35th. ISU also picked up 12 votes in the FCS Coaches Poll and are ranked 33rd. Northern Iowa, Western Illinois and North Dakota State represent the MVFC in the polls

Versus Nationally Ranked Programs
No. 17 Northern Iowa is the second Sycamore opponent to be ranked at the time of the contest this season. ISU will be looking to defeat their first opponent ranked in the Top 25 since taking down No. 19 Western Illinois on Oct. 23, 1999. The last ranked opponent for Indiana State was No. 24 North Dakota State on October 23, 2010. The Sycamores are 8-70 all-time against FCS nationally-ranked opponents, including a mark of 6-51 against league members that are nationally ranked.

Sycamores Against The Missouri Valley Football Conference
Indiana State is in its 25th season as a member of the MVFC. ISU's first season as a league member came in 1986 when it went 1-5 through a six-game league schedule. The Sycamores are 43-114 in MVFC contests and have won four of their last nine league matchups, marking the first time since the 2002 season that an ISU team has won multiple league contests over a similar stretch.

The National Eye
Indiana State junior kicker Brett Sheldon, who was born with a physical handicap, was featured this summer on an episode of The Dr. Phil Show titled "Driven To Succeed." Sheldon walked on to the team in the spring and is listed on the team's depth chart out of preseason camp. During the Dr. Phil Show he was featured along with New Orleans Saints head coach -- and former Sycamore assistant -- Sean Peyton. The Dr. Phil film crew was inside Memorial Stadium during the Spring Game and footage of the Sycamores' spring scrimmage was featured on the national television program. Sheldon made his collegiate debut against South Dakota State, connecting on an extra point in the second quarter of that 41-30 Sycamore victory.

Sycamores Have Doubled Up On The Ground Twice This Season
Shakir Bell paced Indiana State with 156 yards rushing to led the Sycamores' ground attack against Quincy. He was joined over the 100-yard mark by Darrius Gates who rushed for 139 yards. It marked the second time this season that the Sycamore duo have both reached the century mark on the ground in the same game as both also did it in the season opener against St. Joseph's. Gates also scored three touchdowns versus the Hawks, marking the second time this season he has reached the end zone three times in a game (the other coming against the Pumas in the opener). Gates and Bell became the first Sycamore duo since the 2004 campaign to each reach the 100-yard rushing mark in the same game when they accomplished that feat against St. Joseph's (Ind.). Gates had 160 yards on the ground while Bell posted 133 matching the double 100-yard rushing efforts of Sidney Montfort and Jake Shields in 2004 against UT-Martin.

Sycamores In The Pros
Two former Sycamores played in NFL Preseason contests this fall. Donye McCleskey played in one preseason contest for the Indianapolis Colts where he made a trio of tackles while Jamie Petrowski played in a pair of preseason contests with the Carolina Panthers. Former Sycamore DeJuan Alfonzo plays for the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League and was named the 2010 Ironman Of The Year.

Few Seniors
Indiana State has just eight players on its roster who are seniors. Of those, Darrius Gates and Pat Burke are fifth-year seniors, while Matt Seliger, Bryant Kent, Josh Jellison and Nate Brown are in their fourth year. Jordan Scott and Larry Lacotti transferred into the Sycamore program and are in their final season as well.

In Overtime
The Sycamores have played in 12 overtime contests since the rule was established for regular season games in the NCAA FCS Subdivision in 1996. The Sycamores are 7-5 in games that have used an extra period. ISU's last overtime victory came in the form of a 38-35 victory against Missouri State in the sixth game of the 2010 season.

Up Next
The Indiana State Sycamores hit the road and travel to Youngstown State on Saturday, November 13. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. (ET). The game can be heard live on ESPN Radio 92.7FM & 1300 AM.