By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – No. 18/21 Indiana State (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) remains at home this weekend to welcome the four-time defending national champions No. 8 North Dakota State (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) at Memorial Stadium for the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m., and fans will be able to watch live on ESPN3.
QUICK HITS
• Indiana State is ranked in the top-25 for a school-record 18th straight week. The Sycamores rank No. 18 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and No. 21 in the FCS Coaches Poll. ISU is one of seven Valley teams ranked this week, and one of six that have been ranked each week this season.
• The remainder of ISU's schedule are currently ranked in the top-25: No. 8 North Dakota State (Oct. 24), No. 3/4 Illinois State (Oct. 31), No. 22/25 Northern Iowa (Nov. 7), No. 20/23 Western Illinois (Nov. 14) and No. 16/17 Youngstown State (Nov. 21).
• The Sycamores are 58-138 (.296) 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.
• Prior to this past weekend's loss to South Dakota, the last team to beat NDSU in the Fargodome was Indiana State on Oct. 13, 2012 (W, 17-14).
• ISU is 3-0 at home for the first time since the 2011 season.
• ISU's win vs. Southern Illinois on Oct. 17 marks the first time the Sycamores have beat the Salukis in consecutive seasons since 2001 (W, 20-14) and 2002 (W, 21-14).
• ISU set a season-high for total offense (561) and rushing offense (329) against the Salukis on Oct. 17.
• The ISU defense has only allowed one 100-yard rusher this season: SEMO's Tremane McCullough (114).
• 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 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.
• Six of 10 schools in the MVFC hold a top-50 scoring offense nationally: Southern Illinois (41.7 PPG, 8th), Illinois State (34.2, 24th), South Dakota State (33.2, 28th), Indiana State (32.8, 29th), North Dakota State (31.7, 32nd) and Youngstown State (29.0, 46th).
• Seven of 10 schools in the MVFC also hold a top-50 rushing offense: Southern Illinois 230.7 YPG, 15th), Indiana State (209.8, 21st), Illinois State (189.0, 28th), Youngstown State (188.0, 30th), North Dakota State (186.2, 33rd), North Dakota State (186.2, 33rd), South Dakota (180.7, 36th) and Northern Iowa (178.0, 39th).
• Matt Adam ranks in the national top-50 in: passing touchdowns (15th, 13 TDs), points responsible per game (17th, 15.7/game), points responsible for (19th, 92 points), total offense (26th, 259.2 YPG), passing efficiency (35th, 136.3), completions per game (37th, 17.5/game), passing yards (38th, 1,263 yards), passing yards per game (40th, 210.5 YPG), yards per attempt (44th, 7.06), yards per completion (45th, 12.03) and completion percentage (46th, 58.7%).
• Senior WR Gary Owens caught three TD passes against Southern Illinois, tying the single-game school record, as well as the single-season record with eight total TD catches in 2015. Owens is also on pace to break ISU's all-time career record of 15; Owens has 13 TD catches and 1,288 yards in less than two seasons at Indiana State.
• 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, 1,288).
• 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 379-506-23 and is competing for the 30th consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA STATE
QUICK HITS
• Total offense: 428.5 (3rd MVFC, 28th FCS)
• Total defense: 313.2 (2nd MVFC, 20th FCS)
• Rushing offense: 186.2 (5th MVFC, 33rd FCS)
• Rushing defense: 105.5 (1st MVFC, 14th FCS)
• Passing offense: 242.3 (4th MVFC, 40th FCS)
• Passing defense: 207.7 (5th MVFC, 50th FCS)
KEY PLAYERS
#11 QB Carson Wentz | 6-6, 235 | Sr. | Bismarck, N.D. -- INJURED
• 2015 Season Stats (passing): 114-of-179, 1,454 yards, 16 TDs, 2 INTs, 242.3 YPG
• 2015 Season Stats (rushing): 54 rushes, 215 yards, 4 TDs, 35.8 YPG
• Ranks in the national top-50 in: points responsible for (5th, 120), points responsible for per game (7th, 20.0 PPG), passing TDs (9th, 16 TDs), passing efficiency (13th, 159.2), total offense (17th, 278.2), yards per attempt (21st, 8.12), completion percentage (22nd, 63.7%), passing yards per game (24th, 242.3 YPG), passing yards (27th, 1,454), completions per game (28th, 19) and yards per completion (32nd, 12.75).
#19 P Ben LeCompte | 5-10, 196 | Sr. | Barrington, Ill.
• 2015 Season Stats (punting): 30 punts, 1,372 yards, 45.7 avg., 13 inside-20s, 10 punts of 50 yards or more
• Ranks fifth nationally in punting average.
• Also has a season-long punt of 73 yards, tied for 7th-longest in the FCS this season.
#96 DE Greg Menard | 6-2, 239 | So. | Lakeville, Minn.
• 2015 Season Stats: 30 total tackles (12 solo), 8.5 TFL (47 yards), 5.5 sacks (39 yards), 6 QB Hurries, 1 FF
• Ranks 11th nationally in sacks and 19th in TFL.
SCOUTING THE BISON
The Bison enter Terre Haute in the midst of their first multiple-loss season since 2010 (9-5). The four-time defending national champions have only lost a combined five total games during this championship run, which included a home winning streak that stretched back to 2012. However, South Dakota snapped that streak last Saturday, beating the Bison 24-21 for the first time since 1978 to bring NDSU down to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference. Coincidentally, the last team to beat NDSU in the Fargodome before USD this past weekend was Indiana State in 2012 (17-14).
NDSU owns a stellar defense that only allows 313.2 yards per game (2nd MVFC, 20th FCS), but also a strong offense -- led by NFL caliber QB Carson Wentz. A senior, Wentz is the offensive force for the Bison at 278.2 yards of total offense per game (17th nationally). However, NDSU recently confirmed on Tuesday morning that Wentz is out 6-8 weeks with a wrist injury, meaning backup freshman Easton Stick will be getting ths start.
On defense, the Bison are led by leading tackler Nick DeLuca (50 total tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks) and defensive end Greg Menard (30 total tackles, 8.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks). Menard's ability to wreak havoc in the backfield is among the best in the nation at the moment; his 5.5 sacks ranks 11th nationally and his 8.5 TFL ranks 19th. Teams are also struggling on third down against NDSU, which owns the fifth-best opponent percentage nationally at 26.8 percent.
INDIANA STATE NOTES
#18/21 INDIANA STATE
For a school-record 18th-straight week, Indiana State is ranked in the national top-25 -- No. 18 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and No. 21 in the FCS Coaches Poll. The Sycamores are one of seven 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. 8 North Dakota State and No. 3/4 Illinois State meet up in the national title game.
HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD
Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 29-62 (.319) overall in his eighth season as a head coach and is 13-19 (.406) in his third season with Indiana State. He is 6-13 all-time in MVFC games, including a 3-6 mark at home and an 3-7 mark on the road. During his career, he is 21-24 in all home games, 8-38 on the road and 9-8 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 33rd as the Indiana State head coach and his 93rd as a collegiate head coach.
INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES
QUICK HITS
• Total offense: 438.5 (2nd MVFC, 24th FCS)
• Rushing offense: 209.8 (2nd MVFC, 21st FCS)
• Passing offense: 228.7 (5th MVFC, 45th FCS)
• Six of 10 schools in the MVFC hold a top-50 scoring offense nationally: Southern Illinois (41.7 PPG, 8th), Illinois State (34.2, 24th), South Dakota State (33.2, 28th), Indiana State (32.8, 29th), North Dakota State (31.7, 32nd) and Youngstown State (29.0, 46th).
• Seven of 10 schools in the MVFC also hold a top-50 rushing offense: Southern Illinois 230.7 YPG, 15th), Indiana State (209.8, 21st), Illinois State (189.0, 28th), Youngstown State (188.0, 30th), North Dakota State (186.2, 33rd), North Dakota State (186.2, 33rd), South Dakota (180.7, 36th) and Northern Iowa (178.0, 39th).
• ISU set a season-high for total offense (561) and rushing offense (329) against the Salukis on Oct. 17.
• The Sycamores had nine plays of at least 20 yards against the Salukis, which ties a season-high recorded at Missouri State on Oct. 3. Of those plays, six were for 30 yards or more and four were for 40 yards or more.
• Senior WR Gary Owens caught three TD passes against Southern Illinois, tying the single-game school record, as well as the single-season record with eight total TD catches in 2015. Owens is also on pace to break ISU's all-time career record of 15; Owens has 13 TD catches and 1,288 yards in less than two seasons at Indiana State.
• Gary Owens' 128-yard, 3 TD performance against the Salukis is his fifth-career 100-yard game -- his second this season.
• Gary Owens has 10 total TDs this season: eight receiving, one rushing and one passing. He ranks 12th nationally in scoring, fourth nationally in receiving touchdowns.
• Matt Adam ranks in the national top-50 in: passing touchdowns (15th, 13 TDs), points responsible per game (17th, 15.7/game), points responsible for (19th, 92 points), total offense (26th, 259.2 YPG), passing efficiency (35th, 136.3), completions per game (37th, 17.5/game), passing yards (38th, 1,263 yards), passing yards per game (40th, 210.5 YPG), yards per attempt (44th, 7.06), yards per completion (45th, 12.03) and completion percentage (46th, 58.7%).
• Matt Adam recorded his first-career 100-yard rushing game against SIU with 123 yards on the ground and one TD.
• Against Southern, Matt Adam also recorded the two longest runs of his career thus far: a 43-yard TD in the first quarter and a 44-yard run in the third.
• QB Matt Adam has thrown at least one touchdown pass in all seven career starts -- six starts this season, one start vs. Illinois State in 2014.
• RB LeMonte Booker recorded his third-career 100-yard rushing game against the Salukis with 113 yards on 25 carries -- his second this season (137, vs. Butler).
• Matt Adam and LeMonte Booker are the first ISU duo to rush for 100 yards in the same game since 2010 (Shakir Bell and Darrius Gates, vs. Quincy).
• WR Robert Tonyan Jr. threw a 42-yard pass to Gary Owens against the Salukis. Tonyan is a former Sycamore QB before transitioning to WR in 2014.
• 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, 1,288).
• Robert Tonyan Jr. owns Matt Adam's longest pass of the year, a 57-yard reception against Southeast Missouri.
• Junior transfer RB Roland Genesy is the MVFC's 9th-leading rusher through six games and after two starts in place of the injured LeMonte Booker. Genesy has 339 yards (56.5/game) and two touchdowns 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), South Dakota State (4 yards) and Southern Illinois (85).
OWENS' LEGACY
It's been an incredible season for senior WR Gary Owens thus far at the halfway point of the season. The second-year transfer from Trinity Valley CC has eight touchdown receptions this season, which ties the single-season school record set all the way back in 1968 by Steve Schmid. Owens got to that point by hauling in three TDs against the Salukis on Saturday, which tied ISU's single-game record – making him the fifth Sycamore to ever do so in one game. In less than two seasons in Terre Haute, Owens has 1,288 yards and 13 TDs – the latter of which is only two shy of ISU's all-time career receiving TD record. Nationally, Owens' eight TDs ranks tied for fourth in the FCS, and his 10 total touchdowns (eight receiving, one rushing, one passing) ranks him 12th in scoring.
DUAL THREAT
ISU sophomore QB Matt Adam has shown his mobility time and again this season, but he had an explosive day against the Salukis on Saturday. Adam was ISU's leading rusher with 123 yards and one touchdown, which included a 43-yard TD run in the first quarter and a 44-yard run in the third – both career-long runs. Adam's success in the running game allowed him even more success in the passing game, throwing for 190 yards and three TDS – all to WR Gary Owens. On the season, Adam has 1,555 yards of total offense and 15 total touchdowns, averaging 259.2 yards of total offense per game (26th-best in the FCS). Of that, Adam averages 210.5 through the air (40th FCS) and 48.7 on the ground.
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 105-of-179 for 1,263 yards, 13 TDs and 5 INTs. Of that, Adam is 56-of-96 for 751 yards, 9 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 73 yards and one touchdown pass in the back half.
BACK IN THE FOLD
After missing the 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 Oct. 10. 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 followed that with his third-career 100-yard game against the Salukis, putting up 113 of ISU's season-high 329 rushing yards against SIU. 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.
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 second in the MVFC and 21st nationally in rushing offense at 209.8 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. On the year, though, Booker is ISU's second-leading rusher at 337 yards.
Junior transfer Roland Genesy stepped into the starting role splendidly, ripping off 339 total yards through six games thus far -- 9th-best in the Valley this season. QB Matt Adam (292), freshmen RBs Marlon Fleming (125) and Taeler Porter (62) and freshman utility man Kelvin Cook (37) have combined for 516 total yards as the supporting cast.
TRUCKIN'
RB Roland Genesy has proven to be a hard Sycamore to bring down this season. Genesy, the No. 2 running back on ISU's depth chart, filled in for LeMonte Booker during his knee injury and has solidified himself as a key member of Indiana State's rushing attack. Genesy leads ISU and is the ninth-best rusher in the MVFC this season at 339 yards (56.5/game) and two touchdowns, and he has only lost five yards all year. Genesy has been a powerful back to compliment the speedy Booker, and the numbers don't lie; he has the 33rd-best yards per carry average in the FCS this season at 5.65 yards per touch. He has also shown speed, though, with a 54-yard scamper to the endzone vs. Southern Illinois on Oct. 17.
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. ISU dug back into its bag of tricks again vs. Southern Illinois with a 42-yard WR pass from Robert Tonyan Jr. to Gary Owens.
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)
• 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.
• Although ISU gave up 554 yards of total offense, the Sycamores held SIU's ninth-ranked rushing offense to just 127 yards on the ground -- stifling two of the top rushers in the conference in Daquan Isom (45 yards) and Mark Iannotti (44 yards).
• ISU has only given up 300 yards passing to one team: Southern Illinois (427).
• The ISU defense has also only allowed two 100-yard receivers this season: SIU's Darrell James (114) and SEMO's Paul McRoberts (100).
• Missouri State's Calan Crowder is the first opposing player (non-QB) to score multiple touchdowns against the Sycamore defense this season.
• ISU freshman Adrian Butler blocked two punts against Southern Illinois on Oct. 17.
• Sophomroe WR Tyler Denton is one of 34 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.
• Senior DB Travis Starks owns the longest INT return in the FCS this season at 100 yards. Starks did so against Southeast Missouri on Sept. 19 to help spark a Sycamore comeback.
• Travis Starks' 100 INT return yards also ranks fifth-most in the FCS this season.
• Safety Tsali Lough is ISU's leading tackler with 45 stops (27 solo). Lough is one of three Sycamores with a forced fumble this season, his coming at Purdue on Sept. 12. Lough recorded an ISU season-high 16 total tackles against Southern Illinois on Oct. 17.
• After missing two games due to a concussion, senior LB Kendall Walker led ISU in tackles in each of his next 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 were individual season highs for ISU in 2015. Despite missing two games, Walker is second on ISU's roster with 43 total tackles (21 solo).
• Since filling in for the injured Mark Sewall, Marcus Gray has become ISU's third-best tackler (38 total, 24 solo) and has had his hand in four Sycamore turnovers since Sewall's injury at Purdue.
• Marcus Gray ranks tied for sixth nationally in fumble recoveries with two.
• LB Jameer Thurman, safety Marcus Gray and DB Travis Starks each have two interceptions on the season and have returned those INTs for a combined 147 yards.
• Jameer Thurman recorded his 200th career tackle at South Dakota State on Oct. 10. He currently has 211 (104 solo), and is one of four active Sycamores with 200 or more career tackles: Connor Underwood (238), Mark Sewall (235), Kendall Walker (234).
• 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 57.0 career TFL. In four games played this season, Underwood has 20 total tackles (14 solo), 4.5 TFL for 14 yards and 2.0 sacks for eight yards.
• Nickel defensive back Lonnell Brown Jr. leads ISU in tackles for loss with 5.0 TFL. Brown had 3.0 alone vs. Butler in the season opener.
• 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.
• 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.
• LB Antonio Broadus is ISU's current leader in sacks with 2.5 on the yar for a loss of 10 yards.
STIFF RUN DEFENSE
The Salukis entered Saturday's contest in Terre Haute ranked ninth nationally in rushing offense at 251.4 rushing yards per game. The Sycamore defense was not phased, though, as they stifled the explosive Salukis to just 127 yards on the ground – a season-low for ISU opponents and an SIU season-low by 48 yards. Indiana State shut down two of the top rushers in the MVFC in Daquan Isom (45 yards) and Mark Iannotti (44 yards); the Sycamores have only given up a single 100-yard rusher this season (SEMO's Tremane McCullough, 114)
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 41 total tackles (20 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).
SUPER SAFTIES
ISU may be missing All-MVFC safety Mark Sewall, but the Sycamores have not been lacking at the safety position with Tsali Lough and Marcus Gray. Lough has started every game this season and currently leads ISU in tackles with 45 stops (27 solo), as well as a big forced fumble at Purdue on Sept. 12. Gray, meanwhile, has filled in for Sewall and done splendidly, recording 38 total tackles (24 solo), 4.5 TFL for a loss of 14 yards, two interceptions returned for 24 yards and two fumble recoveries.
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 sixth on ISU's roster right now with 24 total tackles, 13 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.
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