TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The Indiana State football team (6-5, 4-4 MVFC) scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter to tie the game at 21 but fell to the Salukis of Southern Illinois (4-7, 2-6 MVFC) 35-28 in their regular season finale.

Despite both teams offense struggling to start the game, the Salukis struck first with a 7-yard touchdown rush to take a 7-0 lead over the Sycamores. On the first play of the ensuing Sycamore drive, sophomore tailback Shakir Bell fumbled and the Salukis recovered on the ISU 28 yard line. The Salukis then took advantage of the turnover and made it 14-0 over the Sycamores with a one play, 28-yard drive.

Both teams then traded punts before sophomore wide receiver Leonard Riston fumbled the punt return, give the Salukis the ball back at the Sycamore 33 yard line. The Salukis once again took advantage of the Sycamore turnover and extended their lead to 21-0. 

The Sycamore offense could not get anything together and trailed the Salukis at halftime, 21-0.

After halftime both teams traded punts until Sycamore quarterback Ronnie Fouch connected with Donald Spencer for a 72 yard touchdown pass to cut the Saluki lead to 21-7. Senior defensive back Ryan Roberts then intercepted the Saluki pass on the ensuing drive which Bell turned into an 18 yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 21-14.

The Sycamore defense then forced the Salukis to turn it over on downs on the ISU 20 yard line. The ISU offense then tied the game at 21-21 with a 50 yard touchdown pass to Spencer. 

SIU could not get anyhting going on offense to start the fourth quarter but Fouch was picked off on the Sycamores first possesion of the quarter and the Saluki defense returned it for a touchdown to give the Salukis a 28-21 lead. 

The Sycamore offense stormed back though and marched down the field 53 yards before junior defensive end Ben Obaseki tied the game at 28 with a two yard touchdown run.

Once again the Salukis had an answer and retook the lead at 35-28 off a one yard touchdown run with 6:16 remaining.

The Sycamores marched down the field and were stopped, after Bell was injured and helped off the field, on third and 14 on the SIU 29 yard line with 58 seconds to go when Fouch was intercepted on the goal line by the Salukis, ending the Sycamores hopes for a comeback. The Sycamores then eventually fell by a final score of 35-28.

Fouch finished the game 16-34 with 295 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Spencer finished with 168 yards off five catches with two touchdowns. 

Despite not playing the last 6 minutes of the game due to injury, Bell led the Sycamores on the ground with 137 yards and a touchdown.

As a team the Sycamores had 436 yards of total offense after having just 132 in the first half.

The Sycamores finish the season with a 6-5 record for the second consecutive season.