By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State couldn't get much going offensively and couldn't slow down a potent UNI ground attack as the Panthers cruised to a 39-6 victory over the Sycamores on Senior Day at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Sycamores (4-6, 2-5 MVFC) only mustered 201 yards of total offense and were at a loss for a Northern Iowa (4-5, 3-3 MVFC) rushing attack that racked up 307 yards – 171 coming from WR Marcus Weymiller, who did not have a single carry this season entering Saturday's contest.
“I'm very disappointed in our team today,” said ISU head coach Mike Sanford. “That is not the Indiana State Sycamores that I know that played today. We didn't execute in the first half, and I think that's the bottom line of the game: we did not execute like we needed to execute against a very good Northern Iowa team.”
ISU looked to be in good shape early on, as DL Norvell McGlaun forced a fumble on UNI's first drive. The Sycamores responded with the beginnings of a solid drive in response, but a bobbled pass from QB Isaac Harker landed in the hands of LB Rickey Neal for an interception, and the downward slide began. Neal returned the INT for 18 yards to setup a 40-yard pass from QB Colton Howell to WR Jalen Rima and a short one-yard TD run by RB Michael Malloy – the first of three scores on the day by Malloy.
UNI kept the pressure on, forcing a three-and-out on the ensuing drive, but blew the game wide-open with a 94-yard return for a touchdown on the punt by Rima – the longest play allowed by the Sycamores all season.
Malloy, who rushed for 84 yards, ended the half with his other two touchdown scores, giving the Panthers a 27-3 lead at halftime, with the lone ISU points coming from freshman kicker Jerry Nunez, who hit a 39-yard field goal with 14:10 to play in the second and a 33-yard score with 5:04 left in the third quarter.
Senior RB Roland Genesy was the top producer for the Sycamores, recording 59 yards rushing on 15 carries to lead the senior class on their final home game. In addition to Genesy, others honored pregame were: 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, 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.
The Sycamores close the season at five-time defending national champions North Dakota State next Saturday, Nov. 12.
“We're able to take 60 guys up to North Dakota State, and what I told them is that I want 60 guys who love football and are 100 percent committed to us from preparing during the week to us winning the football game.”
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.
