By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State fought back from an early 17-3 deficit and battled South Dakota to double overtime, but came up short in the second extra period as the Coyotes  prevailed, 33-30, at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

The Sycamores (3-4, 1-3 MVFC) outgained South Dakota (3-3, 2-1 MVFC) 466-341 and had several tremendous performances on the day, but ISU's fate was sealed on 3rd-and-2 in the second overtime.

Down three, ISU pulled out a trick play to go for the win, but WR Kelvin Cook's reverse WR pass came up short and was intercepted by USD's Jacob Warner for the win.

In the beginning stages of the game, though, it appeared that South Dakota wouldn't need to go to double overtime – which, it had done two previous times this season in consecutive weeks vs. Weber State (W, 52-49, 2OT) and at North Dakota (L, 47-44, 2OT). The Coyotes jumped out to a 17-3 lead in the early stages of the first quarter, a run that started thanks to a 69-yard TD pass from Chris Streveler to Alonge Brooks. That play ties for the longest the Sycamores have given up this season (69 yards, Malik Earl TD reception, vs. Missouri State).

But, WR Miles Thompson had other thoughts. The redshirt junior Kentucky transfer had a monster career day with 152 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, all kick-started by a 46-yard TD strike from QB Isaac Harker (24-of-40, 325 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) with one minute to play in the first.

Both offenses grew stagnant in the second quarter, but Harker brought things back to life with a 48-yard TD pass to WR Robert Tonyan Jr. (three catches, 59 yards, 1 TD). The Coyotes went on another 10-0 run in the third and held strong until late in the fourth quarter, but Miles Thompson breathed life back into the Sycamores with a 23-yard TD reception with 1:59 left to play to come within three at 27-24.

The game then turned into a war of field goals. Freshman kicker Jerry Nunez, who recorded his first-career miss earlier in the game, nailed a 42-yard score to tie the game 27-27 to force OT. In the first OT period, Nunez hit a career-long 46-yard FG – the same distance he missed on from earlier. USD responded with a 41-yard FG from Miles Bergner, and Bergner hit another 41-yarder in the second overtime for what ended up being the game-winner.

Defensively, the Sycamores were paced by the superb play of defensive lineman Conlan Cassidy. The senior led ISU in tackles with 11 total stops and 3.0 TFL, as well as an acrobatic fumble recovery he returned nine yards to swing the momentum toward the Sycamores.

Also worth mentioning is senior LB Jameer Thurman, who recorded eight tackles and, in the process, became just the 16th Sycamore to ever join the 300-tackle club.

The Sycamores hit the road again next week, this time down to Southern Illinois to take on the Salukis on Sat., Oct. 22, at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale.

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.