By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – No. 21/RV Indiana State (3-2, 1-1 MVFC) returns to Terre Haute to host Southern Illinois for Homecoming this Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
QUICK HITS
• Indiana State is ranked in the top-25 for a school-record 17th straight week. The Sycamores rank No. 21 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and are the second-best team receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll. ISU is one of six Valley teams to be ranked for the seventh-straight week.
• Five Valley teams remain ranked in the top-15 in both polls; Indiana State plays all five the remainder of the season.
• The Sycamores are 57-138 (.292) all-time in MVFC play (dating back to ISU's first Valley season in 1986).
• Indiana State is 15-83 all-time against top-25 schools, which includes an 11-63 mark against ranked MVFC teams. However, ISU is coming off a season in which it went 5-4 against ranked schools in 2014.
• The Sycamores started 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 at Missouri State on Oct. 3; Indiana State is now 10-20 all-time in Valley openers.
• With the win at Missouri State, the Sycamores were 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.
• Seven of 10 schools in the MVFC hold a top-50 scoring offense nationally: Southern Illinois (42.8 PPG, 8th), North Dakota State (33.8, 22nd), Illinois State (33.4, 25th), Youngstown State (33.2, 26th), South Dakota State (32.2, 30th), Indiana State (31.6, 34th) and Western Illinois (27.4, 50th).
• Seven of 10 schools in the MVFC also hold a top-50 rushing offense: Southern Illinois (257.6 YPG, 9th), Youngstown State (200.6, 25th), North Dakota State (198.4, 26th), Northern Iowa (195.4, 27th), Indiana State (186.0, 37th), South Dakota (178.2, 39th) and Illinois State (176.2, 42nd).
• All 10 MVFC schools rank in the top-55 in strength of schedule, per the NCAA. Three Valley schools hold the top three spots (Illinois State, 1st; UNI and Western Illinois, T-2nd); Indiana State ranks 39th one week after tying for the top spot.
• ISU ranks in the national top-50 in: fumbles lost (6th, one fumble lost), turnovers lost (21st, six total turnovers), fourth-down conversions (25th, 61.5%, 8-13), red zone defense (26th, 72.2%, 13-18), passes intercepted (29th, six INTs), scoring offense (34th, 31.6 PPG), turnover margin (34th, +3), completion percentage (36th, 60.0%), rushing offense (37th, 186.0 YPG), passing efficiency (40th, 133.98), total offense (40th, 414.0 YPG), passing offense (44th, 228.0 YPG), opponent passing efficiency (48th, 119.39) and turnovers gained (48th, nine total turnovers).
• Matt Adam ranks in the national top-50 in: passing touchdowns (18th, 10), total offense (31st, 248.4 YPG), completions per game (32nd, 18.2), passing efficiency (34th, 136.1), completion percentage (35th, 60.7%), passing yards per game (39th, 214.6) and total passing yards (1,073).
• 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 12th nationally with five through five games this season. In two seasons at ISU, Owens has 10.
• Junior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. is four receiving yards away from breaking the 1,000-yard mark for his career. Tonyan would be the second active Sycamore to break 1,000 this season (Gary Owens, 1,160).
• Sophomroe WR Tyler Denton is one of 28 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 378-506-23 and is competing for the 30th consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
ABOUT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
QUICK HITS
• Total offense: 541.6 (1st MVFC, 5th FCS)
• Total defense: 435.4 (9th MVFC, 94th FCS)
• Rushing offense: 251.4 (1st MVFC, 9th FCS)
• Rushing defense: 181.2 (6th MVFC, 73rd FCS)
• Passing offense: 290.2 (2nd MVFC, 18th FCS)
• Passing defense: 254.2 (10th MVFC, 95th FCS)
KEY PLAYERS
#19 QB Mark Iannotti | 6-2, 220 | Sr. | Schaumburg, Ill. | Eastern Michigan
• 2015 Season Stats (passing): 107-of-147 (72.8%), 1,372 yards, 10 TD, 5 INT, 274.4 YPG
• 2015 Season Stats (rushing): 67 rushes, 374 yards, 4 TD, 74.8 YPG, 5.6 per rush
• Ranks second nationally in completion percentage (72.8%), sixth in passing efficiency (167.2), seventh in total offense (344.0 YPG), eighth in yards per pass attempt (9.41), 11th in points responsible for per game (18.0), 14th in passing yards per game (274.4), 18th in points responsible for (86), 18th in passing touchdowns (10), 19th in completions per game (20.6), 19th in passing yards (1,372), 28th in passing yards per completion (13.07) and 39th in rushing yards per carry (5.58).
#5 RB Daquan Isom | 5-8, 172 | Fr. | Orlando, Fla.
• 2015 Season Stats (rushing): 34 carries, 275 yards, 1 TD, 55.0 YPG, 8.1 yards per carry
• 2015 Season Stats (receiving): 13 rec., 159 yards, 2 TD, 31.8 YPG, 12.2 yards per catch, long of 80
• 2015 Season Stats (kick returns): 11 returns, 265 yards, 24.1 per return, long of 52
• Ranks 23rd nationally in all-purpose yardage (139.8 YPG) and 40th in kickoff returns (24.1 yards/return), as well as 9th in the MVFC in rushing yards (55.0 YPG),
#5 LB Chase Allen | 6-3, 240 | Jr. | Belleville, Ill.
• 2015 Season Stats: 62 total tackles (20 solo), 4.5 TFL (11 yards), 0.5 sacks (4 yards), 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 block
• Ranks sixth nationally in total tackles (12.4 per game). Leads the MVFC in tackles and is tied for 10th in TFL (4.5).
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
The Salukis come into Terre Haute at 2-3 overall and 1-1 in MVFC play, but could easily be 5-0 following some very close games. Southern opened the season with an exhillarting shootout at Indiana on Sept. 5, but hell 48-47 in heartbreaking fashion on a failed two-point conversion for the win. SIU fell 27-24 the next week as well at regional rival Southeast Missouri, who hit a late field goal to topple a Saluki team that turned the ball over seven times. SIU then dismantled No. 10 Liberty 34-13 at home on Sept. 26, but stumbled 37-36 at Western Illinois in the conference opener. Southern is most recently coming off the most offensively prolific outing in conference history against Missouri State, as the Salukis exploded for 73 points on the Bears -- breaking their own record of 72 set against Indiana State in Terre Haute in 2007.
Southern owns a lethal offense, the fifth-best in the country at 541.6 YPG -- the best in the Valley by a whopping 91 yards per game. The Salukis also own the conference's best scoring offense by nearly 10 points at 42.8 PPG (eighth-best in the FCS this year). Southern is led by dual-threat QB Mark Iannotti, who has a multitude of weapons at his disposal, like RB Daquan Isom and the Valley's third-best receiver in Billy Reed.
INDIANA STATE NOTES
#21/RV INDIANA STATE
For a school-record 17th-straight week, Indiana State is ranked in the national top-25 -- No. 21 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and the second-best team receiving votes 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 three weeks the Valley has made even more conference history in the national polls. Half of the Valley (5 of 10 schools) was ranked in the top-10 in both polls for consecutive weeks on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 for the first time in conference history. This week, those five teams still remain in the top-15.
HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD
Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 28-62 (.311) overall in his eighth season as a head coach and is 12-19 (.387) in his third season with Indiana State. He is 5-13 all-time in MVFC games, including a 2-6 mark at home and an 3-7 mark on the road. During his career, he is 20-24 in all home games, 8-38 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 32nd as the Indiana State head coach and his 92nd as a collegiate head coach.
INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES
QUICK HITS
• Total offense: 414.0 (4th MVFC, 40th FCS)
• Rushing offense: 186.0 (5th MVFC, 37th FCS)
• Passing offense: 228.0 (5th MVFC, 44th FCS)
• Offensively, ISU ranks in the national top-50 in: fumbles lost (6th, one fumble lost), turnovers lost (21st, six total turnovers), fourth-down conversions (25th, 61.5%, 8-13), scoring offense (34th, 31.6 PPG), turnover margin (34th, +3), completion percentage (36th, 60.0%), rushing offense (37th, 186.0 YPG), passing efficiency (40th, 133.98), total offense (40th, 414.0 YPG) and passing offense (44th, 228.0 YPG).
• Seven of 10 schools in the MVFC hold a top-50 scoring offense nationally: Southern Illinois (42.8 PPG, 8th), North Dakota State (33.8, 22nd), Illinois State (33.4, 25th), Youngstown State (33.2, 26th), South Dakota State (32.2, 30th), Indiana State (31.6, 34th) and Western Illinois (27.4, 50th).
• Seven of 10 schools in the MVFC also hold a top-50 rushing offense: Southern Illinois (257.6 YPG, 9th), Youngstown State (200.6, 25th), North Dakota State (198.4, 26th), Northern Iowa (195.4, 27th), Indiana State (186.0, 37th), South Dakota (178.2, 39th) and Illinois State (176.2, 42nd).
• Matt Adam ranks in the national top-50 in: passing touchdowns (18th, 10), total offense (31st, 248.4 YPG), completions per game (32nd, 18.2), passing efficiency (34th, 136.1), completion percentage (35th, 60.7%), passing yards per game (39th, 214.6) and total passing yards (1,073).
• 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 12th nationally with five through five games this season. In two seasons at ISU, Owens has 10.
• Junior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. is four receiving yards away from breaking the 1,000-yard mark for his career. Tonyan would be the second active Sycamore to break 1,000 this season (Gary Owens, 1,160).
• Robert Tonyan Jr. owns Matt Adam's longest pass of the year, a 57-yard reception against Southeast Missouri.
• Preseason All-MVFC Honorable Mention running back LeMonte Booker returned to action last week at South Dakota State. Booker missed the previous two games against Southeast Missouri and Missouri State after suffering a knee sprain at Purdue on Sept. 12. In his return, Booker tallied 67 yards on 15 carries.
• Junior transfer RB Roland Genesy is the MVFC's 10th-leading rusher through five games and after two starts in place of the injured LeMonte Booker. Genesy has 254 yards (50.8/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), owning positive yardage in the remainder of ISU's schedule against Butler (53 yards), Purdue (28 yards) and South Dakota State (4 yards).
• 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,
• 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.
• WR Sampson Levingston has more than doubled his season receiving output in the last two weeks. Entering the MSU game on Oct. 3, Levingston had seven catches for 59 yards. Since, Levingston has posted eight catches for for 98 yards, bringing his season total to 15 rec., 157 yards.
• 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.
BACK IN THE FOLD
After missing the previous two-plus games with a knee injury, Preseason All-MVFC Honorable Mention running back LeMonte Booker returned as Indiana State's starter at No. 8/9 South Dakota State on Saturday. Booker was ISU's leading rusher on the day with 67 yards on 15 carries against a stiff SDSU defense that only yielded 284 total yards of offense to the Sycamores. Booker put up an amazing 137-yard, three touchdown day on the ground in the season opener against Butler (in which he also had a 24-yard TD reception). Booker had the makings of a strong game early on at Purdue on Sept. 12, but left in the second quarter after spraining his MCL.
CONSISTENT SCORER
Senior wide receiver Gary Owens has gotten to know the endzone well through five games this season. Owens has had a touchdown reception in each game in 2015, tying himself for 12th nationally with five TD receptions. Owens is on pace to dismantle the ISU single-season record of 8, as well as the all-time career record of 15; Owens currently has 10 in less than two seasons in Terre Haute. Owens also ranks T-48th nationally with 69.0 receiving yards per game, and he also has a rushing and receiving touchdown to his name this year.
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.
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 91-of-150 for 1,073 yards, 10 TDs and 5 INTs. Of that, Adam is 51-of-81 for 678 yards, 7 TDs and 3 INTs in the second half. Minus the season opener vs. Butler (in which Adam only threw two passes in the second half of a blowout), Adam has had at least 149 yards and one touchdown pass 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 fifth in the MVFC and 37th nationally in rushing offense at 186.0 yards per game. Starting running back LeMonte Booker started the year off with a superp 137-yard, three touchdown performance against Butler, but missed the next two games due to an injury at Purdue on Sept. 12. Junior transfer Roland Genesy has stepped into the starting role splendidly, ripping off 254 total yards through five games -- 10th-best in the Valley this season. QB Matt Adam (169), freshmen RBs Marlon Fleming (125) and Taeler Porter (62) and freshman utility man Kelvin Cook (37) have combined for 393 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. ISU also has another special teams TD to its credit thanks to a punt return fakeout that allowed sophomore WR Tyler Denton to run 42 yards to the endzone at Missouri State.
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: 415.2 (8th MVFC, 80th FCS)
• Rushing defense: 196.8 (9th MVFC, 90th FCS)
• Passing defense: 218.4 (7th MVFC, 66th FCS)
• Defensively, ISU ranks in the national top-50 in: red zone defense (26th, 72.2%, 13-18), passes intercepted (29th, six INTs), turnover margin (34th, +3), opponent passing efficiency (48th, 119.39) and turnovers gained (48th, nine total turnovers).
• Sophomroe WR Tyler Denton is one of 28 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 in each of the last two games at Missouri State (13 total, six solo, 10 in the first quarter) and at South Dakota State (15 total, 10 solo) -- both of which are individual season highs for ISU in 2015. Despite missing two games, Walker is second on ISU's roster with 30 total tackles (17 solo).
• Nickel defensive back Lonnell Brown Jr. is Indiana State's leading tackler through five games with 31 total stops (17 solo). Brown also leads ISU in tackles for loss (5.0 TFL).
• Lonnell Brown Jr. suffered a neck injury at South Dakota State on Oct. 10, and needed to be carted off the field. Fortunately, Brown had movement in all his extremities and no damage to his neck or spinal cord.
• Safety Tsali Lough is ISU's third-leading tackler with 29 stops (19 solo). 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 second-best tackler (30 total, 20 solo) and has had his hand in three Sycamore turnovers since Sewall's injury at Purdue.
• Connor Underwood, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury, is ISU's all-time sack leader with 30.5 career sacks. Earlier this year he also broke the all-time Indiana State record for TFL, currently at 56.0 career TFL. In three games played this season, Underwood has 17 total tackles (11 solo), 3.5 TFL for 11 yards and 2.0 sacks for eight yards.
• Four Sycamore defenders started their first career games at Missouri State on Oct. 3: DL Kenyota Rollings, LBs Antonio Broadus and Katrell Moss, and safety Haki Woods.
• Haki Woods leads all ISU defenders with four pass breakups this season. Woods has also had his hand in two turnovers with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. His four PBU's ranks tied for seventh in the MVFC in passes defended. Woods has started each of the last two games at CB in place of the injured Alex Stowers.
• Despite injuries across the defensive line, DL Conlan Cassidy has held his own as ISU's sixth-leading tackler this season. Cassidy has 22 total tackles (12 solo), including 3.5 TFL and one sack.
• Jameer Thurman recorded his 200th career tackle at South Dakota State on Oct. 10. He currently has 201 (102 solo), and is one of four active Sycamores with 200 or more career tackles: Connor Underwood (235), Mark Sewall (235), Kendall Walker (221).
• LB Antonio Broadus is ISU's current leader in sacks with 2.5 on the yar for a loss of 10 yards.
• The ISU defense has only allowed one 100-yard rusher this season: SEMO's Tremane McCullough (114). SDSU QB Taryn Christion gained 101 on Oct. 10 but lost two to bring his total to 99.
• 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, only two schools have all year: Purdue (289) and SDSU (247).
• Missouri State's Calan Crowder is the first opposing player (non-QB) to score multiple touchdowns against the Sycamore defense this season.
• Punter Osborn Umeh has nine instances where he has pinned opponents inside their own 20 this season, and kicker Andrew Lunsford has 12 touchbacks on kickoffs this season out of 27 total kickoff attempts.
TACKLING MACHINE
Senior linebacker Kendall Walker has had an impressive return from injury. Walker suffered a concussion against Butler on Sept. 5 and missed ISU's games at Purdue and against Southeast Missouri. Since, Walker has lit up opposing offenses for 28 total tackles (16 solo) – posting ISU season highs in both games at Missouri State (13 total, six solo) and at South Dakota State (15 total, 10 solo). Walker was ISU's leading tackler in 2014 with 123 total tackles (50 solo).
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Junior defensive back Lonnell Brown Jr. is Indiana State's leading tackler through five 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 31 total tackles (17 solo). He also leads the team and ranks seventh 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 over the next three games. On the season, Gray ranks tied with Kendall Walker for second on ISU's roster with 30 total tackles (20 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 4.0 TFL and one fumble recovery.
BALL HAWK
Redshirt freshman defensive back Haki Woods has been a stable force for the Sycamores on defense, flying all over the field as both a safety and as a cornerback. Woods currently leads all ISU defenders with four pass breakups this season, tying him for seventh in the MVFC in passes defended. Woods has also had his hand in two turnovers with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Woods has even earned his first two career starts, starting each of the last two games at CB in place of the injured Alex Stowers.
GETTING TO THE QB
Sophomore linebacker Antonio Broadus has seen more playing time in the face of several key injuries to the Sycamore defense, and he has not wasted his opportunity to produce. Broadus leads all Sycamores with 2.5 sacks for a loss of 10 yards. Broadus also ranks seventh on ISU's roster right now with 18 total tackles, 11 of which are solo.
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 and third career starts at Missouri State, respectively.
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 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.
