By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State football will play its final game of the 2015 season at home when it hosts the Youngstown State Penguins this Saturday, Nov. 14. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, and fans can watch live on ESPN3.

QUICK HITS

• Saturday's game vs. Youngstown State is also Senior Day. Indiana State is honoring 12 seniors for their illustrious Sycamore careers: TE Jamar Brown, TE Logan Buske, LB Nick Cody, OL Evan Goebel, DL Conrrad Nicholls, WR Gary Owens, DB Mark Sewall, DB Travis Starks, DB Alex Stowers, P Osborn Umeh, LB Connor Underwood and LB Kendall Walker.

• Those 12 seniors have combined for: 2,197 all-purpose yards, 120 points (20 touchdowns), 1,052 tackles, 109.0 TFL, 40.5 sacks and 21 interceptions.

• Among those seniors is All-American linebacker Connor Underwood, who leaves ISU as its all-time career-leader in tackles for loss (58.0) and sacks (31.5).

• Active statistical leaders playing their final game include: Kendall Walker (games played, 43; tackles, 273; solo tackles, 125; assisted tackles, 148; forced fumbles, 4), Travis Starks (interceptions, 8; INT return TDs, 2; pass breakups, 27), Connor Underwood (games played, 43; TFL, 58.0; sacks, 31.5), Mark Sewall (solo tackles, 125; interceptions, 8) and Gary Owens (receiving yards, 1,373; receiving touchdowns, 13).

#86 TE Jamar Brown | 6-5, 240 | Indianapolis, Ind.

• Career Stats: 35 games played, 47 receptions, 453 yards, 4 TD

#87 TE Logan Buske | 6-3, 240 | Terre Haute, Ind.

• Career Stats: 26 games played, 6 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD

#34 LB Nick Cody | 6-2, 235 | Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.

• Career Stats: 14 games played, 15 total tackles, 1.0 TFL

#67 OL Evan Goebel | 6-3, 320 | Newburgh, Ind.

• Career Stats: 22 games played

#92 DL Conrrad Nicholls | 6-5, 270 | Honolulu, Hawaii

• Career Stats: 24 games played, 66 total tackles, 10.0 TFL (23 yards), 3.0 sacks (11 yards), 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 BLK

#4 WR Gary Owens | 5-9, 185 | Mesquite, Texas | Trinity Valley CC

• Career Stats: 23 games played, 105 receptions, 1,373 yards, 13 TD, 59.7 YPG, 39 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 passing TD | 2014 MVFC All-Newcomer team

#21 DB Mark Sewall | 6-0, 210 | Western Springs, Ill.

• Career Stats: 38 games played, 235 total tackles (125 solo), 19.0 TFL (35 yards), 1.0 sack, 8 INTs (124 yards),  2 INT return TDs, 24 pass breakups, 32 total passes defended, 5 fumble recoveries, 2 blocks, 5 QB hurries, 299 total all-purpose yards, 18 punts returned for 171 yards

• 2012 MVFC All-Newcomer, 2013 MVFC All-Academic, 2013 All-MVFC Honorable Mention, 2014 MVFC All-Academic, 2014 All-MVFC Second Team, 2015 Preseason All-MVFC

#7 DB Travis Starks | 5-10, 190 | Chicago, Ill.

• Career Stats: 37 games played, 149 total tackles (97 solo), 5.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 8 INTs (returned for two touchdowns and a school-record 283 yards); 27 pass breakups, 35 total passes defended, 1 FF

• 2014 Second-Team All-MVFC, 2015 Preseason All-MVFC

#39 DB Alex Stowers | 5-9, 175 | Indianapolis, Ind.

• Career Stats: 37 games played, 66 total tackles (46 solo), 3.0 TFL, 2 INTs, 17 PBUs, 19 total passes defended

#12 P Osborn Umeh | 6-2, 210 | Lakewood, Calif. | Cerritos College

• Career Stats: 150 punts, 5,905 yards, 39.4 career average, Long of 67

• Single-season record holder in yards (3,489), single-game record holder as well (509)

#55 LB Connor Underwood | 6-3, 240 | Washington, Ill.

• Career Stats: 43 games played, 241 total tackles (114 solo), school-record 58.0 TFL (224 yards), school-record 31.5 sacks (164 yards), 2 INTs, 12 PBUs, 3 FF, 2 FR.

• 2014 All-American, two-time First-Team All-MVFC, 2012 MVFC All-Newcomer, 2015 Preseason All-American, 2015 Preseason All-MVFC

#44 LB Kendall Walker | 6-0, 235 | Cincinnati, Ohio

• Career Stats: 43 games played, 273 total tackles (125 solo), 13.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 INT, 6 PBUs, 4 FF

ABOUT YOUNGSTOWN STATE

QUICK HITS

• Total offense: 408.9 (5th MVFC, 43rd FCS)

• Total defense: 286.2 (1st MVFC, 8th FCS)

• Rushing offense: 204.6 (4th MVFC, 23rd FCS)

• Rushing defense: 163.9 (5th MVFC, 60th FCS)

• Passing offense: 204.3 (6th MVFC, 62nd FCS)

• Passing defense: 122.3 (1st MVFC, 2nd FCS)

KEY PLAYERS

#20 RB Jody Webb | 5-9, 180 | Jr. | Toledo, Ohio | University of Toledo

• 2015 Season Stats (rushing): 115 rushes, 800 yards, 8 TD, 80.0 YPG, 7.0 YPC, Long of 77

• 2015 Season Stats (receiving): 17 receptions, 172 yards, 10.1 YPC, Long of 33

• 2015 Season Stats (kick returns): 11 returns, 252 yards, 22.9 YPR, Long of 54

• Ranks in the national top-50 in: rushing yards per carry (7th, 6.96), all-purpose yardage (36th, 122.4 YPG), rushing yards (41st, 800) and rushing touchdowns (41st, 8 TDs)

• Ranks fourth in the MVFC in rushing (80.0 YPG) and sixth in all-purpose (122.4 YPG)

#29 RB Martin Ruiz | 5-11, 200 | Jr. | Tampa, Fla.

• 2015 Season Stats (rushing): 177 rushes, 698 yards, 4 TD, 69.8 YPG, 3.9 YPC, Long of 34

• 2015 Season Stats (receiving): 19 receptions, 167 yards, 2 TD, Long of 46

• Ranks sixth in the MVFC in rushing (69.8 YPG) and 10th in all-purpose yardage (86.5 YPG)

• 2013 MVFC Freshman of the Year

#11 DE Derek Rivers | 6-5, 255 | Jr. | Kinston, N.C.

• 2015 Season Stats: 45 total tackles (32 solo), 14.5 TFL (76 yards), 8.0 sacks (52 yards), 12 QB hurries

• Ranks in the national top-20 in: tackles for loss (19th, 14.5 TFL) and sacks (19th, 8.0 sacks)

• Ranks in the top-five in the MVFC in both TFL (third) and sacks (fourth)

#3 SS LeRoy Alexander | 6-0, 195 | Jr. | Toledo, Ohio | University of Nebraska

• 2015 Season Stats: 60 total tackles (33 solo), 3.5 TFL (11 yards), 2.0 sacks (8 yards), 3 INT (52 yards, 1 TD), 1 fumble recovery (50 yards)

• Ranks 49th nationally in interceptions (3 INTs)

SCOUTING THE PENGUINS

Youngstown State comes to Terre Haute this weekend on the cusp of a potential bid to the FCS Playoffs at 5-5 overall and 3-4 in conference play. The Penguins, in their first season under former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini, have had several close calls this season that could potentially have put them square into playoff race -- including most recently vs. No. 2/3 North Dakota State. A late collapse by YSU allowed the Bison to slip by 27-24 in Youngstown last week.

The Penguins boast an almost eerily balanced offensive attack, putting up 408.9 YPG with 204.6 coming on the ground and 204.3 through the air. YSU owns a double-headed rushing attack from Toledo transfer Jody Webb (800 yards, 8 TD) and former MVFC Freshman of the Year Martin Ruiz (698 yards, 4 TD). The duo have combined for 73.2 percent of all YSU rushing this season, and also boast a combined 329 receiving yards and two touchdowns together.

The key to the operation for the Penguins, though, is an superb defense. YSU holds the eighth-best defense in the nation right now, as it is only allowing 286.2 YPG to opposing teams. A big part of that has been a near-impenetrable pass defense, which ranks No. 2 in the entire FCS at 122.3 YPG allowed through the air. Youngstown also allows the second-fewest first downs in the nation, only allowing 128 total first downs through 10 games this season.

YSU owns a great secondary led by LeRoy Alexander, but much of its success can be attributed to a ferocious pass rush from the likes of DE Derek Rivers (8 sacks) and Lee Wright (5 sacks), among others.

INDIANA STATE HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 29-66 (.305) overall in his eighth season as a head coach and is 13-23 (.361) in his third season with Indiana State. He is 6-17 all-time in MVFC games, including a 3-8 mark at home and an 3-9 mark on the road. During his career, he is 21-26 in all home games, 8-40 on the road and 9-9 in games decided by three points or less. With the Trees, Sanford is 1-1 in overtime games and 0-1 in shutouts. Saturday's game is Sanford's 37th as the Indiana State head coach and his 97th as a collegiate head coach.

INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total offense: 387.3 (6th MVFC, 56th FCS)

• Rushing offense: 168.3 (7th MVFC, 54th FCS)

• Passing offense: 219.0 (4th MVFC, 51st FCS)

• Matt Adam ranks in the national top-50 in: passing touchdowns (18th, 19 TDs), points responsible for per game (21st, 14.4 PPG), total offense (33rd, 243.9 YPG), passing yards (37th, 2,055), passing efficiency (40th, 129.6), passing yards per game (40th, 205.5 YPG) and completions per game (41st, 17.4).

• Matt Adam ranks second in the MVFC in total offense at 2,439 yards (243.9 per game), trailing only the active national leader in Mark Iannotti of Southern Illinois (3,587, 358.7/game).

• Matt Adam also ranks third in the Valley in passing (205.5 YPG; trailing only Iannotti and WIU's Trenton Norvell) and fifth in passing efficiency (129.6).

• QB Matt Adam has thrown at least one touchdown pass in all 11 of his career starts (10 this year, one in 2014 ).

• Adam's 81-yard TD run against the Bison is the third-longest in the MVFC this season, 11th-longest nationally.

• Matt Adam recorded his first-career 100-yard rushing game against SIU with 123 yards and one TD.

• Matt Adam and LeMonte Booker's 100-yard games against SIU made them the first ISU duo to rush for 100 yards in the same game since 2010 (Shakir Bell and Darrius Gates, vs. Quincy).

• Of Adam's 2,055 passing yards and 19 touchdowns this season, 1,074 yards and 14 scores have gone to either Robert Tonyan Jr. or Gary Owens.

• In the last three weeks alone, Robert Tonyan Jr. has caught 19 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns. On the year he has 39 receptions for 572 yards and six scores.

• WR Robert Tonyan Jr. caught three touchdowns in the second quarter against the Redbirds, tying a single-game school record for receiving touchdowns. Tonyan is the sixth Sycamore to ever catch three in a game, and the second this season after Gary Owens did so vs. Southern Illinois on Oct. 17.

• Tonyan's second TD catch of that day was featured as the No. 4 play on SportsCenter's Top-10 that night.

• Tonyan and Owens are two of 34 receivers in the FCS to have caught three touchdowns in a single game this season, which ties them for fourth nationally in single-game TDs.

• Indiana State is one of nine school in the FCS this season to have multiple receivers who have caught three or more touchdown passes in a single game.

• Tonyan and Owens rank in the top-40 nationally in receiving TDs; Owens 13th with eight, Tonyan 38th with six.

• Counting Tonyan's big second quarter against the Redbirds, the Sycamores have now scored 21 points or more in a single quarter on five different occasions this season.

• Tonyan threw a 42-yard pass to Gary Owens against Southern Illinois on Oct. 17, and also threw a 16-yard completion to Owens last week vs. WIU. Tonyan is a former Sycamore QB before transitioning to WR in 2014.

• Senior WR Gary Owens is currently tied for the ISU single-season receiving touchdowns record with eight total TD catches in 2015. At 13 career TDs, Owens is within reach of ISU's all-time record of 15.

• Tonyan owns Matt Adam's longest pass of the year, a 57-yard reception against Southeast Missouri.

• Tonyan broke the career 1,000-yard mark vs. NDSU on Oct. 24, joining Gary Owens as the second active Sycamore to break 1,000 this season. The duo has combined for 2,692 yards and 23 TDs in two seasons together. Tonyan currently has 1,319 yards and 10 TDs, Owens has 1,373 yards and 13 TDs.

• Gary Owens has 10 total TDs this season: eight receiving, one rushing and one passing.

• RB LeMonte Booker had a 55-yard reception against Illinois State, his seventh play this season 20 yards or longer. Booker also has two that are 55 or longer -- his longest being a 76-yard TD run against Butler.

• WR Sampson Levingston has had a reception of 20 yards or more in five of the last six games.

ADAM MAKING ALL-MVFC CASE

Sophomore QB Matt Adam is in the midst of an All-MVFC caliber season in 2015, which is just his first as ISU's main signal caller. Adam ranks third in the MVFC in passing at 2,055 yards (205.5 YPG) and 19 TDs and second in total offense at 2,439 yards (243.9 YPG) – which trails only SIU's Mark Iannotti, the active national leader at 358.7 YPG (national leader Vad Lee of James Madison is injured). Adam's 19 passing touchdowns rank 18th nationally, and he also has 384 yards and four scores on the ground this season. Adam has been especially explosive lately, throwing for at least 200 yards in his last three games (he has five total 200-yard games this season and six in his career). He has also thrown at least one touchdown pass in all 10 games this season, a streak that actually extends to all 11 of his career starts that began vs. Illinois State in 2014. Adam has also had four games this season in which he has scored both through the air and on the ground.

STELLAR FIRST SEASON FOR ADAM

Sophomore QB Matt Adam took the reigns of ISU's starting job minutes before the season opener vs. Butler on Sept. 5, and hasn't looked back. His 2,055 yard season this year is already the sixth-best passing season in Sycamore history -- ties exactly with Jeff Miller's 1985 season. Adam is also in the midst of the third-best passing touchdown season in ISU history -- just two away from tying Mike Perish's 2014 mark of 21 scores. On top of all that, Adam's season is also the third-best ever at ISU in terms of total offense; his 2,439 yards rank third behind Perish (3,309, 2014) and Blayne Baggett (2,814, 2005).

DYNAMIC RECEIVING DUO

Senior WR Gary Owens and junior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. put up another impressive performance against Western Illinois on Saturday, combining for 13 receptions for 147 yards. On the year, the duo has combined for 75 receptions, 1,130 yards and 14 TDs and during their two years together as receivers at ISU they have combined for 198 catches for 2,692 yards and 23 scores. Both have tied the single-game receiving touchdown record of three scores in a game this season, and both are encroaching on the single-season season (8) and all-time career (15) touchdown records.

The duo have also been explosive down the field for Adam and the Sycamores, combining for 18 of ISU's 52 plays that are 20 yards or longer this season. Tonyan himself owns Adam's longest pass of the year (57 yards), and Owens owns Adam's longest touchdown pass of the year at 53 yards. Tonyan also has a 42-yard pass to his credit to Gary Owens.

TONYAN'S BIG DAY

Junior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. had a career day at Illinois State, as he single-handedly led a Sycamore offensive revolution in the second quarter to put the third-ranked Redbirds on their heels. In the second quarter alone, Tonyan hauled in three touchdowns passes – the second of which was an amazing one-handed leaping grab while he was held by his defender in the corner of the endzone, which was featured as the No. 4 play in SportsCenter's Top-10 that night. On the day, Tonyan ended with nine catches for 117 yards – his three touchdowns tying an all-time ISU single-game record, making him the sixth Sycamore to ever do so and the second to just this season (Gary Owens, vs. Southern Illinois). Tonyan's 117 yards also constituted his second-career 100-yard game, the third by a Sycamore receiver this season.

OWENS' LEGACY

It's been an incredible season for senior WR Gary Owens thus far. 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 Oct. 17, 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 1,373 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 13th in the FCS. Owens also has a passing and rushing touchdown to his credit this season.

GETTING TRICKY

Following a season in which ISU made the SportsCenter Top-10 for its “Circle of Death” trick play, Indiana State has scored on four different trick plays this season. First up was a Gary Owens nine-yard rushing touchdown vs. Southeast Missouri on a double-option reverse end-around. The following game at Missouri State, Owens got in on the fun again with a 22-yard passing touchdown to tight end Jamar Brown. In that same game, sophomore WR Tyler Denton scored on a fake-out punt return touchdown. And then this past week at UNI, freshman WR Kelvin Cook (a former triple-option QB in high school) took a handoff from QB Matt Adam, popped back and lobbed a 12-yard TD pass to WR Robert Tonyan Jr. Three different Sycamore position players have completed a pass this year; two for a TD and the other being a 42-yard gain from Tonyan to Owens vs. Southern Illinois.

CONSISTENTLY EXPLOSIVE

He may sit behind such big names as Robert Tonyan Jr. and Gary Owens, but junior wide receiver Sampson Levingston has had a nice season in a supporting role in the slot for the Sycamores. Levingston has 313 yards and two touchdowns on 25 receptions, which accounts for nearly half of his career totals in yards (620) and catches (53). Levingston has also been a big play threat in open space from his position in the slot, accounting for at least one play of 20 yards or longer in five of the last six games -- which most recently includes a career-long 42-yard reception for a touchdown at UNI on Nov. 7.

INDIANA STATE DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total defense: 424.3 (8th MVFC, 88th FCS)

• Rushing defense: 203.1 (8th MVFC, 97th FCS)

• Passing defense: 221.2 (8th MVFC, 70th FCS)

• ISU loses six significant starters from its defense on Saturday: DL Conrrad Nicholls, DB Mark Sewall, DB Travis Starks, DB Alex Stowers, LB Connor Underwood and LB Kendall Walker.

• Together, those six seniors have combined for: 1,030 tackles, 108.0 TFL, 40.5 sacks, 21 INTs and 10 forced fumbles.

• All-American linebacker Connor Underwood leaves ISU as its all-time career-leader in tackles for loss (58.0) and sacks (31.5).

• Active statistical leaders playing their final game include: Kendall Walker (games played, 43; tackles, 273; solo tackles, 125; assisted tackles, 148; forced fumbles, 4), Travis Starks (interceptions, 8; INT return TDs, 2; pass breakups, 27), Connor Underwood (games played, 43; TFL, 58.0; sacks, 31.5) and Mark Sewall (solo tackles, 125; interceptions, 8).

• ISU has recorded at least one turnover in eight of 10 games played this season (UNI and SDSU being the exceptions). The Sycamore defense has also recorded multiple turnovers in seven of 10 games this season.

• Only four opposing quarterbacks have thrown for 200 yards or more on the Sycamore defense: Purdue's Austin Appleby (289), SDSU's Taryn Christion (221), Southern Illinois' Mark Iannotti (427) and Western Illinois' Sean McGuire (332).

• ISU has only given up 300 yards passing to two teams: Southern Illinois (427) and Western Illinois (332).

• ISU has only allowed three 100-yard receivers this season: WIU's Joey Borsellino (187), SIU's Darrell James (114) and SEMO's Paul McRoberts (100).

• Senior LB Kendall Walker is ISU's leading tackler with 82 total stops despite missing two games due to a concussion.

• Walker's 10.2 total tackles per game rank fifth in the Valley this season, and his 5.8 solo tackles per game ranks 17th in all of the FCS.

• Junior safety Marcus Gray has done a fine job filling in for injured All-MVFC safety Mark Sewall, as Gray is ISU's second-leading tackler at 70 total stops (43 solo). Gray also owns 5.0 TFL for a loss of 15 yards, two interceptions for 24 yards, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

• Safety Marcus Gray, LB Jameer Thurman and CB Travis Starks each have two interceptions on the season and have returned those INTs for a combined 147 yards and one touchdown (Starks, 100 yards).

• Senior CB 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.

• LB Jameer Thurman is ISU's third-leading tackler with 68 total tackles (36 solo). He also owns 2.5 TFL and five total passes defended (two INTs, three pass breakups).

• Jameer Thurman recorded his 200th career tackle at South Dakota State on Oct. 10. He currently has 241 (121 solo), and is one of four active Sycamores with 200 or more career tackles: Kendall Walker (273), Connor Underwood (241) and Mark Sewall (235).

• Safety Tsali Lough is ISU's fourth-leading tackler with 67 stops (39 solo). Lough is one of four Sycamores with a forced fumble this season, his coming at Purdue on Sept. 12.

• Nickel defensive back Lonnell Brown Jr. leads ISU in tackles for loss with 7.0 TFL. Brown had 3.0 alone vs. Butler in the season opener. Brown is also third on ISU's roster with 2.0 sacks.

• ISU freshman Adrian Butler blocked two punts against Southern Illinois on Oct. 17.

• Sophomore WR Tyler Denton is one of 50 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.

WALKER AMONG NATION'S BEST TACKLERS

Senior linebacker Kendall Walker missed two games this season due to a concussion, but you wouldn't notice by looking at ISU's stats. Walker is again ISU's leading tackler with 82 total stops despite his missed time. His 10.2 total tackles per game rank fifth in the Valley this season, and his 5.8 solo tackles per game ranks 17th in all of the FCS. Heading into his final game as a Sycamore, Walker is ISU's active leader in total tackles (273) and is tied for the active lead in solo tackles with injured senior safety Mark Sewall at 125 solo stops.

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 80 total tackles (45 solo) – posting ISU season highs in both games at Missouri State (13 total, six solo), at South Dakota State (15 total, 10 solo) and vs. Western Illinois (18 total, 11 solo). Walker was ISU's leading tackler in 2014 with 123 total tackles (50 solo), and currently leads ISU with 82 total tackles. He also ranks seventh in the MVFC in tackles per game (9.1).

BACKFIELD RUCKUS

Five Sycamores currently own 5.0 tackles for loss or more: Lonnell Brown Jr. (7.0), Connor Underwood (5.5), Marcus Gray (5.0), Antonio Broadus (5.0) and Conrrad Nicholls (5.0). ISU also has three with at least two sacks this year: Connor Underwood (3.0), Antonio Broadus (2.5) and Lonnell Brown (2.0).

SUPER SECONDARY

ISU may be missing All-MVFC safety Mark Sewall, but the Sycamores have not been lacking at the safety or defensive back positions. Three of ISU's five starting defensive backs currently rank in the top-five in tackles on the team: Marcus Gray (second, 70), Tsali Lough (fourth, 67) and Lonnell Brown Jr. (fifth, 51). ISU's DBs also own seven of the team's 11 INTs this year -- led by Travis Starks' three picks for 100 yards and one touchdown.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

The Sycamores may rank eighth in the Valley in pass defense at 221.2 yards allowed per game, but a closer look at the numbers reveals that the ISU secondary has done a fairly solid job against opposing passing attacks this season. ISU has only allowed four 200-yard passers all year -- Purdue's Austin Appleby (289), SDSU's Taryn Christion (221), Southern Illinois' Mark Iannotti (427) and Western Illinois' Sean McGuire (332). The Sycamores have also only allowed only three 100-yard receivers this season: WIU's Joey Borsellino (187), SIU's Darrell James (114) and SEMO's Paul McRoberts (100).

11 of ISU's 16 total turnovers this season have been interceptions, with three different Sycamores recording at least two interceptions themselves: DB Marcus Gray (2), DB Travis Starks (3) and LB Jameer Thurman (2).

LEAVING A LEGACY

Senior Connor Underwood, an All-American and Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Watch List member, is ISU's all-time leader in sacks at 31.5 sacks. Underwood also became ISU's all-time TFL leader earlier this year at Purdue; he currently has 58.0 TFL.

Underwood is currently dealing with a hamstring injury that has kept him from playing in four of ISU's 10 games this season. He initially was injured against SEMO on Sept. 19. He returned vs. Southern Illinois on Oct. 17, but was injured again in the second half. Underwood again returned at UNI on Nov. 7, but again injured his hamstring.

BOOMING KICKOFFS

ISU kickoff specialist Andrew Lunsford comes from solid kicking stock, and has proven his worth thus far in 2015. Lunsford, brother of NFL prospect John Lunsford of Liberty, is second in the MVFC with 25 touchbacks this season out of 66 total kickoffs. Lunsford currently has a kickoff average of 60.6 yards per kickoff attempt.

FIELD POSITION

Senior punter Osborn Umeh has had a handful of setbacks during this season, but on the whole he has been an effective punter in the field position battle for the Sycamores. Umeh ranks 42nd nationally in punting at 40.3 yards per attempt, and he owns the fourth-longest punt in the Valley this year at 67 yards.

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.

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.