Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The most successful Indiana State football season in 29 years Missouri Valley Football Conference membership came to a close with a 35-14 loss at the hands of No. 8 Chattanooga in the FCS Playoffs Sweet Sixteen before 8,914 fans inside Finley Stadium.
The Sycamores achieved an 8-6 record to set the program record for victories in the MVFC era. Indiana State also played its latest game in the history of the program. Chattanooga advances to the FCS Playoff quarterfinals for a date with No. 1 New Hampshire and are 10-3 on the season.
Senior quarterback Mike Perish wrapped his career with the school record for pass completions (620), attempts (1,051) yards (6,696) and touchdowns (45). He also owns the single-season record for pass completions, attempts, yards, and total offense. His 75-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Johnson also set the new school record for touchdown passes in a season with 21.
Perish found A.J. Johnson four times for 94 yards and one touchdown -- the 75-yarder in the first quarter.
Mark Sewall made the most of his season finale with 15 total tackles, including one quarterback sack and a team-leading 2.0 tackles for a loss. He added one pass breakup.
Indiana State received the opening kickoff and on third third play of the game, Perish was intercepted by Sema'je Kendalland the ball was returned to the ISU 3-yard line. From there, it took just one play for Chattanooga to a take a 7-0 lead on a 3-yd touchdown rush by Keon Williams just one minute into the contest.
The Sycamores would counter with a pair of first downs on their next drive but were forced to punt after reaching the Chattanooga 39. The Mocs were pinned at their own 10-yard line by a Osborn Umeh punt but they responded with a 14-play, 90-yard drive which chewed up 6:16 off the clock. The drive continued with a fourth-and-one conversion by quarterback Jacob Huesman, who also finished off the drive with one-yard TD plunge for a 14-0 lead with 5:03 remaining in the first quarter.
Each team traded punts, with the Sycamores taking over at their own 28 as time began to wind down in the first quarter. After a three-yard loss, Perish hit A.J. Johnson streaking down the sideline to cut the UTC lead down to 14-7 with 51 seconds left on the clock.
Chattanooga drove down to the Indiana State eight-yard line before the Mocs' field goal attempt of 25 yards was blocked by Patrick McCown. The Sycamore defense then had to make another stop of UTC as they faced a fourth-and-goal at the Indiana State one-yard line. Huesman looked to go over right tackle before Connor Underwood made a big stand at the goal line as the Sycamores earned another red zone stop.
The Mocs would go on to get another touchdown from Huesman just before the half on a 29-yard pass to Tommy Hudson as well as a one-yard Huesman rush early in the third quarter as the Sycamores trailed 28-7.
Magic struck for the Sycamores on the ensuing kickoff when LeMonte Booker ran into a rugby style scrum and the ball squirted perfectly into the arms of Jordan Wallace who raced 64 yards for a touchdown and Indiana State found themselves within 28-14 with 9:14 to go in the third quarter.
The Sycamore defense made one more stand in the fourth quarter when Mark Sewall stopped a scrambling UTC quarterback at the five yard line. Robert Tonyan appeared to block a field goal attempt for a touchback with 5:33 remaining in the contest.
Derrick Craine tacked on a one-yard rushing touchdown at the 1:53 mark of the fourth quarter for a 35-14 lead.
