By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State returns home in the hopes of ending a two-game Valley skid against the upstart South Dakota Coyotes, as the grueling MVFC campaign continues on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium.

QUICK HITS

• Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN3. On the call will be Indiana State students Rob Lafary (play-by-play) and Tim Wells (color).

• Sycamore fans can also listen locally on WDKE 95.9 FM “The Duke” to Brian Fritz (PBP) and Tom James (color).

• This marks the 112th 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 383-513-23 (.417) and is competing for the 31st consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

• All-time, the Sycamores are 60-144 in MVFC play. Indiana State was 3-5 in conference play in 2015.

• South Dakota is coming off a 28-25 upset of No. 11 Northern Iowa at home in Vermillion, S.D. USD and UNI were even offensively, but the Coyote defense was able to hold off a late Panther charge for the three-point win.

• The all-time series between the Sycamores and Coyotes stands tied at 1-1 after two years off. Indiana State opened the series with a 45-14 victory at home in 2012 before losing 17-14 in Vermillion in 2013.

• Five different MVFC schools are ranked entering this weekend: No. 1 North Dakota State (5-0), No. 11 South Dakota State (3-2), No. 12 Western Illinois (4-1), No. 14 Youngstown State (4-1) and No. 21 Northern Iowa (2-3).

• The Sycamores are coming off a heartbreaking 36-35 loss at No. 13 Western Illinois on Oct. 8. The Sycamores went on a 21-0 run in the third quarter sparked by several exciting defensive and special teams plays, but fell one lucky break short on 4th-and-1 in Western territory with 30 seconds to play.

• At Western, senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. broke Indiana State's all-time receiving TD record with his 16th-career TD reception. Tonyan, who came to Indiana State as a QB in 2012, snared the ball out of midair and took it 65 yards to the house after an errant pass hit off two different people.

• Tonyan is also coming close to several other career receiving milestones. At 130 career receptions, he sits just two catches short of Terry Bell's 132 for fourth all-time; at 1,796 receiving yards he sits sixth all-time and just four yards shy of becoming Indiana State's sixth-ever 1,800-yard receiver; and, at six touchdowns this season he sits just two short of Steve Schmid's 1968 record of eight.

• Tonyan's six TD receptions this year ranks seventh in the FCS.

• LB Jameer Thurman was the catalyst for the Sycamores at Western Illinois, recovering a muffed punt that sparked a 21-0 run and returning his fourth-career interception for his first-career score during said run.

• At 297 career tackles, Thurman enters this week just three shy of becoming the 16th member of Indiana State's 300-tackle club.

• Thurman enters Saturday ranked in the national top-10 in both fumble recoveries (2) and forced fumbles (three). Thurman also ranks 35th in TFL (9.0). In the Valley, Thurman ranks third in TFL and seventh in total tackles (49).

• Freshman kicker Jerry Nunez is one of nine kickers in the nation to remain perfect thus far into the 2016 season. Nunez is 7-for-7 on the year, which leads the Valley and ranks tied for third in the FCS in field goals made.

• Nunez ranks ninth in the Valley in overall scoring at 7.2 PPG (seven FG, 22 PATs).

• QB Isaac Harker has has passed for 300 yards in three of six games this season after a 2015 season that saw no ISU passer eclipe the 300-yard mark. Harker did not throw an interception in his first 146 career pass attempts (142 coming this season). In the last three weeks he has thrown all four of his INTs, all coming against MVFC schools.

• In his six career starts this season, Harker has thrown for at least 237 yards and one touchdown in every game.

• Starting RB Roland Genesy ranks 20th in the nation with six rushing touchdowns. Genesy has doubled his 2015 total of three, giving him nine in his two-year Sycamore career.

SYCAMORES IN THE NATIONAL POLLS/VS. RANKED TEAMS

• Indiana State briefly jumped into the national top-25 following an upset over No. 9 Illinois State at home on Sept. 24. The Sycamores fell out the previous week after a 45-24 loss to Missouri State.

• While not ranked this week, the Sycamores are still receiving votes in both the STATS FCS and HERO Sports Top-25 polls.

• South Dakota is also receiving votes in both polls after a 28-25 upset over No. 11 Northern Iowa last week.

• Indiana State has ranked in any variation of the national polls 52 times since joining the Valley in 1986.

• Since joining the Valley, the Sycamores have reached a high ranking of No. 14 three times: 1989 (Preseason), 1995 (Nov. 6) and 2012 (Oct. 29).

• Prior to joining the MVFC, the Sycamores reached an all-time high ranking of No. 1 in the nation during the 1984 Playoff season.

• The Sycamores have faced the No. 1 team in the nation 10 times since joining the Valley, going 1-9 in such games. ISU's one victory came at No. 1 North Dakota State on Oct. 13, 2012, winning 17-14 in the Fargodome.

• The Sycamores own a 16-87 all-time record against Top-25 teams, which includes a 12-67 mark against ranked MVFC schools.

• Since joining the Valley, Indiana State is 20-25 as a ranked team.

• While ranked, Indiana State is 3-10 all-time vs. other ranked MVFC schools, all wins coming in 2014 vs. No. 10 Northern Iowa on Oct. 4 (20-19), at No. 19 Southern Illinois on Oct. 25 (41-26) and at No. 15 Youngstown State on Nov. 15 (27-24, OT).

1989 (1-0)

Preseason, #14

1995 (1-3)

Oct. 9, #23; Oct. 23, #22; Nov. 6, #14; Nov. 13, #19; Nov. 20, #24; Final, #24

1996 (2-3)

Preseason, #24; Sept. 2, #25; Oct. 14, #23; Oct. 21, #21; Oct. 28, #23; Nov. 4, #21

2011 (3-4)

Sept. 26, #23; Oct. 3, #17; Oct. 10, #21; Oct. 17, #16; Oct. 24, #18; Oct. 31, #16; Nov. 7, #23; Nov. 14, #23

2012 (4-4)

Preseason, #23; Sept. 3, #23; Sept. 10, #22; Sept. 17, #22; Oct. 15, #21; Oct. 22, #15; Oct. 29, #14; Nov. 5, #18; Nov. 12, #18; Nov. 19, #23

2014 (5-5)

Sept. 29, #25; Oct. 6, #20; Oct. 13, #22; Oct. 20, #22; Oct. 27, #19; Nov. 3, #17; Nov. 10, #23; Nov. 17, #18; Nov. 24, #21; Final, #19

2015 (4-5)

Preseason, #20; Sept. 7, #21; Sept. 14, #23; Sept. 21, #22; Sept. 28, #21; Oct. 5, #19; Oct. 12., #21; Oct. 19, #18; Oct. 26, #21; Nov. 2, #23

2016 (0-1)

Sept. 26, #24

INDIANA STATE HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 33-69 (.324) overall in his ninth season as a head coach and is 17-26 (.395) in his fourth season with Indiana State. He is 8-19 all-time in MVFC games, including a 5-9 mark at home and an 3-10 mark on the road. During his career, he is 24-27 in all home games, 9-42 on the road and 12-10 in games decided by three points or less. With the Sycamores, Sanford is 1-1 in overtime games and 0-1 in shutouts. Saturday's game is Sanford's 44th as the Indiana State head coach and his 103rd as a collegiate head coach.

INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total offense: 411.2 (6th MVFC, 34th FCS)

• Rushing offense: 130.2 (9th MVFC, 84th FCS)

• Passing offense: 281.0 (3rd MVFC, 20th FCS)

• QB Isaac Harker has has passed for 300 yards in three of six games this season after a 2015 season that saw no ISU passer eclipe the 300-yard mark.

• In his six career starts this season, Harker has thrown for at least 237 yards and one touchdown in every game.

• Harker ranks in the national top-30 in: passing yards (4th, 1,676), completions per game (11th, 23.2/game),   points responsible for (12th, 86), passing yards per game (14th, 279.3 YPG), passing touchdowns (15th, 12 TDs), total offense (23rd, 273.8 YPG) and points responsible for per game (26th, 14.7 PPG).

• Harker already passed the 1,000-yard mark passing this season against No. 9 Illinois State, his current 1,676 yards ranking fourth in the FCS. This season, Harker stands at 139-of-234 (59.4 percent) for 1,676 yards, 12 TD and four interceptions.

• Harker is currently on pace for a 3,072-yard, 22 TD season with eight interceptions. The school record for TD passes in a season is 21, set by current WR coach Mike Perish in 2014.

• Harker did not throw an interception in his first 146 career pass attempts (142 coming this season), his first coming late against No. 9 Illinois State on Sept. 24. Harker threw two vs. Missouri State and one at No. 13 Western Illinois last week, pushing his season total to four.

• Harker opened the game vs. Missouri State with a 38-yard TD strike to WR Miles Thompson on the first offensive play of the game. This was the second time in three weeks Harker led the Sycamores to a score on the first play of the game after a 75-yard play-action wheel-route TD to RB Dimitri Taylor at SEMO.

• Harker has 21 passing plays of 20 yards or longer this season, including eight 30 yards or longer and four plays of 50 yards or longer -- a 56-yard TD to WR Bob Pugh vs. Butler, a 58-yard gain on a tipped pass to WR Clayton Smith at Minnesota, a 75-yard wheel-route TD to RB Dimitri Taylor at SEMO and a 65-yard TD pass to WR Robert Tonyan Jr. on a tipped pass, which broke the all-time receiving TD record at ISU for Tonyan. In 2015, the Sycamore offense only had two passing plays of 50 yards or longer, neither for a TD.

• That 75-yard pass from Harker to Taylor is the longest offensive play by the Sycamores since Nov. 1, 2014, when LeMonte Booker broke off a run of 87 yards vs. Missouri State. It is also the longest pass play since Sept. 6, 2014, when Mike Perish found Gary Owens on a 79-yard strike vs. Tennessee Tech.

• Harker also has a receiving TD (10 yards, from WR Bob Pugh, at Minnesota) and a rushing TD (1 yard, vs. Butler) to his credit.

• Harker has connected with senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. 36 times for 448 yards and six TDs this season. Tonyan is on pace for an 822-yard, 11 TD season. In his three seasons as a WR, Tonyan has 130 receptions for 1,796 yards and 16 touchdowns.

• At Western, senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. broke Indiana State's all-time receiving TD record with his 16th-career TD reception. Tonyan, who came to Indiana State as a QB in 2012, snared the ball out of midair and took it 65 yards to the house after an errant pass hit off two different people.

• Tonyan is also coming close to several other career receiving milestones. At 130 career receptions, he sits just two catches short of Terry Bell's 132 for fourth all-time; at 1,796 receiving yards he sits sixth all-time and just four yards shy of becoming Indiana State's sixth-ever 1,800-yard receiver; and, at six touchdowns this season he sits just two short of Steve Schmid's 1968 record of eight. Only two Sycamore receivers have ever broken 2,000 yards in a career: Sam Logan (2,385, 2003-06) and Terry Bell (1982-85, 2,048). At his pace, Tonyan would end his career with 2,169 yards for second all-time.

• Tonyan is the only Sycamore to ever have three receiving TDs in multiple games in a career: at Minnesota (Sept. 10, 2016) and at No. 3 Illinois State on Oct. 31, 2015. Tonyan is one of 25 FCS receivers this year to have three or more receiving TDs in a single game.

• Starting RB Roland Genesy ranks 20th in the nation with six rushing touchdowns. Genesy has doubled his 2015 total of three, giving him nine in his two-year Sycamore career.

• RB Dimitri Taylor owns two of ISU's three longest plays this season: a 75-yard TD reception at SEMO (ISU's longest) and a 63-yard run at Western Illinois (third longest).

ALL-TIME LEADER

Senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. became Indiana State's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns in Saturday's loss at No. 13 Western Illinois, and did so in truly entertaining fashion. Following a Western score to briefly take back the lead early in the second quarter, Tonyan was in the right place at the right time to haul in an errant Isaac Harker pass intended for WR Clayton Smith, which hit off two different people before Tonyan snagged it out of the air behind the secondary with 65 yards of daylight for his 16th career score. With the touchdown, Tonyan broke Joe Downing's all-time record of 15 set in 1985. Tonyan ended the day with 82 yards and one score on three catches, moving him up the all-time lists elsewhere. At 130 career receptions, he stands just three away from passing Terry Bell's 132 catches for fourth all-time; at 1,796 career receiving yards, he sits sixth all-time and just four yards shy of becoming the sixth Sycamore to ever pass 1,800 yards; and at six TD receptions this season, Tonyan is also closing in on Steve Schmid's 1968 single-season record of eight.

THRICE AS NICE, PART DEUX

Most receivers would be lucky to receive three touchdowns in one game during their career, but most receivers aren't Robert Tonyan Jr. The 6-5, 230-pound senior tore up yet another Big Ten secondary for a monster eight-catch, 90-yard day and three touchdowns at Minnesota on Sept. 12 to prove on a national stage that he is an upper-echelon receiver at any level of NCAA college football. This came on the heels of a very impressive three touchdown performance at No. 3 Illinois State in the rain in 2015, which included a superb one-handed snare that ended up as the No. 4 play of the day on SportsCenter's Top-10. Tonyan is the only Sycamore to ever have two separate three touchdown games and and now stands as ISU's all-time career leader in receiving touchdowns after breaking Joe Downing's record of 15 last week with his 16th-career TD catch at No. 13 Western Illinois – an impressive feat for someone who came to Indiana State as a QB. In his career as a WR, Tonyan has 16 receptions for 211 yards and four TDs against three Big Ten teams (Indiana in 2014, Purdue in 2015 and Minnesota in 2016), and he has 19 catches for 243 yards and four scores against all FBS schools when ISU's upset at Ball State in 2014 is included.

FROM BACKUP QB TO NFL PROSPECT

Senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. has NFL scouts on the edge of their seats heading into the 2016 season, but it wasn't that long ago that Tonyan was struggling for playing time elsewhere. Tonyan originally came to Indiana State as a quarterback, and after redshirting the 2012 season he was part of a dual QB setup with Mike Perish in 2013. That year, Tonyan was 32-of-102 for 348 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games played. The next year, at the behest of the coaching staff, Tonyan made the transition to wide receiver and never looked back. His first year as a WR in 2014, Tonyan was the 10th-best in the Valley with 4.2 catches per game, ending the year with 747 yards on 54 receptions and four touchdowns. After another stellar year in 2015 that saw 601 yards and six touchdowns on 40 catches, the 6-5, 220-pound McHenry, Ill., Tonyan has now surpassed 1,700 yards and 100 career receptions, currently standing at 1,714 yards and 127 receptions and 15 TDs.

OFFENSIVE PARITY

QB Isaac Harker has played splendidly through his first four games as ISU's starter, but it helps having the offensive weapons he has around him. Having an NFL-caliber receiver in the 6-5, 230 Robert Tonyan Jr. has helped, as the duo has connected 36 times this season for 448 yards and six touchdowns, but there are currently six Sycamore receivers with 100 or more yards on the season, including three with 200 or more. Redshirt junior and former Kentucky Wildcat Miles Thompson has emerged as of late, hauling in 18 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns – one being the game-winner with 10.8 seconds remaining at Southeast Missouri on Sept. 17. Despite missing a couple games this year, JUCO WR Bob Pugh has also been an explosive threat with 246 yards and one touchdown on 14 catches, a whopping 17.6 yards per reception. Other 100-yard receivers include RB Dimitri Taylor (152 yards, 1 TD), WR Sampson Levingston (118 yards) and WR Clayton Smith (115 yards). In addition, the Sycamore offense currently has three running backs with 100 yards and one touchdown or more on the season: Roland Genesy (367 yards, 6 TD), Dimitri Taylor (249 yards, 1 TD) and Jaquan Keys (189, 1 TD yards).

JUST KEEP RUNNING

Even though the Sycamores hold the second worst rushing offense in the Valley, ISU has had a solid rushing game as of late – proven no better than at No. 13 Western Illinois last Saturday. All three of Indiana State's running backs scored a touchdown against the Leathernecks, including two crucial 10-yard runs by Jaquan Keys and Roland Genesy in the midst of a 21-0 run by Indiana State in the third quarter. Genesy is ISU's leading rusher with 367 yards and six touchdowns on the season, the latter of which ranks 20th in the FCS this season. In two years at ISU, Genesy has nine rushing TDs and is 51 yards away from joining the 1,000-yard club.

I CAN SEE FOR MILES

After missing the season opener, redshirt junior WR Miles Thompson has emerged as a big-play threat for QB Isaac Harker opposite the often double-teamed Robert Tonyan Jr. In five games played, Thompson -- a former Kentucky Wildcat -- is ISU's second-best receiver with 18 receptions for 249 yards and three scores -- one being the game-winning 15-yard TD strike with 10.8 seconds remaining at SEMO. Thompson also had a big TD against Missouri State on Oct. 1, hauling in a long 38-yard seam fade on the first offensive play of the game. Thompson currently averages 49.8 yards per game and 13.8 yards per reception.

INDIANA STATE DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total defense: 452.3 YPG (8th MVFC, 100th FCS)

• Rushing defense: 173.5 YPG (8th MVFC, 68th FCS)

• Passing defense: 278.8 YPG (8th MVFC, 106th FCS)

• The Sycamores allowed their first 300-yard passer of the season at Western Illinois last week: Sean McGuire, who threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns. However, the Sycamores were able to record a season-high two interceptions off McGuire, one that was returned 32 yards for a touchdown by LB Jameer Thurman in the midst of a 21-0 run by the Sycamores in the third quarter.

• McGuire was also the last opposing QB to pass the 300-yard mark against ISU, throwing for 332 yards in Terre Haute in 2015 in his first-career start.

• WIU WR Lance Lenoir hauled in 11 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns last week, the best day by an opposing receiver against the Sycamore defense since Nov. 12, 2005, when future NFL receiver Laurent Robinson of Illinois State recorded 292 yards and three scores on 14 catches.

• The Sycamore defense held Western to just 123 yards rushing, holding the Valley's top RB Steve McShane to just 89 yards. Entering the game, WIU ranked 26th nationally with 188.8 rushing yards per game. ISU allowed a season-low 121 yards rushing in a 34-31 upset of No. 9 Illinois State on Sept. 24.

• Under head coach Mike Sanford and defensive coordinator Brian Cabral, only four FCS schools have ever broken the 500-yard plateau against the Sycamores: Western Illinois (524; Nov. 14, 2015), Southern Illinois (554; Oct. 17, 2015), Chattanooga (503; Dec. 6, 2014, Second Round of FCS Playoffs) and South Dakota State (510; Nov. 8, 2014).

• The only other schools to break 500 yards have all been FBS Big Ten opponents: Minnesota (593; Sept. 10, 2016), Purdue (540; Sept. 12, 2015) and Indiana (566, Aug. 30, 2014; 632, Aug. 29, 2013).

• Under Sanford and Cabral, the Sycamore defense has held opponents to under 400 yards of total offense in 27 of 43 games played. (nine each in 2013 and 2014, six in 2015, three in 2016). In those games, Indiana State is 15-12.

• LB Jameer Thurman was the catalyst for the Sycamores at Western Illinois, recovering a muffed punt that sparked a 21-0 run and returning his fourth-career interception for his first-career score during said run.

• At 297 career tackles, Thurman enters this week just three shy of becoming the 16th member of Indiana State's 300-tackle club. Current LB coach Aaron Archie is at the top of that list with his school-record 428 total tackles.

• Thurman enters Saturday ranked in the national top-10 in both fumble recoveries (2) and forced fumbles (three). Thurman also ranks 35th in TFL (9.0). In the Valley, Thurman ranks third in TFL and seventh in total tackles (49).

• Thurman had a monster day vs. Missouri State on Oct. 1 with 14 tackles (seven solo), 4.0 TFL for a loss of 12 yards, and a forced fumble on a sack of MSU QB Brodie Lambert that briefly turned the tide for the Sycamores in the second quarter.

• Thurman is Indiana State's active leader in total tackles (297), solo tackles (145), assisted tackles (152), tackles for loss (28.0), sacks (7.0), forced fumbles (6), fumble recoveries (5) and interceptions (4).

• Indiana State has recorded at least 5.0 TFL in five of six games this season with 9.0 or more in consecutive games vs. No. 9 Illinois State (10.0) and Missouri State (9.0). In those games, the Sycamores are averaging 26.2 yards lost on TFL per game. A total of 16 different Sycamores have had their hand in a TFL, with 11 contributed to more than 1.0 TFL.

• Three different Sycamores currently sit with 5.0 TFL or more on the season: LB Jameer Thurman (9.0, 27 yards), DL Kenyota Rollins (5.5, 18 yards) and LB Cedric Doxy (5.0, 14 yards).

• Redshirt freshman DB John McDonald-Horner recorded a blocked punt in the midst of Indiana State's 21-0 run in the third quarter at No. 13 Western Illinois, the first blocked punt by a Sycamore since Adrian Butler blocked two vs. Southern Illinois on Homecoming in 2015.

• Senior safety Tsali Lough returned a fumble 100 yards for a TD in the season opener vs. Butler, the fourth 100-yard play in Indiana State history, but the first fumble return. The other three were interception returns: Marty Murray (Sept. 17, 1977, vs. Southern Illinois), Vencie Glenn (Sept. 1, 1984, vs. Wayne State) and Travis Starks (Sept. 19, 2015, vs. Southeast Missouri).

ON A TEAR

Senior LB Jameer Thurman has lit opposing offenses up the past three weeks with an incredible show as Indiana State's heart and soul of the defense. In the past three weeks against No. 9 Illinois State, Missouri State and No. 13 Western Illinois, Thurman has tallied 27 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and an interception returned 32 yards for a touchdown – the last of which coming just last week at Western Illinois. Thurman currently stands seventh in the Valley in total tackles (49, 8.2/game) and third in TFL (9.0, 1.5/game), the latter of which he ranks 35th nationally. Thurman's three forced fumbles ranks 10th in the nation this season, and at 297 career tackles the senior Bellwood, Ill., native sits just three stops away from becoming the 16th member of Indiana State's 300-tackle club.

JAMEER THURMAN: #20 IN YOUR PROGRAMS...

...but No. 1 as the active leader in several statistical categories among Sycamore defenders. Thurman has been a consistent force for the Sycamores during the last four years, and he ranks as the active leader in: total tackles (297), solo tackles (145), assisted tackles (152), tackles for loss (28.0), sacks (7.0), forced fumbles (6), fumble recoveries (5) and interceptions (4). Thurman is just three tackles away from becoming the 16th-member of the 300-tackle club in Indiana State history -- a list that is topped by current LB coach Aaron Archie's school-record 428 total tackles.

DEFENSE WINS

The Sycamore defense has given up a handful of large offensive outputs under head coach Mike Sanford and defensive coordinator Brian Cabral, but a closer look at the numbers reveals that the Sycamores have been fairly consistent at keeping their own offense in the game. In 43 games coached at Indiana State, the duo have kept opponents to under 400 yards of total offense 27 times, going 15-12 in such games. In the last four years under their leadership, the Sycamores have only given up 500 yards or more eight times -- only four such occurrences coming from fellow FCS schools, the other four coming from FBS Big Ten Opponents Minnesota (593; Sept. 10, 2016), Purdue (540; Sept. 12, 2015) and Indiana (566, Aug. 30, 2014; 632, Aug. 29, 2013).

CHAOS IS A LADDER...

...and the Sycamores have climbed it to their advantage in the backfield this season. A key component to defensive coordinator Brian Cabral's shifting scheme, the Sycamores have tallied up 39.0 TFL for a loss of 134 yards -- 19.0 and 77 yards of which came in two consecutive games vs. No. 9 Illinois State (10.0 for 48, most since recording 11.0 vs. Butler in 2015) and Missouri State (9.0 for 29). The Sycamores have recorded 9.0 sacks for a loss of 60 yards this season as well, with 6.0 for 38 yards coming in those same two games. In six games, the Sycamore defense has recorded at least 5.0 TFL in five contests -- averaging 26.2 yards lost in those contests.

A total of 16 different Sycamores have had their hands in the TFL fun, but none more so than LB Jameer Thurman (9.0, 27 yards), DL Kenyota Rollins (5.5, 18 yards), and graduate transfer LB Cedric Doxy (5.0, 14 yards), who together combine for 19.5 TFL for a loss of 60 yards. Defensive linemen Conlan Cassidy (2.5) and Norvell McGlaun (2.0) have also gotten in on the fun as ISU's top-two in QB sacks.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

True freshman kicker Jerry Nunez emerged from a training camp battle as the starting field goal kicker and hasn't looked back en route to a perfect 7-for-7 start to his Sycamore career. Nunez has knocked down field goals of 37 and 29 vs. Butler, 22 and 43 at SEMO, shots of 41 and 27 against No. 9 Illinois State and a 39-yarder vs. Missouri State.

Nunez's two 40-plus yard field goals are the longest by a Sycamore kicker in two seasons since Eric Heidorn hit a 49 yarder against Illinois State on Oct. 11, 2014. Nunez leads the Valley and ranks tied for third nationally with his seven field goals, and he also ranks ninth in the Valley in overall scoring at 7.2 PPG with his seven field goals and his perfect 22-for-22 clip in PAT attempts.

JOSHUA APPEL: ALL-AMERICAN

Sycamore fans may not want to see the punter in action, but they had best pay close attention to who is snapping him the ball, as Indiana State may have the best long snapper in college football in 2016. Senior Joshua Appel continues to dazzle at camps around the country, and this past summer he was rewarded with a spot on the First-Team on the STATS FCS Preseason All-American team.

Appel was also a Preseason honoree in 2015 as a Second-Team member, and was named a First-Team All-American at the end of the season. Appel, a senior finance major from Normal, Ill., is a two-time winner of the well-known long snapping camp hosted by Chris Rubio. This summer, Appel bested 37 of the best long-snappers in the United States to take the overall title at the Rubio camp.

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.