Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Indiana State football team had players earn both conference and national performer of the week honors following Saturday night's 57-7 season opening victory over St. Joseph's (Ind.) at Memorial Stadium. Meanwhile, ISU continued to receive votes in one national poll and holds several lofty rankings in the NCAA Statistical Report.
FN Lutz, a sophomore center, earned Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman Of The Week honors after he anchored the Sycamore offensive line which paved the way to 514 yards of total offense in the season opener against St. Joseph's (Ind.). Those 514 yards of total offense were the eighth most by an FCS team in week one of the season. Included in that total was 371 yards of rushing, which was third-most in the nation during opening week. The Sycamores scored a total of seven offensive touchdowns, all of them rushing, which is a school record. Additionally, Darrius Gates found 160 yards worth of running room behind the Sycamore line, which is the most ever for a Sycamore tailback in a season opener. Joining Gates with 133 yards on the ground was freshman Shakir Bell, as the duo of Bell and Gates became the first for the Sycamores to each eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark in the same game since the 2004 campaign.
Meanwhile Darrius Gates and Shakir Bell were named to the honorable mention list for the National FCS Running Back Of The Week Award as announced by the College Football Performance Awards. The CFPA provides the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.
Gates broke the school record for rushing yards in a season opener with 160 and three touchdowns while Bell set a new ISU collegiate debut rushing record with 133 yards on the ground versus SJC. Bell also scored a touchdown for the Sycamores. The duo of Gates and Bell became the first Sycamore pair since 2004 to each reach 100 yards rushing in the same game with their performance against St. Joseph's.
The Sycamores also continued to be featured in The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 in the also receiving votes section. All nine MVFC teams appeared in this week's poll, with four teams ranked in the top 25 and the other five in the also receiving votes portion. ISU received three votes this week from the national panel.
Finally, ISU ranks extremely high nationally according to the first NCAA Statistics Report posted this weekend by the national office. ISU's 371 rushing yards in the opening week of the season ranks third nationally and is tops in the MVFC. ISU's 514 yards of total offense is eighth nationally and second in the league. In addition to a top 10 offense, the Sycamore defense ranks 25th nationally, allowing 242 yards per game while its 7 ppg against ranks in a tie for 15th nationally for scoring defense. ISU's 57 points on offense are fifth in the nation. ISU's four team quarterback sacks ranks in a tie for eighth nationally while its 39.33 net punting average is 18th in the country.
Individually, Gates' 160 rushing yards ranks tops in the MVFC and is fourth in the country. Shakir Bell's 133 yards are second in the league and is also top 10 nationally, ranking in a tie for ninth place in the NCAA.
Alesx Sewall's 17 yards per punt return ranks seventh in the nation and first in the MVFC. Gates' 18 points are tied for most in the league and was the second most scored by one players in the entire nation last week. Rod Hardy posted two quarterback sacks, which is tied atop the MVFC and is tied for third nationally.
Indiana State returns to action on Saturday, September 11 at Cincinnati. The contest, which was originally scheduled to be broadcast on FSN Ohio has been moved to local television in Cincinnati. The game however will be seen nationally on ESPN3.com. Kickoff is still scheduled for Noon (ET).
