By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State will honor its senior class when it plays host to the Northern Iowa Panthers for Senior Day this Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium with the Senior Day ceremony taking place approximately 20 minutes prior to kickoff.

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 Ramonte Baker (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 384-515-23 (.416) and is competing for the 31st consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

• Seniors being honored this Saturday are: LS Joshua Appel, OL Zach Borens, DB Lonnell Brown Jr., DL Conlan Cassidy, OL Preston Collier, OL Nick Dachota, LB Cedric Doxy, TE Lafaele Fautanu, RB Roland Genesy, DB Marcus Gray, WR Sampson Levingston, DB Tsali Lough, OL Patrick McCown, LB Jameer Thurman, WR Robert Tonyan Jr., OL Dakota Vermillion, DL Tyshon Waller and DB Phil Wilson.

• All-time, the Sycamores are 61-146 in MVFC play. Indiana State was 3-5 in conference play in 2015.

• Northern Iowa holds a commanding 25-5 lead in the all-time series against Indiana State that dates back to 1983. The Sycamores are 4-11 against the Panthers in Terre Haute, which is where all of ISU's last three wins vs. UNI have come. ISU has not won in Cedar Falls since 1988, going 1-14 at UNI in the series. The Sycamores opened the series with a 26-0 win in Terre Haute during ISU's 1983 playoff season.

• One week after facing one of the top defenses in the nation in Youngstown State, the Sycamores face an equally tough test against the Panthers. UNI ranks in the national top-15 in passes intercepted (2nd, 15 INTs), defensive touchdowns (4th, four TDs), turnover margin (10th, +9), turnovers gained (10th, 19) and total defense (15th, 307.0 YPG).

• Indiana State led for the first 50 minutes and 21 seconds of play at No. 14 Youngstown State last week, but a 79-yard punt return TD by YSU's Darien Townsend with 9:19 to play permanently turned the tide for the Penguins for the 13-10 victory. YSU's fearsome defense became the first of the season to truly shut down QB Isaac Harker and, by extension, the ISU offense, sacking Harker seven times for a loss of 65 yards.

• At Youngstown State, senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. hauled in five passes for 40 yards and one TD, in the process becoming just the third Sycamore receiver to ever eclipse 2,000 career yards receiving. At 2,026 career yards, Tonyan sits just 22 yards shy of second all-time (Terry Bell, 1982-85, 2,048) and 359 off ISU record holder Sam Logan (2002-06, 2,385). Tonyan also ranks second all-time in career receptions with 146 catches, exactly 50 shy of Sam Logan's record of 196.

• The previous week at Southern Illinois (W, 22-14), Tonyan tied and then broke the single-season receiving TD mark of eight set by Steve Schmid (1968) and Gary Owens (2015). Tonyan extended that record to 10 TDs this season with a nine-yard TD at Youngstown State, which also extends his career record to 20. The previous record was 15, set by Joe Downing (1982-85), which Tonyan broke at No. 13 Western Illinois on Oct. 8.

• ISU's win at Southern marked the first time in school history that two Indiana State receivers passed the 100-yard plateau: Miles Thompson (147 yards, 1 TD) and Robert Tonyan Jr. (131 yards, 2 TD).

• The previous week against South Dakota, the Sycamores recorded their first game with a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver since Oct. 25, 2014, at Southern Illinois: QB Isaac Harker threw for 325 yards, RB Roland Genesy rushed for 106 yards and WR Miles Thompson hauled in 152 yards receiving.

• Miles Thompson's 152-yard day vs. South Dakota and 147-yard day at SIU are the first back-to-back 100-yard games by a Sycamore receiver since Gary Owens did so in 2014 (199 vs. Tenn. Tech; 107 at Ball State). Thompson's performances are also the first back-to-back 100-yard games by any combination of ISU receivers since Owens (102) and Tonyan (172) did so at Youngstown State and Western Illinois in 2014.

• Against South Dakota, senior LB Jameer Thurman became the 16th Sycamore to ever join the 300-tackle club. At 322 career stops, Thurman sits 13th all-time in total tackles, one shy of tying Tony Albrinck (1998-2001) for 12th at 323. The list is led by current LB coach Aaron Archie's 428 career tackles.

• Thurman is ISU's active career leader in: tackles (322), solo tackles (161), assisted tackles (161), tackles for loss (28.0), forced fumbles (7), fumble recoveries (5) and interceptions (5).

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.

• ISU is 1-2 against ranked opponents this year with a win vs. No. 9 Illinois State (34-31, Sept. 24) and losses at No. 13 Western Illinois (36-35, Oct. 8) and No. 14 Youngstown State (13-10, Oct. 29).

• 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 16-88 all-time record against Top-25 teams, which includes a 12-68 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 34-71 (.324) overall in his ninth season as a head coach and is 18-28 (.391) in his fourth season with Indiana State. He is 9-21 all-time in MVFC games, including a 5-10 mark at home and an 4-11 mark on the road. During his career, he is 24-28 in all home games, 10-43 on the road and 12-12 in games decided by three points or less. With the Sycamores, Sanford is 1-2 in overtime games and 0-1 in shutouts. Saturday's game is Sanford's 47th as the Indiana State head coach and his 106th as a collegiate head coach.

INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES

• At Youngstown State, senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. hauled in five passes for 40 yards and one TD, in the process becoming just the third Sycamore receiver to ever eclipse 2,000 career yards receiving. At 2,026 career yards, Tonyan sits just 22 yards shy of second all-time (Terry Bell, 1982-85, 2,048) and 359 off ISU record holder Sam Logan (2002-06, 2,385). Tonyan also ranks second all-time in career receptions with 146 catches, exactly 50 shy of Sam Logan's record of 196.

• The previous week at Southern Illinois (W, 22-14), Tonyan tied and then broke the single-season receiving TD mark of eight set by Steve Schmid (1968) and Gary Owens (2015). Tonyan extended that record to 10 TDs this season with a nine-yard TD at Youngstown State, which also extends his career record to 20. The previous record was 15, set by Joe Downing (1982-85), which Tonyan broke at No. 13 Western Illinois on Oct. 8.

• ISU's win at Southern marked the first time in school history that two Indiana State receivers passed the 100-yard plateau: Miles Thompson (147 yards, 1 TD) and Robert Tonyan Jr. (131 yards, 2 TD).

• The previous week against South Dakota, the Sycamores recorded their first game with a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver since Oct. 25, 2014, at Southern Illinois: QB Isaac Harker threw for 325 yards, RB Roland Genesy rushed for 106 yards and WR Miles Thompson hauled in 152 yards receiving.

• Miles Thompson's 152-yard day vs. South Dakota and 147-yard day at SIU are the first back-to-back 100-yard games by a Sycamore receiver since Gary Owens did so in 2014 (199 vs. Tenn. Tech; 107 at Ball State). Thompson's performances are also the first back-to-back 100-yard games by any combination of ISU receivers since Owens (102) and Tonyan (172) did so at Youngstown State and Western Illinois in 2014.

• QB Isaac Harker threw just his second multi-interception game of his career at Youngstown State on Oct. 29, also being held to a career-low 148 yards passing after being sacked a career-high seven times.

• Harker threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns at Southern Illinois, his second consecutive 300-yard performance. After not having a single 300-yard passer in 2015, Harker has led ISU to four 300-yard games in nine chances this season.

• Harker's 336-yard day at SIU and 325-yard day vs. South Dakota are the first back-to-back 300-yard games since Mike Perish had two separate streaks of three games in 2014.

• At 2,485 yards this season, Harker ranks second the MVFC in passing yards and ranks sixth in the FCS. Harker also ranks in the national top-15 in passing yards (6th, 2,485), passing touchdowns (6th, 19 TDs), passing yards per game (11th, 276.1 YPG) and completions per game (13th, 22.67/game).

• On the season, Harker stands 204-of-348 (58.6%) for 2,485 yards, 19 TD and 7 INT. Currently, Harker is on pace for a 3,037-yard, 23 TD season. The ISU single season record for TD passes is 21, set by 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 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 35 passing plays of 20 yards or longer this season, including 14 that are 30 yards or longer and five 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, 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) and an 85-yard TD pass to WR Miles Thompson at SIU. In 2015, the Sycamore offense only had two passing plays of 50 yards or longer, neither for a TD.

• That 85-yard pass from Harker to Thompson 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.

• Thompson's 85-yard reception at SIU is the second-longest in school history (88: Nov. 16, 1974, Greg Washington to Rick Carr, at WIU; Oct. 4, 1975, Greg Washington to Dennis Wilkerson, vs. Ball State), and just the fifth 80-yard pass play since ISU joined the MVFC in 1986. Other 80-yard passes since include plays of 84 (Sept. 14, 2002, at Ball State, Julian Reese to Jake Sheilds), 80 (Oct. 15, 2011, vs. WIU, Ronnie Fouch to Alex Jones), 80 (Oct. 24, 1998, at SIU, Sheraton Fox to Matt Nelson) and 80 (Oct. 18, 1986, vs. Illinois State, Kyle Frondorf to Chris Johnson).

2,000-YARD CLUB

Senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. can't stop making history, as his incredible final season at Indiana State saw another milestone added to the list. With 40 yards and one touchdown on five catches at No. 14 Youngstown State, Tonyan became just the second Sycamore receiver to ever eclipse the 2,000-yard mark over a career. At 2,026 career yards, Tonyan also stands within reason of the all-time record, sitting just 22 yards off Terry Bell's second place mark of 2,048 and 359 yards off Sam Logan's record of 2,385. This latest milestone adds to others from this season, such as breaking the all-time career receiving TD record of 15 at Western Illinois (currently at 20 career scores) and tying and breaking the single-season receiving TD record of eight at Southern Illinois (currently at 10 this season).

ALL-TIME LEADER (AND STILL CLIMBING)

Senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. became Indiana State's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns at No. 13 Western Illinois on Oct. 8, 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. Since, Tonyan has extended the career record to 20 TDs.

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. 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. 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.

HISTORY AT SALUKI STADIUM

The final score only ended up 22-14 in Indiana State's third-straight road win over Southern Illinois on SIU's Homecoming, but the Sycamores did something in Carbondale on Saturday they had never done in 112 years of football. Wide receivers Miles Thompson and Robert Tonyan Jr. both recorded 100-yard games receiving, marking the first time in Indiana State history that multiple receivers had ever eclipsed the century mark. Thompson, who had been on a tear with two consecutive 100-yard games, tallied 147 yards receiving – 85 of which coming on a long TD pass. Tonyan, meanwhile, recorded 131 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. Combined this season the duo have caught 85 passes for 1,256 yards and 16 TDs and rank fourth (Tonyan, 75.3 YPG) and sixth (Thompson, 72.2 YPG) in the Valley in receiving.

MILES AHEAD

Redshirt junior WR Miles Thompson has been on a torrid pace lately, quickly becoming QB Isaac Harker's favorite checkdown option and deep field threat opposite Robert Tonyan Jr. After missing the season opener, Thompson has gone on to put forth a 578-yard season with six scores, ranking sixth in the Valley at 72.2 YPG. Thompson's consecutive games vs. South Dakota and at Southern Illinois were especially explosive for Thompson, who became the first Sycamore receiver to record consecutive 100-yard games since Gary Owens did so in 2014. Against South Dakota, Thompson exploded for 152 yards and two touchdowns in ISU's double OT loss to the Coyotes – the biggest receiver output since Tonyan recorded 172 vs. Western Illinois in 2014. At Southern Illinois, Thompson had a similar day with 147 yards and an 85-yard touchdown reception – the longest play from scrimmage by the Sycamores since LeMonte Booker's 87-yard run vs. Missouri State in 2014 and the longest pass reception since ISU joined the MVFC in 1986.

FIRST TO 2,000

Sophomore QB Isaac Harker has had a stellar year as ISU's starting QB, becoming the first Valley signal caller to cross the 2,000-yard mark passing this season after another 300-yard game vs. South Dakota on Oct. 15. Harker threw for 300 yet again at Southern Illinois, throwing for 336 yards and three scores in ISU's 22-14 victory over the Salukis – marking the first consecutive 300-yard games by a Sycamore QB since current WR coach Mike Perish threw for 300 or more in three straight games twice during the 2014 playoff season. On the season, Harker stands at 2,485 yards passing – sixth-most in the FCS. Harker's 19 passing touchdowns also rank sixth in the FCS, and he sits just two shy of tying Perish's single-season record of 21 set in 2014.

300-100-100

Although the Sycamores lost in double overtime to South Dakota, the ISU offense did something it hadn't done since the 2014 FCS Playoff season. QB Isaac Harker threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns, RB Roland Genesy rumbled for 106 yards rushing, and WR Miles Thompson had a career day with 152 yards and three touchdowns – the first 300-100-100 game for the Sycamores since Oct. 25, 2014, at Southern Illinois. That game, the Sycamore offense led the way to a 41-26 victory on SIU's Homecoming that featured 353 passing yards and four touchdowns from current WR coach Mike Perish, 142 yards and one touchdown rushing by RB Buck Logan, and 129 yards and two touchdowns receiving by WR Kyani Harris.

INDIANA STATE DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• Against South Dakota, senior LB Jameer Thurman became the 16th Sycamore to ever join the 300-tackle club. At 322 career stops, Thurman sits 13th all-time in total tackles, one shy of tying Tony Albrinck (1998-2001) for 12th at 323. The list is led by current LB coach Aaron Archie's 428 career tackles.

• Thurman is ISU's active career leader in: tackles (322), solo tackles (161), assisted tackles (161), tackles for loss (28.0), forced fumbles (7), fumble recoveries (5) and interceptions (5).

• Thurman is coming off a game at No. 14 Youngstown State that saw a 15-yard interception return and a forced fumble. Thurman has five career interceptions that he has returned for 70 total yards.

• The previous week Thurman had a 13-tackle game at Southern Illinois on Oct. 22, his fourth double-digit tackle game this season.

• Thurman ranks in the top-10 in the Valley in: forced fumbles (1st, 4), fumble recoveries (4th, 2), tackles for loss (4th, 9.0 (1.0/game) and total tackles (8th, 74, 8.2/game). Thurman's four forced fumbles ranks seventh nationally this season.

• 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.

• 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.

• JUCO transfer LB Justin Hornsby has two career days in the previous two games at Southern Illinois and No. 14 Youngstown State. Against the Salukis, Hornsby recorded 4.0 TFL for a loss of 22 yards and 2.5 sacks for a loss of 18, accounting for half of ISU's 8.0 TFL vs. SIU, with his 4.0 tying for the 13th-highest single-game total in the FCS this season.

• At Youngstown State, Hornsby became the first Sycamore to block a field goal since Johnny Towalid did so at Indiana in 2012.

• Indiana State has recorded at least 5.0 TFL in seven of nine games this season with 8.0 or more in four of ISU's last six games.

• Five different Sycamores currently sit with 5.0 TFL or more on the season: LB Jameer Thurman (9.0, 27 yards), DL Kenyota Rollins (7.5, 23 yards), LB Cedric Doxy (6.5, 19 yards), DL Conlan Cassidy (6.0, 23 yards) and LB Justin Hornsby (5.5, 25 yards). Combined, these five own 34.5 of ISU's 55.0 TFL for 117 yards lost.

• Nine different Sycamores have had their hands in a turnover this season, as ISU has forced 11 fumbles (and recovered nine) while also picking off five passes. ISU has also scored two TDs on defense: a 100-yard fumble return TD by DB Tsali Lough and a 32-yard INT return TD by LB Jameer Thurman.

• Senior DL Conlan Cassidy had a career game against South Dakota, leading ISU in tackles with 11, 3.0 TFL for a loss of 10 yards, one sack for a loss of eight yards and a fumble recovery returned six yards. Cassidy leads Indiana State with 3.5 sacks, and is now ISU's active career leader in sacks with 7.5.

• 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).

• ISU held Youngstown State to 291 yards of total offense, a season-low for ISU opponents and the lowest since holding YSU to 226 in the 2015 season finale.

• The Sycamores also held YSU to just 101 yards passing last week, the lowest opponent total against ISU since holding YSU to just 74 in the 2015 season finale.

• Indiana State held Southern Illinois to just 90 yards rushing, the lowest output by an opposing offense since holding Southern Illinois to 27 yards rushing at SIU on Oct. 25, 2014.

• Under head coach Mike Sanford and defensive coordinator Brian Cabral, the Sycamore defense has held opponents to under 400 yards of total offense in 30 of 46 games played. (nine each in 2013 and 2014, six in 2015, six in 2016). In those games, Indiana State is 16-14.

300 TACKLE CLUB

Senior LB Jameer Thurman recorded eight total tackles in ISU's 33-30 loss to South Dakota in 2OT three weeks ago, pushing him over the career 300-tackle milestone. Thurman is the 16th Sycamore to ever pass the threshold, currently sitting 13th all-time with 322 career stops. At his current pace, Thurman would end his career as the 11th-best tackler in school history with 338 stops.

1. LB Aaron Archie (2009-12) - 428

2. LB Richard Moss (1993-96) - 426

3. LB Dietrick Lapsley (1999-2002) - 415

4. LB Marty Murray (1975-77) - 414

5. LB Craig Shaffer (1978-81) - 413

6. S Robert High (1994-97) - 393

7. LB Jacolby Washington (2009-12) - 388

8. S Alex Sewall (2008-11) - 358

9. LB Eric Christensen (1988-91) - 352

10. DB Terrance Miles (2000-03) - 342

11. S John Allman (1978-80) - 336

12. LB Tony Albrinck (1998-2001) - 323

13. LB Jameer Thurman (2013-16) - 322

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 (322), solo tackles (161), assisted tackles (161), tackles for loss (28.0), forced fumbles (7), fumble recoveries (5) and interceptions (5).

ALL-MVFC RESUME

Senior LB Jameer Thurman has had a superb final season with the Sycamores as the leader of the ISU defense, and should factor into a handful of postseason awards. Thurman has an incredible line of 74 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 1.0 sacks, two interceptions for 47 yards and one touchdown, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Thurman ranks eighth in the Valley in total tackles (8.2/game), fourth in TFL and leads the conference in forced fumbles – the latter also ranking seventh in the FCS. Thurman has also had double-digit tackles in four of nine games this season, a year in which he became the 16th member of ISU's 300-tackle club.

MESS WITH THE BULL…

...and get the Hornsby. JUCO transfer LB Justin Hornsby has been a surprise catalyst for the Sycamore defense the past two weeks, sparking ISU with a handful of spectacular plays. At Southern Illinois on Oct. 22, Hornsby had a monster day with 4.0 TFL and 2.5 sacks, and this past week Hornsby came up with a huge blocked field goal – the first blocked field goal by a Sycamore since 2012 when Johnny Towalid did so at Indiana.

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 46 games coached at Indiana State, the duo have kept opponents to under 400 yards of total offense 30 times, going 16-14 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 56.0 TFL for a loss of 201 yards. The Sycamores have recorded 14.0 sacks for a loss of 96 yards this season as well. In nine games, the Sycamore defense has recorded at least 5.0 TFL in seven contests -- averaging 27.7 yards lost in those contests.  A total of 20 different Sycamores have had their hands in the TFL fun, with seven recording 3.0 or more and five with 5.5 or more.

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.