By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Indiana State struggled in the first quarter, but collected its breath and absolutely exploded for 49 points over the last three frames in a 56-28 rout at Missouri State on Saturday to begin the grueling Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule at 1-0.

The Sycamores (3-1, 1-0 MVFC) put up only 28 total yards in the first quarter and even fell down 14-7 in the opening seconds of the second quarter. From that point on, though, ISU's offense went off for 516 more yards of total offense (544 total) in a showcase of deep talent on the Sycamore roster despite a bevy of injuries that have befallen ISU as of late.

With the win, ISU improves to 3-1 for the second straight season – the first time that has happened in consecutive years since 1994-95. Indiana State has also now won consecutive Valley openers since 1996 (at Western Illinois) and 1997 (vs. Southern Illinois).

“To be able to win on the road in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, that's a challenge and I'm glad we were able to get a win,” said ISU head coach Mike Sanford.

However, the start of the game was not indicative of how well the Sycamores played during the remainder. Aside from only putting up 28 total yards in the first quarter, the ISU defense gave up 159 yards to the Bears, who only totaled 349 all game.

What got ISU in the game, though, was a big special teams play from freshman WR Tyler Denton in the first quarter. Coach Sanford had actually designed a fake return for Denton anyway, who was a gunner on the play opposite returner Robert Tonyan Jr. But MSU punter Chris Sullens shanked the punt short enough for Denton to haul in anyway, which he ran in for a 42-yard touchdown – ISU's first on a punt return since 1996 (Larry Scally, 86 yards, vs. St. Joseph's).

“That was a designed play,” Sanford said. “It's happened in pro football; the Rams did it last year and the Seahawks did it this year. You have your returner fake like he's getting the ball and have another returner going to the other side. It worked out good. We didn't expect them to shank it. That made it even better; they kind of played into our hands.”

After MSU took a 14-7 lead with 14:57 to play in the second quarter, the Sycamores woke up with a vengeance. ISU scored the next four touchdowns in the game, all beginning with a powerful nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown run by junior transfer Roland Genesy (17 rushes, career-high 98 yards) – the first score of his ISU career.

ISU's next score came with 2:20 left in the half, this time courtesy of Gary Owens (six catches, 47 yards). The senior WR took advantage of a broken play and signaled to QB Matt Adam that he was open in the back of the endzone for a six-yard score (his shortest of the season).

With four touchdowns in four games this season and nine total in his two seasons at ISU, Owens is currently on pace to shatter both the single-season (eight) and career (15) receiving touchdowns records.

ISU came out of halftime with a 21-14 lead and the ball, and the ensuing drive became the beginning of the end for the Bears. ISU, led by Adam, Genesy and freshman WR Kelvin Cook, put together a demoralizing 11-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a five-yard strike to TE Andrew Main in the right corner of the endzone – his first catch of the season.

“That drive was big at the beginning of the second half, it was huge,” Sanford said. “I just think the way we played in the third quarter was excellent and I'm just proud of our guys.”

Following the big drive to open the quarter, ISU had a 15-yard TD pass to Sampson Levingston (six catches, 55 yards, 1 TD), who shook off four defenders in an impressive romp to the endzone. In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, ISU dug into its bag of tricks for a 22-yard passing TD to Jamar Brown (four catches, 44 yards) from none other than Gary Owens on a trick play. This was Owens' first career TD pass, one game off his first career rushing TD against Southeast Missouri.

The final two scores of the game for ISU were a 17-yard reception by Tonyan (three catches, 49 yards) and a two-yard run by freshman Taeler Porter. In his first series on the field as a Sycamore, the freshman Florida native exploded for 62 yards on five carries – which includes a 42-yard run on his second career carry.

Matt Adam had a career day under center, posting career highs in completions, yards and touchdowns as he went 27-of-38 for 265 yards and four touchdowns. Adams's four touchdowns are the most since Mike Perish threw four at Southern Illinois in 2014.

But the offensive catalyst of the day was the freshman Kelvin Cook. Whether he was lined up at receiver or as a QB in the Wildcat, the Miami transfer was privy to several key first downs as ISU's all-purpose leader with 114 total yards (70 receiving, 44 rushing).

“He played wishbone quarterback in high school, so we knew that he was a good option-type runner,” Sanford said. “We wanted him to learn how to play the receiver position first during training camp and during our first three games. But then during the bye week we put in that personnel group that we can put into the game where he can play quarterback or something else, and we're going to do some more things as we go along. He made a lot of people miss.”

The Sycamore defense weren't nearly as flashy, but had a strong day despite a rough first quarter and some costly injuries. ISU was without All-American Connor Underwood, as well as starting DB Alex Stowers, DE Conrrad Nichols and DE Alec Lyons, but the Sycamore defense still held MSU to 190 yards over the final three quarters.

In his first game back following missing two after a concussions against Butler, senior LB Kendall Walker led all Sycamore defenders with an ISU season-high 13 total tackles (six solo, 1.0 TFL) – 10 of which came in the first quarter alone. ISU also got interceptions out of safety Marcus Gray (24 yards, four tackles) and defensive lineman Kenyota Rollins (three yards, three tackles).

Gray and Rollins are a prime example of ISU's resiliency in the face of all these injuries. Despite being without Underwood, Stowers, Lyons and Nicholls – as well as starting running back LeMonte Booker – ISU found ways to win on both sides of the ball with the next guy up. In fact, due to the limited nature of ISU's roster, the Sycamores had five first-time starters: TE Logan Buske, DL Kenyota Rollins, LB Antonio Broadus, LB Katrell Moss and S Haki Woods.

Whether ISU's regular starters return or these steady backups remain in the starting lineup next week at No. 5/7 South Dakota State remains to be seen. Either way, Coach Sanford knows the path ahead is arduous in the tough MVFC.

“We're a work in progress,” Sanford said. “One of the qualities of a good football team is to keep improving as the season goes on, and we need to keep doing that.”

Indiana State will be looking to knock off a top-10 team next week in Brookings, S.D., when the Sycamores and Jackrabbits meet up on Sat., Oct. 10.

“We have tremendous respect for South Dakota State,” Sanford said. “That's a big trip for us. They're one of the best programs in FCS football, and we have our work cut out for us.”

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