Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Indiana State senior tailback Shakir Bell returned to the Sycamore lineup and rushed for over 200 yards for the sixth time in his career but it was not enough as the Sycamores fell 38-37 on the road to Tennessee Tech.
The Sycamores fell to 1-3 on the season while Tennessee Tech improved to 3-2.
Shakir Bell, who saw his first action since injuring his shoulder in the season opener at Indiana, rushed for 201 yards and one touchdown to go over the 4,000 career rushing yard mark. He is the third Sycamore in the history of the program and ninth in the history of the Missouri Valley Conference to achieve that milestone. Bell now has 4,108 rushing yards in his career. He added six receptions for 68 yards, including one touchdown through the air. Bell is now just three touchdowns away from tying the ISU all-time career touchdowns scored record.
Mike Perish was 25-of-43 passing for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Bell was Perish's top target while Sampson Levingston added six receptions of his own for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Making her collegiate debut, Eric Heidorn connected on three field goals -- the most by a Sycamore since the 2012 campaign.
Trailing 24-12 at the half, the Sycamores came right out of the break with a strong offensive charge which ended with 13:13 remaining in the third quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Mike Perish was was set up by a strong run near the goal line by Shakir Bell. The Perish rushing touchdown cut the Tennessee Tech lead down to 24-19.
Tennessee Tech answered with a five-yard touchdown run by Jared Davis at the 8:01 mark of the third quarter to restore the 12-point advantage at 31-19.
That is when Shakir Bell took over the contest for the Sycamores in the second half. Bell scored on a six-yard touchdown run with 5:16 left in the third quarter to get ISU within 31-26. Mike Perish then found Sampson Levingston for a 12-yard touchdown reception with 1:12 left in the third period and added a two-point conversion from Perish to A.J. Johnson to give the Sycamores a 34-31 lead -- its first since the first quarter.
After another defensive stop, freshman Eric Heidorn connected on his third field goal of the contest with just under 13 minutes remaining to stretch the lead out to 37-31.
Zach Ziegler regained the lead for Tennessee Tech on a two-yard pass from Jared Davis with 1:11 on the clock to put the Golden Eagles up 38-37. The Sycamores got into Tennessee Tech territory on their final drive, but a tipped pass was intercepted with less than 20 seconds remaining to seal the game for TTU.
Indiana State scored first in the game on a 31-yard touchdown reception by Shakir Bell off the arm of Mike Perish. Bell returned to action from a shoulder injury which has sidelined him since the season opener at Indiana. The touchdown drive was set up by an interception from Phil Wilson on Tennessee Tech's opening drive. Bell caught a screen pass and raced down the sideline for the quick 6-0 lead at the 11:33 mark of the first quarter.
Tennessee Tech answered the Sycamores' opening score with 17 unanswered points to take a 17-6 advantage at the 13:14 mark of the second quarter.
The Sycamores moved the ball deep into Tennessee Tech territory twice in the second quarter, first with a nine-play, 59-yard drive which ended with Eric Heidorn's first career field goal -- a 31-yarder -- at the 10:13 mark to cut the deficit down to 17-9. Heidorn came back on the Sycamores' next drive to connect on a 42-yard field goal at the 4:56 mark to further cut into the Golden Eagle lead at 17-12.
The Golden Eagles came back with a 16-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up nearly all of the second quarter clock and ended with a one-yard run by Bud Golden on fourth down with 14 seconds on the clock to give Tennessee Tech a 24-12 cushion heading into halftime.
Indiana State opens Missouri Valley Football Conference action on Saturday, October 5 as they return home to face off against Youngstown State. The game marks the annual Homecoming contest on the Indiana State campus and kick-off is set for 3:05 p.m. (ET).
