By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
BROOKINGS, S.D. – No. 19/21 Indiana State will play its first ranked opponent of the season this weekend at No. 8/9 South Dakota State on Sat., Oct. 10. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.
QUICK HITS
• Indiana State is ranked in the top-25 for a school-record 16th straight week. The Sycamores rank No. 19 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and No. 21 in the FCS Coaches Poll. ISU is one of six Valley teams to be ranked in both polls.
• Five Valley teams remain ranked in the top-10 in both polls; Indiana State plays all five the remainder of the season.
• The Sycamores are 57-137 (.293) all-time in MVFC play (dating back to ISU's first Valley season in 1986).
• Indiana State is 15-82 all-time against top-25 schools, which includes an 11-62 mark against ranked MVFC teams. However, ISU is coming off a season in which it went 5-4 against ranked schools in 2014.
• ISU is coming off an explosive 56-28 victory at Missouri State on Oct. 3 to open the MVFC season at 1-0 overall. Eight different Sycamores scored a touchdown in the effort, led by MVFC Offensive Player of the Week Matt Adam, who went 27-of-38 for 265 yards and four touchdowns -- all career highs.
• The Sycamores are now 3-1 for the second-straight season -- the first time that has happened back-to-back since 1994-95.
• ISU won its 10th-ever MVFC opener last week at Missouri State; Indiana State is now 10-20 all-time in Valley openers.
• With the win at Missouri State, the Sycamores are 1-0 in conference play for the second straight season -- the first time that has happened in successive seasons since 1996 (at Western Illinois) and 1997 (vs. Southern Illinois).
• With the 56 points scored at MSU and the 52 scored against Butler on Sept. 5, Indiana State has now scored 50+ in two games in the same season for the first time since 2010.
• ISU's eight touchdowns against the Bears on Oct. 3 are the most by any Sycamore team since 2010.
• Indiana State holds the Valley's top scoring offense at 37.8 points per game, 13th-best in all of the FCS. Other offensive categories ISU ranks highly in on a national scale include Red Zone Offense (.923, 16th), Fourth-Down Conversions (.667, 18th), Total Offense (446.5 yards/game, 20th), rushing offense (211.0 yards/game, 25th) and passing offense (235.5 yards/game, 35th).
• ISU holds the nation's 21st-best turnover margin at +4. The Sycamores' one lost fumble all season also ranks sixth-lowest nationally.
• ISU is tied with four other schools for the toughest strength of schedule in the FCS thus far.
• QB Matt Adam recently passed 1,000 passing yards in his career. Adam has 1,076 career yards and 11 total touchdowns.
• Matt Adam's four touchdown passes at Missouri State last week are the most by a Sycamore QB since Mike Perish threw four at Southern Illinois in 2014.
• Matt Adam ranks 16th nationally in passing touchdowns (9), 25th in total offense (255.5 yards/game) and 33rd in passing yards (218.8 yards/game).
• Senior CB Travis Starks leads all FCS defenders in interception return yards (100), and ranks sixth in all of Division I football. Starks returned an INT 100 yards for a touchdown against SEMO on Sept. 19.
• Senior WR Gary Owens is on pace to break both the single-season (8) and ISU career (15) records in receiving touchdowns. Owens currently ranks tied for 20th nationally with four through four games this season. In two seasons at ISU, Owens has nine.
• Sophomroe WR Tyler Denton is one of 25 players in the FCS to return a punt for a touchdown in 2015. Denton took one back 42 yards on a trick play at Missouri State on Oct. 3, ISU's first punt return touchdown since 1996.
• This marks the 111th 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 378-505-23 and is competing for the 30th consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
QUICK HITS
• Total offense: 450.0 (2nd MVFC, 18th FCS)
• Total defense: 375.0 (5th MVFC, 46th FCS)
• Rushing offense: 119.8 (10th MVFC, 97th FCS)
• Rushing defense: 210.0 (9th MVFC, 95th FCS)
• Passing offense: 330.2 (1st MVFC, 7th FCS)
• Passing defense: 165.0 (3rd MVFC, 13th FCS)
KEY PLAYERS
#16 QB Zach Lujan | 6-2, 190 | Jr. | Anchorage, Alaska
• 2015 Season Stats: 80-141, 1,244 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT, 311.0 yards/game
• Ranked second nationally in completions per game (20.0), fourth in completion percentage (.567), sixth in passing yards per game (311.0), ninth in yards per completion (15.55), 12th in passing yards (1,244), 16th in passing touchdowns (9) and 20th in passing efficiency (149.1).
#19 WR Jake Wieneke | 6-4, 210 | So. | Maple Grove, Minn.
• 2015 Season Stats: 29 receptions, 567 yards (141.8/game), 6 TD, 19.6 yards/catch
• Ranked second nationally in yards per game (141.8), fourth in receiving touchdowns (6), fifth in receiving yards (567), 11th in receptions (7.3/game), 16th in scoring (9.0 PPG) and 19th in all-purpose yardage (141.75).
#7 LB Jesse Bobbit | 6-2, 210 | Jr. | Palatine, Ill.
• 2015 Season Stats: 39 total tackles (17 solo), 2.5 TFL, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery.
• Ranks 34th nationally and fourth in the MVFC in total tackles (34, 9.8/game).
SCOUTING THE JACKRABBITS
No. 8/9 South Dakota State (3-1, 0-1 MVFC) are in the midst of a superb season after opening the year with a 41-38 FBS upset over Kansas on Sept. 5. SDSU then proceeded to overpower Southern Utah (55-10) and Robert Morris (34-10) at home before being stifled 28-7 last week in its heated rivalry against the four-time defending national champions, No. 2/3 North Dakota State.
The Jackrabbits possess one of the most lethal offenses in the country, headlined by quarterback Zach Lujan and wide receiver Jake Wieneke. Lujan has already ecliplsed 1,200 passing yards on the season while owning the FCS' sixth-best passing yards per game average at 311.0 yards per game through the air. Lujan is also highly efficient, ranking second nationally in completions and fourth in completion percentage. Wieneke, meanwhile, was just recently added to the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List, and with good reason. The sophomore WR is hauling in 141.8 yards per game from Lujan, the second-best total in the FCS this season.
While SDSU doesn't have a particularly strong rushing offense or defense, the Jackrabbit passing defense opposes the pass as well as they dish it out on the other side of the ball. SDSU ranks 13th nationally in passing defense, only yielding 165.0 yards per game through the air. However, the Jackrabbits rank 46th overall at 375.0 yards of total defense per game.
INDIANA STATE NOTES
#19/21 INDIANA STATE
For a school-record 16th-straight week, Indiana State is ranked in the national top-25 -- No. 19 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and No. 21 in the FCS Coaches Poll. The Sycamores are one of six Missouri Valley Football Conference schools ranked in both top-25 polls, coming off a season that saw all five Valley playoff teams win in the first round and saw No. 2/3 North Dakota State and No. 4 Illinois State meet up in the national title game.
These past two weeks the Valley has made even more conference history in the national polls. Half of the Valley (5 of 10 schools) have been ranked in the top-10 in both polls for consecutive weeks for the first time in conference history.
This preseason, the Sycamores were rewarded for last season's playoff run with a No. 20 ranking in the FCS Coaches Poll and a No. 21 ranking in the STATS FCS Preseason Poll.
HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD
Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 28-61 (.315) overall in his eighth season as a head coach and is 12-18 (.400) in his third season with Indiana State. He is 5-12 all-time in MVFC games, including a 2-6 mark at home and an 3-6 mark on the road. During his career, he is 20-24 in all home games, 8-37 on the road and 8-8 in games decided by three points or less. With the Trees, Sanford is 1-0 in overtime games and 0-1 in shutouts. Saturday's game is Sanford's 31st as the Indiana State head coach and his 91st as a collegiate head coach.
INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES
QUICK HITS
• Total offense: 446.5 (3rd MVFC, 20th FCS)
• Rushing offense: 211.0 (3rd MVFC, 25th FCS)
• Passing offense: 235.5 (3rd MVFC, 35th FCS)
• ISU is coming off an explosive 56-28 victory at Missouri State on Oct. 3 to open the MVFC season at 1-0 overall. Eight different Sycamores scored a touchdown in the effort, led by MVFC Offensive Player of the Week Matt Adam, who went 27-of-38 for 265 yards and four touchdowns -- all career highs.
• With the 56 points scored at MSU and the 52 scored against Butler on Sept. 5, Indiana State has now scored 50+ in two games in the same season for the first time since 2010.
• ISU's eight touchdowns against the Bears on Oct. 3 are the most by any Sycamore team since 2010.
• Indiana State holds the Valley's top scoring offense at 37.8 points per game, 13th-best in all of the FCS. Other offensive categories ISU ranks highly in on a national scale include Red Zone Offense (.923, 16th), Fourth-Down Conversions (.667, 18th), Total Offense (446.5 yards/game, 20th), rushing offense (211.0 yards/game, 25th) and passing offense (235.5 yards/game, 35th).
• ISU holds the nation's 21st-best turnover margin at +4. The Sycamores' one lost fumble all season also ranks sixth-lowest nationally.
• QB Matt Adam recently passed 1,000 passing yards in his career. Adam has 1,076 career yards and 11 total touchdowns.
• Matt Adam's four touchdown passes at Missouri State last week are the most by a Sycamore QB since Mike Perish threw four at Southern Illinois in 2014.
• Matt Adam ranks 16th nationally in passing touchdowns (9), 25th in total offense (255.5 yards/game) and 33rd in passing yards (218.8 yards/game).
• Senior WR Gary Owens is on pace to break both the single-season (8) and ISU career (15) records in receiving touchdowns. Owens currently ranks tied for 20th nationally with four through four games this season. In two seasons at ISU, Owens has nine.
• Junior transfer RB Roland Genesy is the MVFC's ninth-leading rusher through four games and after two starts in place of the injured LeMonte Booker. Genesy has 250 yards (62.5/game) and one touchdown on the ground and also has 43 yards receiving.
• Roland Genesy has only lost five yards all season. Genesy hadn't lost any until Southeast Missouri (-4) and Missouri State (-1).
• Freshmen RBs Marlon Fleming and Taeler Porter have also seen time in the running game. Fleming has 125 yards on the ground and ranks second on ISU's roster with two rushing TDs. Porter has only played in one series all season but in that series carried the ball five times for 62 yards and TD -- including one run of 42 yards on his second-career carry,
• Junior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. ranks second on ISU's roster and eighth in the MVFC in receiving yards at 208 (52.0/game).
• Robert Tonyan Jr. owns Matt Adam's longest pass of the year, a 57-yard reception against Southeast Mo.
• WR Gary Owens has already eclipsed 1,000 career receiving yards this season (vs. SEMO), and is one yard away from joining the 1,100-yard club. Robert Tonyan Jr. isn't far behind on the active list at 955 career yards.
• TE Jamar Brown caught his first touchdown of the season at Missouri State off a wide-receiver pass from Gary Owens. Brown is the top-returning receiving TE in the MVFC from the 2014 season.
• Gary Owens' touchdown pass to Jamar Brown was Owens' first of his career -- one game after recording his first-career rushing touchdown against Southeast Missouri.
• RT Preston Collier returned to the starting offensive line at Missouri State after missing the SEMO game with a foot injury.
• LT Dakota Vermillion was the highest-graded offensive lineman last week at 95% and 11 knockdowns.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION AT MISSOURI STATE
Despite a sluggish first quarter, the Sycamore offense had its best day of the season at Missouri State on Oct. 3, helping ISU to a decisive 56-28 victory over the Bears to open conference play 1-0 for the second straight season. Eight different Sycamores scored a touchdown (five passing, two rushing, one punt return), most coming from QB Matt Adam on his career 27-of-38, 265 yards and four touchdowns performance. Ten different Sycamores also caught passes, and three different Sycamores even threw passes -- one a touchdown pass from WR Gary Owens to TE Jamar Brown.
In total, ISU put up 544 yards of offense (most since Oct. 25, 2014, at Southern Illinois, 568) and 303 passing yards (most since Nov. 29, 2014, at Eastern Kentucky, 407). The eight Sycamore touchdowns are also the most by an ISU team in a single game since 2010.
ADAM NAMED MVFC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following a career day at Missouri State, QB Matt Adam was named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Week. Adam, a sophomore native of Camino Capistrano, Calif., was ISU's offensive force in its 56-28 rout over the Bears. Adam finished 27-of-38 for 265 yards and four touchdowns, posting career-highs in completions, yards and touchdowns. His four TD passes against the Bears were also the most by a Sycamore QB since Mike Perish threw four at Southern Illinois in 2014. In each of his five career starts (four this season and one vs. Illinois State in 2014), Adam has thrown at least one touchdown pass. Adam has also thrown for at least 200 yards in three of his five games this season.
Nationally, Adam ranks highly among other FCS quarterbacks this season in: passing touchdowns (9 TDs, 16th), points responsible for per game (15.5/game, 19th), total offense (255.5 yards/game, 25th), total points responsible (62, 25th), completion percentage (61.7, 29th), completions per game (18.5/game, 32nd) and passing efficiency (141.0, 32nd).
SECOND-HALF HERO
Sophomore starting quarterback Matt Adam has had a strong start to his first season as the main man under center for the Sycamores, and much of that has to do with his ability to regain composure and play in the second half. On the year, Adam is 74-of-120 for 875 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions. Of that,
On the year, Adam is 47-of-82 for 610 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. Of that, 534 yards have come in the second half, as have six of his nine TD passes. In the last three weeks alone, Adam is 38-of-59 for 482 yards and five touchdowns in the back half.
DEEP BACKFIELD
The Sycamores have a good problem in the backfield this year, as they have too many solid ball rushers on the two-deep this season. ISU ranks third in the MVFC and 25th nationally in rushing offense at 211.0 yards per game. Starting running back LeMonte Booker started the year off with a superp 137-yard, three touchdown performance against Butler, but has been out since an injury at Purdue on Sept. 12. Junior transfer Roland Genesy has stepped into the starting role splendidly, ripping off 250 total yards through four games -- 9th-best in the Valley this season. QB Matt Adam (147), freshmen RBs Marlon Fleming (125) and Taeler Porter (62) and freshman utility man Kelvin Cook (44) have combined for 378 total yards as the supporting cast.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Among the offensive flurry at Missouri State was an impressive showing of depth by the Sycamore receiving corps. Ten different Sycamores caught a pass, six of them hauling in multiple catches and two (Sampson Levingston and Gary Owens) leading the way with six apiece. In addition, five ISU receivers also had 40 yards or more on the day: Kelvin Cook (70), Levingston (55), Robert Tonyan Jr. (49), Owens (47) and Jamar Brown (44). On the year, four ISU receivers are in double-digit receptions: Owens (18), Levingston (13), Tonyan (12) and Cook (11).
GETTING TRICKY
Indiana State has maintained its recent reputation as a master of unique trick plays early on this season, following a year in which the Sycamores unveiled the “Circle of Death” kick return that was featured on SportsCenter's Top-10. Against Southeast Missouri on Sept. 19, ISU ran an double-option option reverse end-around to WR Gary Owens, who ran it in nine yards for his first career rushing touchdown. Then at Missouri State on Oct. 3, Owens got in on the fun again with a 22-yard touchdown pass to TE Jamar Brown on a lateral screen from Matt Adam.
VERSALTILE WEAPON
Freshman WR Kelvin Cook dazzled here-and-there during ISU's first three games, but the Sycamore coaching staff put him square in the limelight at Missouri State on Oct. 3. Cook, a transfer from Miami (Ohio), amassed 114 all-purpose yards as both a WR and as the Wildcat QB, hauling in 70 yards through the air and 44 on the ground while running the read-option in the Wildcat.
INDIANA STATE DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
QUICK HITS
• Total defense: 412.0 (8th MVFC, 79th FCS)
• Rushing defense: 200.8 (8th MVFC, 87th FCS)
• Passing defense: 211.2 (5th MVFC, 58th FCS)
• Senior CB Travis Starks leads all FCS defenders in interception return yards (100), and ranks sixth in all of Division I football. Starks returned an INT 100 yards for a touchdown against SEMO on Sept. 19.
• Sophomroe WR Tyler Denton is one of 25 players in the FCS to return a punt for a touchdown in 2015. Denton took one back 42 yards on a trick play at Missouri State on Oct. 3, ISU's first punt return touchdown since 1996.
• After missing two games due to a concussion, senior LB Kendall Walker led ISU in tackles with 13 (six solo) -- 10 of which came in the first quarter.
• Nickel defensive back Lonnell Brown Jr. is Indiana State's leading tackler through four games with 28 total stops (12 solo). Brown also leads ISU in tackles for loss (5.0 TFL), which also ties for sixth in the MVFC.
• Safety Tsali Lough is ISU's second-leading tackler with 26 stops. Lough is one of three Sycamores with a forced fumble this season, his coming at Purdue on Sept. 12.
• LB Jameer Thurman and safety Marcus Gray both have two interceptions on the season and have returned those INTs for a combined 47 yards.
• Since filling in for the injured Mark Sewall, Marcus Gray has become ISU's fourth-best tackler (22 total) and has had his hand in at least one Sycamore turnover since Sewall's injury at Purdue.
• Connor Underwood, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury, ranks 44th int he FCS in sacks with 2.0 for a loss of eight yards. Underwood is ISU's all-time sack leader, and earlier this year he also broke the all-time Indiana State record for TFL.
• Four Sycamore defenders started their first career games at Missouri State on Oct. 3: DL Kenyota Rollins, LBs Antonio Broadus and Katrell Moss, and safety Haki Woods.
• Haki Woods leads all ISU defenders with three pass breakups this season. Woods has also had his hand in two turnovers with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
• Despite injuries across the defensive line, DL Conlan Cassidy has held his own as ISU's fifth-leading tackler this season. Cassidy has 18 total tackles (nine solo), including 2.5 TFL and one sack.
• The ISU defense has only allowed one 100-yard rusher this season: SEMO's Tremane McCullough (114).
• The ISU defense has also only allowed one 100-yard receiver this season: SEMO's Paul McRoberts (100).
• The Sycamore defense has not given up 300 yards passing in a game yet in 2015. In fact, the only school to eclipse 200 yards passing on the ISU defense this season is Purdue (289).
• Missouri State's Calan Crowder is the first opposing player to score multiple touchdowns against the Sycamore defense this season.
• ISU punter Osborn Umeh ranks ninth in the MVFC this season at 38.3 yards per punt.
• Osborn Umeh also has seven instances where he has pinned opponents inside their own 20 this season.
• Kicker Andrew Lunsford has 11 touchbacks on kickoffs this season out of 25 total kickoff attempts.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Junior defensive back Lonnell Brown Jr. is Indiana State's leading tackler through four games, an impressive feat seeing as Brown has started as the nickel defensive back in each of ISU's games thus far. From his perch as the nickel, Brown has been able to record 28 total tackles (16 solo). He also leads the team and ranks sixth in the Valley in tackles for loss with 5.0, and he had a sack in the season opener against Butler to go along with his 3.0 TFL that game.
WHAT CAN GRAY DO FOR YOU?
Turns out quite a bit, actually. Junior safety Marcus Gray has filled in nicely for injured All-MVFC safety Mark Sewall, as he led all Sycamores in tackles against Southeast Missouri on Sept. 19 and has had his hand in at least one Sycamore turnover in each game since Sewall's injury at Purdue. On the season, Gray ranks fourth on ISU's roster with 22 total tackles (15 solo) and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions -- his most recent at Missouri State on Oct. 3 he returned 24 yards. Gray also has 3.0 TFL and one fumble recovery.
NEXT MAN UP
Due to some key injuries to starters Connor Underwood, Conrrad Nicholls, Alec Lyons, Jordan Jackson and Alex Stowers, the Sycamore defense has had to dig deep into its reserves -- and hasn't come up empty-handed. ISU had four first-time starters on defense at Missouri State -- DL Kenyota Rollins, LBs Antonio Broadus and Katrell Moss, and safety Haki Woods -- with all performing admirably and with Rollins coming up with an INT on a tipped pass. Not to mention the solid play of Marcus Gray and Tyshon Waller, who were in their second career starts at Missouri State.
TO THE HOUSE
Senior defensive back Travis Starks provided the most exciting and important play of the day for the Sycamores in their exciting 29-28 win over Southeast Missouri. After being held scoreless in the first half since Nov. 16, 2013, Starks turned the tide of the game with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, which sparked a Sycamore revival in the third quarter that saw 21 ISU points to zero from the Redhawks. Southeast was putting together another solid drive and about to enter the redzone when Starks read SEMO QB Tay Bender perfectly and picked off his out-route two yards deep into the endzone. Starks then burst forward and found a seam on the right sideline, leaving Southeast's offensive pursuers in the dust at the 30-yard line before strolling the final 70 yards into the endzone. The pick-six is the third of Starks' career at ISU. Starks also tallied three total tackles that game and had the job of trying to shut down pro-talent caliber wide receiver Paul McRoberts.
LEAVING A LEGACY
Senior Connor Underwood cemented himself yet again as one of the greatest Sycamore defenders in Indiana State history at Purdue on Sept. 12, this time by breaking yet another school record. Entering Saturday's contest at 54.0 career tackles for loss, Underwood was .5 TFL shy of Kyle Mitchell's all-time record of 54.5. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Underwood bust into the backfield from the weak side to track down Purdue RB D.J. Knox for a two-yard loss and the all-time record. Underwood ended with five total tackles.
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Junior linebacker Jameer Thurman had a career day against Butler, but not in the way he was probably expecting to. Thurman had a solid day with four total tackles (two solo, two assisted) -- fourth-best for ISU that day -- but his crowning moment was being in the right place at the right time on consecutive drives for his first and second career interceptions. Thurman returned his interceptions a total of 23 yards, including his second one 19 yards, which helped set up a 25-yard TD scamper by LeMonte Booker.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Football team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
