By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – No. 23/RV Indiana State returns to the road for the final time this regular season on Saturday, when it will make the trek up to the UNI-Dome to take on the No. 17/20 Northern Iowa Panthers. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET, and fans can watch live on ESPN3 and Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

QUICK HITS

• Indiana State is ranked in the top-25 for a school-record 20th straight week. The Sycamores rank No. 23 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and are receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll. ISU is one of six Valley teams that are ranked this week and have been every week thus far in 2015.

• The Sycamores are 58-140 (.293) all-time in MVFC play (dating back to ISU's first Valley season in 1986).

• Indiana State is 15-85 all-time against top-25 schools, which includes an 11-65 mark against ranked MVFC teams. However, ISU is coming off a season in which it went 5-4 against ranked schools in 2014.

• Indiana State is 1-13 all-time in the UNI-Dome, its last win coming in 1988 (24-6).

• Last season, the Sycamores upset No. 10 UNI at home, 20-19, to snap a 12-year losing streak to the Panthers that stretched back to 2002. In that game, Indiana State jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, then fell behind 19-14 before putting together a nine-play, 83 yard drive that ended with a game-winning 38-yard TD to WR Gary Owens from WR Chris O'Leary.

• Last week, Indiana State held a 15-point lead over No. 3 Illinois State heading into the fourth quarter. However, the Redbirds mounted an 18-point comeback to win 27-24.

• 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 the day was featured as the No. 4 play on SportsCenter's Top-10 that night.

• Tonyan and Owens are two of 29 receivers in the FCS to have caught three touchdowns in a single game this season, which ties them for fourth nationally.

• 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 occassions this season.

• Senior WR Gary Owens is curently tied for the ISU single-season receiving touchdowns record with eight total TD catches in 2015. Owens is also on pace to break ISU's all-time career record of 15 TDs; Owens has 13 TD catches and 1,305 yards in less than two seasons at Indiana State.

• QB Matt Adam threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns in the first half against Illinois State, both more than what he threw for in ISU's other near-upset over the Redbirds in 2014 (201 yards, two TDs).

• Matt Adam has not thrown an interception since Oct. 10, and has thrown a TD pass in all nine career starts.

• LB Kendall Walker recorded his first career interception against Illinois State.

• Walker's INT keeps alive ISU's streak of at least one turnover per game, which the Sycamore defense has done in seven of eight games this year -- the lone exception being at South Dakota State on Oct. 10.

• The Sycamore defense has also recorded multiple turnovers in five of eight games played this season.

• Indiana State ranks 14th nationally in turnover margin at +7.

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

• ISU set season-highs in total offense (561) and rushing offense (329) against Southern Illinois on Oct. 17.

• With the 56 points scored at Missouri State on Oct. 3 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.

• 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 379-508-23 and is competing for the 30th consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

ABOUT NORTHERN IOWA           

QUICK HITS

• Total offense: 359.4 (8th MVFC, 70th FCS)

• Total defense: 356.0 (6th MVFC, 40th FCS)

• Rushing offense: 181.8 (6th MVFC, 41st FCS)

• Rushing defense: 129.6 (2nd MVFC, 22nd FCS)

• Passing offense: 177.6 (9th MVFC, 84th FCS)

• Passing defense: 226.4 (8th MVFC, 72nd FCS)

KEY PLAYERS

#15 QB Aaron Bailey | 6-2, 226 | Jr. | Bolingbrook, Ill. | University of Illinois

• 2015 Season Stats (passing): 71-of-134, 1,006 yards, 6 TD, 5 INT, 125.8 YPG

• 2015 Season Stats (rushing): 133 rushes, 683 yards, 6 TD, 85.4 YPG, 5.1 YPC, Long of 83

• Ranks in national top-50 in: passing yards per completion (13th, 14.17), rushing yards (31st, 683 yards), passing yards per attempt (33rd, 7.51) and rushing yards per game (34th, 85.4 YPG).

• His 85.4 YPG leads UNI in rushing, ranks third in the MVFC behind ILS's Marshaun Coprich (143.8) and WIU's Nikko Watson (114.3).

• Tansferred to UNI from Illinois this season. Was a four-star recruit out of Bolingbrook High School; No. 135 nationally, No. 6 in Illinois and No. 11 QB in the nation.

#49 LB Brett McMakin | 6-4, 232 | Jr. | Overland Park, Kan.

• 2015 Season Stats: 77 total tackles (54 solo), 12.0 TFL (27 yards), 2.5 sacks (7 yards), 1 INT, 5 forced fumbles

• Ranks in the national top-35 in: forced fumbles (2nd, 5 FF), solo tackles (4th, 54 solo tackles), tackles for loss (16th, 12.0 TFL), total tackles (34th, 77 tackles) and sacks (34th, 2.5 sacks).

• Leads the MVFC in forced fumbles, also ranks high in tackles (T-6th, 9.5/game) and TFL (4th, 1.5 TFL/game).

#1 DB Deiondre' Hall | 6-2, 190 | Sr. | Blue Springs, Mo.

• 2015 Season Stats: 54 total tackles (35 solo), 4.0 TFL (14 yards), 4 INT (80 yards), 2 FF, 2 INT return TDs

• Leads the MVFC in interceptions with four.

• Named to the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List (formerly the Buck Buchannan Award).

#93 DL Karter Schult | 6-2, 265 | Jr. | Tripoli, Iowa

• 2015 Season Stats: 50 total tackles (39 solo), 15.0 TFL (55 yards), 9.0 sacks (45 yards).

• Ranks second nationally in sacks (9.0) and sixth in TFL (15.0). He leads the MVFC in both categories as well.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS

UNI owns the same record as Indiana State at 4-4 overall and 2-3 in MVFC play, but have played an excruciatingly difficult schedule. The Panthers have played five Top-25 teams this year, of which UNI has gone 3-2. Those five teams also include two very tough non-conference matchups against No. 7 Eastern Washington on Sept. 12 (W, 38-35) and at No. 17 Cal Poly (W, 34-20).

The Panthers proceeded to then lose three very close games at No. 4 Illinois State (21-13), at No. 2 North Dakota State (31-28) and vs. Western Illinois (24-19). UNI has rebounding with wins over No. 6 South Dakota State (10-7) and South Dakota (20-7).

UNI is led by former Illinois QB Aaron Bailey, who leads the Panthers in both passing (1,006 yards) and rushing (683 yards). However, the greatest strength UNI has is its formidable defense. The Panthers own an astounding 65 tackles for a loss of 211 yards -- 11th-best in the FCS this year. Much of that comes from a strong front-seven, led by LB Brett McMakin (12.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and DL Karter Schult (15.0 TFL, 9.0 sacks). UNI also has a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in its secondary in Deiondre' Hall, who leads the MVFC in interceptions with four -- two of which he has brought back for touchdowns.

INDIANA STATE HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 29-64 (.312) overall in his eighth season as a head coach and is 13-21 (.382) in his third season with Indiana State. He is 6-15 all-time in MVFC games, including a 3-7 mark at home and an 3-8 mark on the road. During his career, he is 21-25 in all home games, 8-39 on the road and 9-9 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 35th as the Indiana State head coach and his 95th as a collegiate head coach.

INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total offense: 398.1 (5th MVFC, 49th FCS)

• Rushing offense: 187.0 (4th MVFC, 34th FCS)

• Passing offense: 211.1 (5th MVFC, 58th FCS)

• Six of 10 schools in the MVFC hold a top-50 scoring offense nationally: Southern Illinois (8th, 39.6 PPG), Illinois State (18th, 35.0), North Dakota State (30th, 31.6), South Dakota State (39th, 30.6), Indiana State (46th, 29.4) and Youngstown State (47th, 28.5).

• Seven of 10 schools in the MVFC also hold a top-50 rushing offense: North Dakota State (18th, 219.6 YPG), Illinois State (19th, 213.6), Southern Illinois (23rd, 210.0), Indiana State (34th, 187.0), Youngstown State (38th, 182.9), Northern Iowa (41st, 181.8) and South Dakota (46th, 173.4).

• 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 the day was featured as the No. 4 play on SportsCenter's Top-10 that night.

• Tonyan and Owens are two of 29 receivers in the FCS to have caught three touchdowns in a single game this season, which ties them for fourth nationally.

• 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 occassions this season.

• Tonyan threw a 42-yard pass to Gary Owens against Southern Illinois on Oct. 17. Tonyan is a former Sycamore QB before transitioning to WR in 2014.

• 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 2,465 yards and 22 TDs in two seasons together. Tonyan currently has 1,160 yards and nine TDs, Owens has 1,305 yards and 13 TDs.

• Senior WR Gary Owens is curently tied for the ISU single-season receiving touchdowns record with eight total TD catches in 2015. Owens is also on pace to break ISU's all-time career record of 15 TDs; Owens has 13 TD catches and 1,305 yards in less than two seasons at Indiana State.

• Gary Owens has 10 total TDs this season: eight receiving, one rushing and one passing. He ranks eighth nationally in receiving touchdowns.

• QB Matt Adam threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns in the first half against Illinois State, both more than what he threw for in ISU's other near-upset over the Redbirds in 2014 (201 yards, two TDs).

• Matt Adam has not thrown an interception since Oct. 10, and has thrown a TD pass in all nine career starts.

• Matt Adam ranks in the national top-50 in: passing touchdowns (13th, 17 TDs), points responsible for (14th, 124 points), points responsible for per game (15th, 15.8 PPG), total offense (33rd, 245.4 YPG), passing efficiency (34th, 133.7), passing yards (43rd, 1,580), completions per game (48th, 16.75) and passing yards per game (50th, 197.5 YPG),

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

• Against North Dakota State, Matt Adam recorded the longest run of his career thus far: an 81-yard TD in the third quarter to tie the game -- the longest offensive play for ISU this season.

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

• 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.

• Booker leads ISU and ranks 8th in the MVFC in rushing at 410 yads (68.3/game).

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

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 constitute his second-career 100-yard game, the third by a Sycamore receiver this season.

DEEP THREAT DUO

WRs Gary Owens and Robert Tonyan Jr. have been a lethal passing combination for first-time starting QB Matt Adam this year, and have been trouble for defenses all season long. Combined, they have 903 of Adam's 1,580 passing yards and 13 of his 17 passing touchdowns this season. In two years together at ISU (Tonyan converted to WR from QB in 2014; Owens was a JUCO transfer), they have combined for 2,465 yards and 22 touchdowns through the air. They are also the first duo in school history to tie the school record for touchdown receptions in a single game; Owens hauled in three vs. Southern Illinois on Oct. 17 and Tonyan did so last week at Illinois State.

The duo have also been explosive down the field for Adam and the Sycamores, combining for 14 of ISU's 42 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.

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 1,305 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 eighth in the FCS. Owens also has a passing and rushing touchdown to his credit this season.

ADAM TAKING CHARGE

First-year starting QB Matt Adam has been the offensive catalyst for the Sycamores this season, and he is in very good company in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Adam ranks second in the MVFC in total offense at 1,963 total yards (1,580 passing, 327 rushing, 245.4 total YPG) -- trailing only SIU's Mark Iannotti (2,887, 360.9/game), who ranks No. 4 in the FCS this season.

Adam has a 17:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio on the season and ranks 13th nationally with 17 passing touchdowns, but he has also been impressive on the ground. Adam ranks third on ISU's roster with 383 rushing yards, and also owns Indiana State's longest play from scrimmage this season: an 81-yard touchdown run against the North Dakota State Bison on Oct. 24. Adam has gained 585 yards on the ground this year (nearly 200 more than any other Sycamore), but has lost 202 through sacks.

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 fourth in the MVFC and 34th nationally in rushing offense at 187.0 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. On the year, though, Booker is ISU's leading rusher at 410 yards.

Starting QB Matt Adam (383 yards) has proved to be the most explosive of the bunch with three runs 40 yards or longer -- including an 81-yard TD run against NDSU on Oct. 24 that is currently the longest offensive play for the Sycamores.

Also chipping in are: Roland Genesy (404 yards), Marlon Fleming (125), Taeler Porter (62) and Kelvin Cook (46) for a combined 637 rushing yards as Booker and Adam's supporting cast.

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: 423.6 (8th MVFC, 84th FCS)

• Rushing defense: 202.9 (8th MVFC, 93rd FCS)

• Passing defense: 220.8 (7th MVFC, 70th FCS)

• LB Kendall Walker recorded his first career interception against Illinois State.

• Walker's INT keeps alive ISU's streak of at least one turnover per game, which the Sycamore defense has done in seven of eight games this year -- the lone exception being at South Dakota State on Oct. 10.

• The Sycamore defense has also recorded multiple turnovers in five of eight games played this season.

• Indiana State ranks 14th nationally in turnover margin at +7 (14 gained, 7 lost)

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

• ISU has only given up 300 yards passing to only 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).

• LB Jameer Thurman is ISU's leading tackler with 59 total tackles (33 solo). Thurman has led ISU in each of its last two games. He also owns 2.0 TFL and four total passes defended (two INTs, two pass breakups).

• Jameer Thurman recorded his 200th career tackle at South Dakota State on Oct. 10. He currently has 232 (118 solo), and is one of four active Sycamores with 200 or more career tackles: Kendall Walker (246), Connor Underwood (239) and Mark Sewall (235).

• LB Jameer Thurman, safety Marcus Gray 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.

• 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 at the time. Despite missing two games, Walker is second on ISU's roster with 55 total tackles (26 solo).

• Since filling in for the injured Mark Sewall, safety Marcus Gray has become ISU's third-best tackler (54 total, 30 solo) and has had his hand in four Sycamore turnovers since Sewall's injury at Purdue. Gray is also third on ISU's roster with 5.0 TFL for 15 yards.

• Safety Tsali Lough is ISU's fourth-leading tackler with 54 stops (31 solo). Lough is one of four 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.

• 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 2.5 sacks and is fifth in total tackles at 48 (26 solo).

• 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 suffered no damage to his neck or spinal cord.

• Despite missing several games due to a hamstring injury, senior All-American linebacker Connor Underwood leads ISU in sacks with 3.0 and is second overall in TFL with 5.5. Underwood, a preseason STATS Defensive Player of the Year Award Watch List nominee, is ISU's all-time sack leader with 31.5 career sacks. Earlier this year he also broke the all-time Indiana State record for TFL, currently at 58.0 career TFL. In five games played this season, Underwood has 21 total tackles (15 solo).

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

• Sophomroe WR Tyler Denton is one of 36 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.

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE

The Sycamores continue to shine in the turnover margin battle, and last week's game at Illinois State was no exception. Senior linebacker Kendall Walker recorded his first-career interception in the fourth quarter to keep Indiana State's streak of games with a turnover alive – now three straight and seven of eight this season. ISU has also had multiple turnovers in five of eight contests this season. The Sycamores rank seventh nationally in turnovers lose (seven), 14th nationally in turnovers margin (+7) and 46th in turnovers gained (14). ISU has also turned those 14 turnovers into 35 points this season, opposed to 14 on opponents' seven turnovers against the Sycamores.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

The Sycamores may rank seventh in the Valley in pass defense at 220.8 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 three 200-yard passers all year -- Purdue's Austin Appleby (289), SDSU's Taryn Christion (221) and Southern Illinois' Mark Iannotti (427) -- and only Southern has thrown for 300 or more against ISU. The Sycamores have also only allowed only two 100-yard receivers this season: SIU's Darrell James (114) and SEMO's Paul McRoberts (100).

Nine of ISU's 14 total turnovers this season have been interceptions, with three different Sycamores recording two interceptions themselves: DB Marcus Gray, DB Travis Starks and LB Jameer Thurman.

LEAVING A LEGACY

Senior Connor Underwood returned from a hamstring injury last week at Illinois State in prime fashion with a signature quarterback sack. Underwood, an All-American and 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 only played on third downs and in other situations at Illinois State, but will see an increased role this week at UNI as he continues to heal from his hamstring injury. He first suffered the setback vs. SEMO on Sept. 19. He missed the following two games, but returned vs. Southern Illinois on Oct. 17, only to get hurt again during the game.

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 tied for the conference lead with 22 touchbacks this season out of 42 total kickoffs. Lunsford currently has a kickoff average of 60.6 yards per kickoff attempt.

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 ranks third in tackles with 54 stops (31 solo), as well as a big forced fumble at Purdue on Sept. 12. Gray, meanwhile, has filled in for Sewall and done splendidly, recording 54 total tackles (30 solo), 5.0 TFL for a loss of 15 yards, two interceptions returned for 24 yards and two fumble recoveries.

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 53 total tackles (25 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).

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.

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