By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

FARGO, N.D. – Indiana State Football concludes its 2016 season this weekend at No. 4 North Dakota State, the five-time defending FCS national champions. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET inside the FargoDome on Saturday afternoon.

QUICK HITS

• Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and NBC locally in North Dakota. On the call will be Brian Shawn (play-by-play), Lee Timmerman (color) and Beth Hoole (sideline).

• 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 384-516-23 (.416) and is competing for the 31st consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

• All-time, the Sycamores are 61-147 in MVFC play.

• North Dakota State holds a 7-1 lead in the all-time series dating back to the first matchup in 2008 (L, 34-7, in Fargo). ISU's lone win was a dramatic 17-14 win over the No. 1-ranked Bison in the FargoDome in 2012, making the Sycamores just one of four teams to beat the Bison at home since winning the first of their five straight national titles beginning in 2011 (the other three being Youngstown State (2011), South Dakota (2015) and South Dakota State (2016)).

• NDSU ranks seventh in the nation in scoring defense (16.7 PPG) and ninth in rushing defense (93.6 YPG), marking the third-straight week the Sycamores have gone up against a national-caliber defense after losses at No. 14 Youngstown State (13-10, 226 yards total offense) and vs. Northern Iowa at Home (39-6, 201 yards total offense).

• The Sycamores are coming off a demoralizing 39-6 loss to UNI on Senior Day, as the Panthers rode 299 rushing yards and a 94-yard punt return TD to victory. UNI held ISU to season lows in total offense (201) and passing yards (113).

• Backup QB Aaron Young, a transfer from Wyoming, played last week vs. UNI for the first time since the season opener vs. Butler. Young was 6-of-9 for 39 yards and one interception.

• The previous week at No. 14 Youngstown State, Indiana State led for the first 50 minutes and 21 seconds of play, 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 2,029 career yards, Tonyan sits just 19 yards shy of second all-time (Terry Bell, 1982-85, 2,048) and 356 off ISU record holder Sam Logan (2002-06, 2,385). Tonyan also ranks second all-time in career receptions with 147 catches, 49 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 extended 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 329 career stops, Thurman sits 12th all-time in total tackles, seven shy of tying John Allman (1978-80) for 11th at 336. The list is led by current LB coach Aaron Archie's 428 career tackles.

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 following 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 34-72 (.321) overall in his ninth season as a head coach and is 18-29 (.383) in his fourth season with Indiana State. He is 9-22 all-time in MVFC games, including a 5-11 mark at home and an 4-11 mark on the road. During his career, he is 24-29 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 48th as the Indiana State head coach and his 107th as a collegiate head coach.

INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES

• The Sycamore offense will have six starters play in their final game this Saturday: offensive linemen Preston Collier and Dakota Vermillion; running back Roland Genesy; tight end Lafaele Fautanu; and wide receivers Sampson Levingston and Robert Tonyan Jr. Combined, these Sycamores own 4,399 yards all-purpose yards and 38 TDs.

• ISU was held to a season-low 201 yards of total offense and 113 yards passing against UNI last week, marking the second-straight week the Sycamores have been held to a season-low in both categories (226 and 148 at No. 14 Youngstown State).

• Backup QB Aaron Young, a transfer from Wyoming, played last week vs. UNI for the first time since the season opener vs. Butler. Young was 6-of-9 for 39 yards and one interception.

• 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 2,029 career yards, Tonyan sits just 19 yards shy of second all-time (Terry Bell, 1982-85, 2,048) and 356 off ISU record holder Sam Logan (2002-06, 2,385). Tonyan also ranks second all-time in career receptions with 147 catches, 49 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 extended 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 10 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 2,559 yards this season, Harker ranks second the MVFC in passing yards and ranks 10th in the FCS. Harker also ranks in the national top-15 in passing TDs (14th, 19 TDs).

• On the season, Harker stands 214-of-370 (57.8%) for 2,559 yards, 19 TD and 8 INT. Currently, Harker is on pace for a 2,815-yard, 21 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 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 -- capped by 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.

• 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 2,029 career yards, sits just 19 yards off Terry Bell's second place mark of 2,048 and 356 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 (including himself) 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 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 86 passes for 1,259 yards and 16 TDs and rank fifth (Tonyan, 68.1 YPG) and sixth (Thompson, 64.2 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 64.2 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 2,559 yards passing – 10th-most in the FCS. Harker's 19 passing touchdowns also rank 14th 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

• The Sycamore defense will have seven key contributers competing in their final games as Sycamores on Saturday, while the special teams unit will say goodbye to All-American long-snapper Joshua Appel. Playing in their final ISU games will be active career sack leader Conlan Cassidy and fellow defensive lineman Tyshon Waller; all-time great LB Jameer Thurman and fellow linebacker Cedric Doxy; and defensive backs Marcus Gray, Tsali Lough and Phil Wilson. When injured DB Lonnell Brown Jr.'s stats are added, the Sycamore defense stands to lose 1,081 tackles, 80.0 TFL, 23.5 sacks, 12 interceptions, 29 pass breakups, 12 fumble recoveries and 15 forced fumbles.

• Thurman became the 16th Sycamore to ever join the 300-tackle club vs. South Dakota on Oct. 15. At 329 career stops, Thurman sits 12th all-time in total tackles, seven shy of tying John Allman (1978-80) for 11th at 336. The list is led by current LB coach Aaron Archie's 428 career tackles.

• Thurman is ISU's active career leader in: tackles (329), solo tackles (165), assisted tackles (164), tackles for loss (28.0), forced fumbles (7), fumble recoveries (5) and interceptions (5).

• Thurman had seven tackles against UNI, his sixth game in 10 this season with at least seven stops.

• 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 and one touchdown.

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

• Thurman leads the Valley in forced fumbles with four, which also ranks eighth nationally. Elsewhere in the Valley, Thurman ranks tied for the most fumble recoveries in the MVFC (two), sixth in TFL (9.0) and eighth in tackles (81, 8.1/game).

• 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.

• Junior DB Kevin Beacham ranks fifth in the MVFC with seven pass breakups this season, making him ISU's active career leader with 12 PBU's in just 22 career games played.

• In consecutive weeks at Southern Illinois and No. 14 Youngstown State, JUCO transfer LB Justin Hornsby recorded 4.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks and a blocked field goal. At SIU, Hornsby accounted for half of ISU's 8.0 TFL. His blocked field goal at YSU was the first by a Sycamore since Johnny Towalid did so at Indiana in 2012.

• DB Phil Wilson had two forced fumbles vs. UNI last week, putting him at five for his career.

• Indiana State has recorded at least 5.0 TFL in seven of 10 games this season with 8.0 or more in four of ISU's last seven 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 (8.5, 38 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 35.5 of ISU's 58.0 TFL for 132 yards.

• A total of 15 different Sycamores have had their hands in a turnovers or forced fumbles this season, as ISU has forced 14 fumbles (and recovered 11) 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 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).

• 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 47 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 on Oct. 15, pushing him over the career 300-tackle milestone. Thurman is the 16th Sycamore to ever pass the threshold, currently sitting 12th all-time with 329 career 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 Jameer Thurman (2013-16) - 329

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

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 (329), solo tackles (165), assisted tackles (164), 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 81 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 (8.1/game), sixth in TFL and leads the conference in forced fumbles – the latter also ranking eighth in the FCS. Thurman has also had double-digit tackles in four of 10 games this season, a year in which he became the 16th member of ISU's 300-tackle club.

JERRY! JERRY!

Freshman kicker Jerry Nunez has been superb for the Sycamores in 2016 and should factor into voters' minds for All-MVFC honors following a superb initial campaign at ISU. Currently, Nunez stands 14-of-17 in field goals, with six of his scores coming from 40 yards or longer (following a season where no ISU kicker hit a field goal longer than 38 yards). Nunez ranks tied for the Valley lead in field goals (14) and percentage (82.4) with South Dakota's Miles Bergner, with both ranking tied for third nationally in field goals made. Furthermore, Nunez isn't far off ISU's all-time single-season record of 18 made field goals set by Tom Allison in 1995.

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 47 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 58.0 TFL for a loss of 218 yards. The Sycamores have recorded 15.0 sacks for a loss of 111 yards this season as well. In 10 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.