SETTING THE STAGE
The fifth season of the Trent Miles era continues on Saturday, October 20, as the Sycamores continue road action in Missouri Valley Football Conference play at Western Illinois. Saturday's game is set for a 7:00 p.m. (ET) kickoff at Hanson Field (17,168). The game will be broadcast live world-wide on Sycamore Vision with Aaron Viner (pbp) and Josh Gleason (color) on the call. The game will also air live on WIBQ (98.5 FM), with Brian Fritz and Tom James calling the action for the Nelligan Sports Marketing Radio Network. Action can be heard live worldwide on GoSycamores.com. Sycamore Vision is a pay-per-view web stream service provided by GoSycamores.com, in partnership with Western Illinois Athletics and details of the broadcast can be found on page 2 of this release.

THE WESTERN ILLINOIS SERIES
Western Illinois holds a 21-14 edge in the all-time series over Indiana State, including a 14-3 margin in games played in Macomb, Ill. The Sycamores won the last meeting between the two teams, a 46-24 Indiana State win on Homecoming last season. Western Illinois has won each of the last seven meetings against the Sycamores in Macomb, dating back to a 10-7 Indiana State victory in 1996. The Sycamores have won two of the last three meetings against WIU after dropping nine in a row from 2000-2008.

THE COACHES
INDIANA STATE: Trent Miles (Indiana State '87)
- Overall: 18-34 (5th Season)
- at Indiana State: 18-34 (5th Season)
- vs. WIU: 2-2
- vs. Missouri Valley Football Conference: 12-24
WIU: Mark Hendrickson (Northern Iowa, '80)
- Overall: 18-27 (4th Season)
- at WIU: 18-27 (4th Season)
- vs. Indiana State: 2-2
- vs. Missouri Valley Football Conference: 10-21

QUICK HITS
- Indiana State downed No.1 North Dakota State on the road, 17-14 on October 13. It was the first victory for the Sycamores over a nationally top ranked program in program history in eight all-time attempts.
- Shakir Bell went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark in the seventh game of the season at NDSU. He broke his own record for quickest Sycamore ever to 1,000 rushing yards (which he reached in eight games in 2011).
- Johnny Towalid recorded two interception returns for touchdowns against North Dakota State, which set a new school record and tied the MVFC & NCAA FCS record.

An Indiana State Win Over Western Illinois Would ...
• Give Indiana State a 4-1 start to MVFC play for just the second time in the history of the program and the first since 1995.
• Give Indiana State a 6-2 record for the first time since 1995 and secure a winning record for three consecutive seasons which would be the longest such streak for Sycamore football since 1967-69.
• Give the Sycamores four consecutive road wins in MVFC play for the first time in program history.
• Be the Sycamores' first victory at Western Illinois since 1996 and would snap a seven-game losing skid to the Leathernecks on their home field.

The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State head coach Trent Miles (Indiana State, 1987) is 18-34 (.346) overall in his fifth season as a head coach, all with the Sycamores. He is 12-24 all-time in MVFC games, including a 7-11 mark at home and a 5-13 mark on the road. During his career, he is 12-14 in all home games, 6-20 on the road and 4-3 in games decided by three points or less. Miles is 2-2 all-time against Western Illinois, and is 0-2 against the Leathernecks on the road. With the Trees, Miles is 1-2 in overtime games, and 1-5 in shutouts. Saturday's game is Trent Miles' 53rd as Indiana State head coach.

The Western Illinois Head Coach
Western Illinois is led by head coach Mark Hendrickson who in his fourth full season as the head of Leatherneck football program. He owns an 18-27 record as the head coach, including two separate stints as the team's acting head coach. Hendrickson is 2-2 all-time against Indiana State, including a mark of 2-0 in games played in Macomb, Ill.

Scouting The Leathernecks
Western Illinois is 3-3 on the season, including a mark of 1-2 this season in Missouri Valley Football Conference play. The Leathernecks opened the campaign with a 2-0 record with home wins over Butler and Indianapolis and then fell to FBS opponent Iowa State. WIU has dropped a home league game to Illinois State, won on the road at MVFC newcomer South Dakota, 24-17, and lost last week at South Dakota State by the score of 31-10. Senior Wil Lunt returned the starting lineup in the South Dakota contest and is 31-of-59 passing for 386 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

A Little History
This marks the 108th 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 356-476-22 and is competing for the 27th consecutive season as a member of the MVFC.

Television Particulars
The Western Illinois game will be broadcast live on the internet by Sycamore Vision, which is a pay-per-view web stream service of GoSycamores.com. Fans should go to the web stream information section of GoSycamores.com for subscription information.

Johnny Towalid Has Historic Outing Against North Dakota State
Towalid was named the Co-National Defensive Player Of The Week By The Sports Network and was The National Defensive Performer Of The Week & National Defensive Back Of The Week as announced the College Football Performance Awards. He also was named a College Sporting News National All-Star. Towalid set an Indiana State school record with two interception returns for a touchdown as the Sycamores took down No. 1 North Dakota State on the road in ISU's first-ever victory over a nationally top-ranked program. His pair of pick 6's tied the league and FCS record for a single-game. He is one of just 24 players all-time to record two interception returns for a touchdown in one game in the history of FCS football. He scored both of the Sycamores' touchdowns at NDSU, including one in the second quarter of 27 yards to give ISU a 10-3 lead and then added another in the third quarter of 31 yards to stake the Sycamores to a 17-6 advantage. His first interception broke a string of 140 passes off the arm of Bison quarterback Brock Jensen without a pick. His two touchdown returns gave him a tie for both the Indiana State school record of two in a season and combined with his 78-yard touchdown off an interception at South Dakota State last season gives him three for his career which ties that record as well. He is tied with John Karazsia for both of those records set from 1970-72.

Connor Underwood Post Career Bests For Tackles & Sacks At NDSU; Named MVFC Newcomer Of The Week
Connor Underwood was named the MVFC Newcomer Of The Week following the North Dakota State game. Underwood continued his stellar initial campaign for the Sycamores with a career-high 10 tackle performance against the top ranked Bison. He posted a pair of quarterback sacks in the contest (also a career-best), including one on the Bison's first play from scrimmage which pinned them back on their own one-yard line. He had five assisted and five solo tackles on the day and added another quarterback sack in the fourth quarter to halt the Bison's final drive of the contest. Underwood is averaging .71 quarterback sacks per game while is tied for 30th nationally and is tied for third in the league just below MVFC leader, and Connor's older brother, Colton Underwood of Illinois State.

Why The Win Over North Dakota State Is High On The Indiana State List Of Program Achievements
Indiana State's 17-14 road victory over No. 1 North Dakota State was monumental in several ways for the Sycamores. It was the first-ever victory by an Indiana State football team over a program that was ranked first in the nation at the time of the contest in eight tries. It also marked the first victory for the Sycamores against a team ranked in the Top 5 nationally at the time of the game in 20 attempts. It was also the third consecutive road victory in MVFC play which is the longest such streak of success away from Memorial Stadium in conference action ever by the Sycamore program. The victory also broke a string of 10 consecutive wins for the Bison, who captured the FCS National Championship in 2011.

Shakir Bell Becomes Quickest To 1,000 Rushing Yards At Indiana State (Again!)
Indiana State junior Shakir Bell went over the 1,000 rushing yard mark for the season in just the seventh game as he put up 96 yards on the ground as the Sycamores downed No. 1 North Dakota State in front of a near capacity crowd at the Fargodome 17-14. Bell rushed 26 times in the game for 96 yards as he broke his own school record set last year for being the fastest Sycamore to reach 1,000 yards rushing in a season. Bell added two pass receptions for 15 yards in the contest, including a 19-yard reception in the game's first quarter which set up a 48-yard field goal for Tanner Fritschle. Bell also broke off a 28-yard rush in the fourth quarter against the Bison which allowed the Sycamores to eat up clock after NDSU had narrowed the Sycamore lead down to just 17-14 early in the stanza. Bell now has 3,352 yards for his career which is third on ISU's all-time list. Bell is averaging 147.6 rushing yards per game which is second in the MVFC and fourth nationally. Bell has reached 100 yards rushing in 16 of his 29 career games. Vincent Allen (4,335 yards from 1973-77) and David Wright (4,181 yards from 1992-95) now are the only two players to sit ahead of Bell on the ISU all-time career rushing list.

Special Forces Unit Making Their Mark Nationally
The Sycamores are averaging 38.75 yards per net punt, which is tops in the league and 10th nationally. Special Forces also ranks second nationally and in the league in kickoff return average, boasting a 29.07 tally per opportunity. Hileman is averaging a league-best 43.5 yards per punt, a total which is 10th best nationally.

Indiana State Now Just One Win Away From Third Consecutive Winning Season
The Indiana State Sycamores have now started the 2012 campaign with a 5-2 overall record as well as a 3-1 burst of the gate in Missouri Valley Football Conference play for the second consecutive season. ISU needs just one more victory to secure their third consecutive winning campaign which would be the first time ISU has enjoyed that many winning seasons in a row since the 1967-69 years under Jerry Huntsman when ISU posted six consecutive winning seasons.

Sycamores All-Time Against Nationally Ranked Programs
Indiana State downed No. 1 North Dakota State on the road on October 13 to mark the last time the Sycamores have won against a nationally-ranked team. The Sycamores are 11-73 all-time against FCS nationally-ranked opponents, including a mark of 8-54 against league members that are nationally ranked. ISU stopped a skid of two losses against a nationally-ranked opponent (@No. 2 Northern Iowa on October 8, 2011 & vs. No. 1 North Dakota State on November 5, 2011) with the victory over the Bison.

Finishing The Games Strong
The Indiana State Sycamores have put together a total of 28 offensive scoring drives through seven games this season. Of those, 21 have come after an opponent's final score -- good enough for 75.0 percent of all scoring drives. The Sycamores have outscored their opponents by a 79-42 margin in the second half this season, including a 37-15 advantage in the fourth quarter. The Sycamores improved to a perfect 5-0 this season when leading heading into the fourth quarter as it held a 10-6 advantage heading into the final period and padded the lead with the second of Johnny Towalid's two interception returns for a touchdown as ISU won 17-14 at North Dakota State.

Defense Ranks High Nationally In Points Allowed Per Game
The Sycamore defense has been outstanding so far this season, allowing just 91 points over the first seven games, including the program's first shutout since 1996 with the 44-0 victory over Quincy on September 8. ISU has allowed just six offensive touchdowns to the opposition in the last 25 quarters of action. ISU's defense is allowing an average of 13.1 points per game which ranks second in the MVFC and third nationally.

Three Consecutive Road MVFC Games For First Time
Indiana State earned a 17-14 road victory in league play over North Dakota State on October 13 which broke a four-game losing streak to the Bison, including a two in a row in Fargo. The victory also gave the Sycamores three road MVFC wins in a row dating back to the road finale in 2011 at Missouri State and including the win over Southern Illinois on September 29. Since snapping a losing streak of over 30 games on the road in league play with a victory over Youngstown State in 2010, Indiana State is now 5-3 away from Memorial Stadium in the MVFC. Prior to the current string of MVFC road victories, the previous best for the Sycamores came in 1996 with consecutive road wins over Western Illinois and Southern Illinois.

Calvin Burnett With Two Interceptions In A Game For Second Time In As Many Weeks
Calvin Burnett recorded a pair of interceptions in back-to-back games against Southern Illinois and Missouri State and now has four on the season. It marked the third time in Burnett's career that he has picked off two passes in a game and the first time at Memorial Stadium when he did it on Homecoming versus the Bears. Burnett tied a career-high with two pass interceptions with his other double interception performances coming on the road at Youngstown State in November of 2010 and at Southern Illinois on September 29, 2012.

Tanner Riley Garners National Honors Following 93-Yard Kickoff Return Versus Missouri State
Indiana State junior Tanner Riley was named the National Kickoff Returner Of The Week by the College Football Performance Awards for his efforts as part of the Homecoming victory over Missouri State on October 6. Riley answered a Missouri State first quarter touchdown with a 93-yard kickoff return for a score to even the game at 7-7 en route to the 31-17 triumph over the Bears. His kickoff return was the first for a TD since Leonard Riston did it last season against Butler and was the longest by a Sycamore since 2005. The return was the first in Riley's career for a touchdown and the second score of his career (caught a nine-yard pass last week against Southern Illinois). The touchdown proved to be Riley's only kickoff return opportunity of the game. Riley added one catch for seven yards against the Bears.

Aaron Archie Leading The Way For The Sycamore Defense
Indiana State senior linebacker Aaron Archie has reached double figure totals in tackles in each of the Sycamores' first seven games this season and leads the team with a 12.0 tackles per game average. His total is the most in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and is the fourth-best figure nationally.

Fritschle Honored By The Fred Mitchell Award Committee For September Performance
Indiana State sophomore kicker Tanner Fritschle has been very effective at the kicking position this year, hitting 9-of-10 field goal attempts and is a perfect 18-of-18 on PAT's so far through six contests. For his efforts, he has been honored by The Fred Mitchell Award Committee for one of the best national performances by a kicker in the month of September. He is one of 31 kickers to earn the distinction. The Washington, Ind., native made a field goal as the clock reached 0:00 heading into halftime in each of the first four games this season.

Bell Sets MVFC & ISU Rushing Records In Victory Over Drake
Indiana State junior running back Shakir Bell etched his name in both the Missouri Valley Football Conference and Indiana State record books yet again on September 15 when he gained 349 yards on the ground to set both the school and conference single-game rushing record against Drake. For his efforts, Bell was named both the MVFC Offensive Player Of The Week and The Sports Network National Offensive Player Of The Week. His 349-yard rushing effort is the highest single-game total so far this season for both FBS and FCS and is the eighth-highest total ever in FCS history. Evan Borchers Was Named The MVFC Offensive Lineman Of The Week following Bell's performance against Drake.

Shakir Bell Named To Walter Payton Award Watch List
Indiana State junior running back Shakir Bell is among 20 student-athletes selected by The Sports Network for the publication's 2012 Walter Payton Award Watch List. The Walter Payton Award is presented following the season to the nation's most outstanding player at the Football Championship Subdivision level. Bell tied for second for the prestigious award following his standout sophomore season, a year that saw the Indianapolis, Ind., native led the nation with 1,670 rushing yards. The Warren Central High School product was named to the FCS Preseason All-America First Team by The Sports Network earlier this week. Bell averaged 151.8 yards per game on the ground and broke the school record for single-game rushing yards last season when he racked up 256 yards and four touchdowns in Indiana State's 37-35 win over Youngstown State on Sept. 24, 2011. The 2011 Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year tallied 14 touchdowns in 2011, breaking the school record for single-season rushing yards (1,670) and posted the eighth-best total in MVFC history.

Ben Obaseki Named To Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
Indiana State senior defensive lineman Ben Obaseki is one of 20 players nationally to be named to the 2012 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List as announced by The Sports Network. The Buck Buchanan Award is awarded annually at the FCS Awards Banquet during NCAA FCS Championship weekend to the nation's top FCS defensive player. Earlier this month, Shakir Bell was named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, which goes to the top offensive player in FCS. Bell finished tied for second in last season's voting as a sophomore. Last season, Obaseki was named a First Team All-American by the Associated Press and was a First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference performer. He finished third in the league's Defensive Player of the Year voting after leading the Sycamores with 7.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, which tied for second and third in the MVFC, respectively, in those categories. He posted 22 total tackles against Western Illinois on October 15 which is the most by a defensive lineman in the history of the MVFC. Obaseki also plays fullback in goal line situations as he scored five touchdowns last season on five rushing attempts. Obaseki was also a First Team All-MVFC performer as sophomore in 2010.

Bringing Back Memories Of "The Fridge"
The Sycamores' senior defensive end Ben Obaseki found the end zone for the seventh time of his career on the offensive side of the football when he plunged in from one yard out in the 2012 home opener against Quincy. Obaseki has seven career rushes to his credit - all leading to Sycamore touchdowns.

Sycamores Against The Missouri Valley Football Conference
Indiana State is in its 27th 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 49-116 in MVFC contests and have won 10 of their last 18 league matchups, marking the first time since the 2002 season that an ISU team has won multiple league contests over a similar stretch.

FN Lutz Nominated For 2012 All-State AFCA Good Works Team
Indiana State senior offensive lineman FN Lutz is one of 117 nominees nationwide for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team as announced today by the national coaches' organization. In 2011, Lutz was named both First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference as well as First Team MVFC All-Academic following a season that saw him start all 11 games at center. He spearheaded an Indiana State rushing attack that averaging 181.9 yards per game as well as a league-leading 5.3 yards per carry. He was an Honorable Mention All-MVFC pick in 2010 as a sophomore. Lutz is joined by Colton Underwood of Illinois State, Billy Turner of North Dakota State, Bo Helm of South Dakota State and Kyle Bernard of Northern Iowa as representatives of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. As one of college football's most prestigious off-the-field honors, the award recognizes a select group of college football players committed to making a difference in their communities. Since 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has shown a spotlight on the countless "good works" and remarkable stories of service by student-athletes at all levels of college football competition. Award recipients represent the sport's finest in terms of character and leadership in the community.

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 contest came in the form of a 38-35 victory against Missouri State in the sixth game of the 2010 season.

Up Next
Indiana State returns to Memorial Stadium for the first of two MVFC contests at home against new league member South Dakota on Saturday, October 27. Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. (ET) and will be televised nationally on ESPN 3.