By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – No. 24 Indiana State will look to add to its hot 3-1 start when it plays host to MVFC foe Missouri State this Saturday for Homecoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, where gates will open two hours before kickoff at 1 p.m. this week for Homecoming festivities.

QUICK HITS

• Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN3, with Indiana State students Chase Eyrich (play-by-play) and Corey Clark (color) on the call.

• 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 383-511-23 (.418) and is competing for the 31st consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

• The Sycamores are coming off a 34-31 upset of No. 9 Illinois State at home on Sept. 24, Indiana State's first Top-25 and Top-10 win in two seasons and its first against Illinois State since 2010.

• Indiana State jumped out to a 24-7 lead on the Redbirds last Saturday, but Illinois State once again led a late charge to make things interesting -- nearly pulling off the late comeback for the third straight season after close wins over the Sycamores in 2014 (20-18) and 2015 (27-24). However, with the Redbirds charging into Sycamore territory with less than two minutes to play, redshirt freshman LB Jonas Griffith forced a fumble on a QB sack of Jake Kolbe, which DL Kenyota Rollins scooped up and returned for 18 yards to seal victory for the Sycamores.

• For their efforts on Saturday, the Sycamores have jumped to No. 24 in both the STATS FCS Top-25 and the HERO Sports Top-25. Indiana State is also receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll.

• This is the first national ranking for the Sycamores since their school-record streak of 20 weeks in the national polls from Sept. 29, 2014 to Nov. 2, 2015 after a 59-13 loss at No. 17 Northern Iowa on Nov. 7, 2015.

• Seven different MVFC schools are ranked for the 11th time in conference history: No. 1 North Dakota State (3-0), No. 8 Western Illinois (3-0), No. 12 Northern Iowa (1-2), No. 15 South Dakota State (1-2), No. 18 Illinois State (2-2), No. 20 Youngstown State (2-1) and No. 24 Indiana State (3-1).

• All-time, the Sycamores are 60-142 in MVFC play. Indiana State was 3-5 in conference play in 2015.

• Indiana State is off to a 3-1 start for the third straight season after starting 4-1 in 2014 (a year that included ISU's first trip to the FCS Playoffs since 1984) and 3-1 in 2015.

• With ISU's 34-31 win over Illinois State, the Sycamores are also 1-0 in MVFC play. Indiana State has not started 2-0 in Valley play since 2011, 3-0 since 1996 and have never started 4-0 in conference play since joining the MVFC in 1986.

• Missouri State leads the all-time series at 17-13, but the Sycamores hold a 9-6 advantage in Terre Haute. Indiana State has won each of the last two matchups with the Bears -- a thrilling 20-18 win thanks to the “Circle of Death” kickoff return play to setup the game-winning field goal at home in 2014, and a 56-28 victory in Springfield in 2015.

• Missouri State ranks seventh in the nation in total defense, allowing only 271.3 total yards per game. The Bears also rank eighth in rushing defense (89.3 YPG), 13th in points allowed (19.0 PPG) and 30th in passing defense (182.0 YPG).

• The Sycamores put up 445 yards on Illinois State last week, who entered ranked No. 2 in the nation in total defense at 223.3 yards allowed per game.

• Junior WR/RS Bob Pugh and freshman K Jerry Nunez were named the MVFC Newcomer and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, following the upset win over No. 9 Illinois State.

• Two weeks ago the Sycamores emerged victorious in a thrilling 27-24 victory at Southeast Missouri on Sept. 17, which featured two clutch late drives engineered by QB Isaac Harker to score twice and erase an 11-point deficit in the last 5:19, including the game-winning 15-yard TD pass to WR Miles Thompson with 10.8 seconds to play.

• WR Robert Tonyan Jr. is currently tied with Joe Downing (1982-85) for the all-time Indiana State career receiving touchdown record of 15 TDs.

SYCAMORES IN THE NATIONAL POLLS

• Indiana State jumped into the national polls this week at No. 24 in both the STATS FCS and HERO Sports Top-25 polls. The Sycamores are also receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll.

• This is the 52nd appearance in any variation of the national polls 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 16-86 all-time record against Top-25 teams, which includes a 12-66 mark against ranked MVFC schools.

• Since joining the MVFC in 1986, Indiana State is 20-24 as a ranked team.

• While ranked, Indiana State is 3-10 all-time vs. other ranked MVFC schools, all 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 (0-0)

Sept. 26, #24

INDIANA STATE HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 33-67 (.333) overall in his ninth season as a head coach and is 17-24 (.415) in his fourth season with Indiana State. He is 8-17 all-time in MVFC games, including a 5-8 mark at home and an 3-9 mark on the road. During his career, he is 24-26 in all home games, 9-41 on the road and 12-9 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 42nd as the Indiana State head coach and his 101st as a collegiate head coach.

INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total offense: 422.3 (5th MVFC, 29th FCS)

• Rushing offense: 147.0 (9th MVFC, 64th FCS)

• Passing offense: 275.3 (3rd MVFC, 19th FCS)

• Indiana State enters Saturday's contest with the 29th-best offense in the nation at 422.3 total yards per game.

• The Sycamores put up 445 yards on Illinois State last week, who entered ranked No. 2 in the nation in total defense at 223.3 yards allowed per game.

• The Sycamores own the 19th-best passing offense in the nation at 275.3 passing yards per game, third-best in the Valley.

• QB Isaac Harker has already eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark passing this season, throwing 87-of-149 (58.4 percent) for 1,091 yards, 10 TD and one interception.

• Harker threw his first career interception late against Illinois State after 142 pass attempts this season and 146 total pass attempts in his career.

• Harker is currently on pace for a 3,000-yard, 27 TD season with less than four interceptions. The school record for TD passes in a season is 21, set by current WR coach Mike Perish in 2014.

• Harker ranks in the national top-30 in: passing touchdowns (5th, 10 TDs), points responsible for (6th, 74), passing yards (9th, 1,091), points responsible for per game (10th, 19.0 PPG), passing yards per game (16th, 272.8 YPG), completions per game (19th, 21.75) and total offense (22nd, 275.0 YPG).

• Harker ranks fifth in the FCS in passing TDs (10 TDs) and ninth in passing yards (1,091), as well as second in the MVFC in passing yards per game (272.8) and third in total offense (275.0 YPG).

• Harker has 13 passing plays of 20 yards or longer this season, including six 30 yards or longer and three 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 and a 75-yard wheel-route TD to RB Dimitri Taylor on the first play of the game at SEMO.

• 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 two 300-yard games to his credit this season: vs. Butler (315) and at Southeast Missouri (302). Indiana State did not have a 300-yard passer during the entire 2015 season.

• Harker has connected with senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. 27 times for 308 yards and five TDs this season. Tonyan is on pace for an 847-yard, 14 TD season. In his three seasons as a WR, Tonyan has 121 receptions for 1,656 yards and 15 touchdowns.

• Tonyan ranks in the national top-30 in: receiving touchdowns (4th, 5 TDs) and receptions per game (14th, 6.8/game). Tonyan also leads the MVFC with his 6.8 receptions per game.

•Tonyan hauled in his 15th career TD vs. Illinois State on Sept. 24, tying Indiana State's all-time career record of 15 TDs set by Joe Downing (1982-85). The single-season receiving TD record of eight set by Steve Schmid in 1968 is also up for grabs.

• 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 11 FCS receivers this year to have three or more receiving TDs in a single game.

• WR/RS Bob Pugh ranks 12th nationally in all-purpose yardage at 154.3 YPG.

• Indiana State has three rushers over 100 yards this season: RBs Roland Genesy (235 yards, 3 TD), Dimitri Taylor (176 yards) and Jaquan Keys (161 yards).

• Genesy recorded his first-career 100-yard rushing game vs. No. 9 Illinois State, rushing for 112 yards and two TDs.

DYNAMIC DUO

QB Isaac Harker and WR Robert Tonyan Jr. have developed a symbiotic relationship and it's worked wonders for the Sycamore offense through four games in 2016. Harker is 87-of-149 for 1,091 yards and 10 touchdowns this year, with 27 of his completions going to Tonyan for 308 yards and 5 TD. Tonyan hauled in his 15th career TD reception against the Redbirds, tying him for the all-time career lead in Indiana State history set by Joe Downing in 1985. Tonyan is on pace for a torrid 847-yard, 14 TD season to cement himself as one of the best Sycamore receivers ever. Harker, meanwhile, is on pace for a 3,000-yard, 27 TD season in his first full season with less than four interceptions (he threw his first career pick against Illinois State on Saturday after 142 pass attempts this season and 146 pass attempts in his career).

ALL ABOUT PUGH

WR/RS Bob Pugh has found his niche with the Sycamores very quickly, becoming Indiana State's all-purpose guru and excelling at it. Pugh ranks 12th in the nation in all-purpose yardage at 154.3 YPG, second in the Valley to Western Illinois' Steve McShane (182.3 YPG). Pugh is currently ISU's leading receiver in yards per game at 82.0 YPG, helped by a stellar 17.6 yards per reception. Pugh has four receptions of 20 yards or longer, including a 56-yard TD strike from QB Isaac Harker in the season opener vs. Butler. Pugh also has two kick returns of 25 yards or longer -- capped by a 46-yard return at Minnesota. Pugh averages 24.4 yards per return, which ranks 39th in the FCS this season. He has also been instrumental in the passing game himself, throwing a 10-yard TD pass to Harker at Minnesota.

RUNNING ON EMPTY?

The Sycamore backfield looked to be depleted entering the 2016 season after losing RBs LeMonte Booker and Marlon Fleming to season-ending injuries, but the ISU RBs have stepped up in a productive manner, with all three top backs over the century mark on the season. Senior RB Roland Genesy, last season's leading rusher for the Sycamores, recorded his first career 100-yard game as a Sycamore vs. No. 9 Illinois State, totaling 112 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Sycamore offense to the 34-31 upset. Genesy currently stands at 235 yards and three scores on 43 carries, and in his two seasons at ISU he has 817 yards and six TDs. Dimitri Taylor has been equally as effective at 176 yards on the same number of carries this season, but he also has 97 yards receiving -- most coming on a 75-yard TD strike on the first play of the game at Southeast Missouri. Jaquan Keys has been an efficient change of pace back that can bounce around in the tackles and get to the edge, totaling 161 yards on 36 carries.

CONSISTENCY UNDER CENTER

Sophomore QB Isaac Harker hasn't just led the Sycamore offense in 2016, but he's done so in eerily consistent fashion. On the year, Harker is 87-of-149 for 1,091 yards, 10 TDs and one interception, and when you break it down per game it is almost evenly divisible. In his first career start in the season opener vs. Butler, Harker was 21-of-35 for 315 yards, 2 TDs and zero interceptions with a long pass of 56 yards – becoming the first 300-yard passer at Indiana State in two seasons. At Minnesota, Harker was 20-of-36 for 237 yards, 3 TDs and zero interceptions with a long pass of 58 yards, with all three of his TD strikes going to Robert Tonyan Jr. At SEMO, Harker was 22-of-36 for 302 yards, 3 TDs and zero interceptions with a long pass of 75 yards – with most of his production coming off the final two drives in the last 5:19 to play that propelled the Sycamores to a 27-24 victory. Against No. 9 Illinois State, Harker threw his first interception in 142 pass attempts this season but also had a strong day with a 24-of-42 performance for 237 yards and 2 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 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 now the only Sycamore to ever have two separate three touchdown games, and with 15 career receiving touchdowns he is tied with Joe Downing's for the all-time career record at Indiana State – an impressive feat for someone who came to Indiana State as a QB. In his career as a WR, Tonyan now 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 1,600 yards and 100 career receptions, currently standing at 1,656 yards and 121 receptions and 15 TDs.

INDIANA STATE DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total defense: 438.8 YPG (7th MVFC, 86th FCS)

• Rushing defense: 181.0 YPG (8th MVFC, 81st FCS)

• Passing defense: 257.8 YPG (8th MVFC, 93rd FCS)

• The Sycamores held No. 9 Illinois State to 121 rushing yards, the lowest opposing rushing total against Indiana State this season.

• Indiana State held the Redbirds to just 392 yards of total offense, the third game in four this season that the Sycamore defense has held opponents to less than 400 yards of total offense.

• 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 41 games played. (nine each in 2013 and 2014, six in 2015, three in 2016). In those games, Indiana State is 15-12.

• The Sycamores recorded a season-high 10.0 TFL for a loss of 48 yards against the Redbirds, which included 3.0 sacks for a loss of 19 yards. Included in the sack total is LB Jonas Griffith's game-winning forced fumble of Illinois State QB Jake Kolbe. Entering the contest, Indiana State had 15.0 TFL for a loss of 47 yards on the entire season.

• ISU's 10.0 TFL against Illinois State are the most by a Sycamore defense since recording 11.0 against Butler in 2015. Indiana State's 3.0 sacks are also the most since recording 3.0 for a loss of 20 at UNI in 2015.

• Indiana State has recorded at least 6.0 TFL in three of four games this season. In those games, the Sycamores are averaging 30.7 yards lost on TFL per game.

• A total of 13 different Sycamores have had their hand in a TFL, with eight contributed to more than 1.0 TFL.

• DL Kenyota Rollins leads Indiana State in TFL with 5.0 for a loss of 17 yards, including one sack for a loss of five. Rollins is also ISU's sixth-leading tackler with 19 total stops, and also has a forced fumble and the game-winning fumble recovery against No. 9 Illinois State, which he returned 18 yards.

• LB Jameer Thurman leads Indiana State in total tackles by five at 32 total stops, including 3.0 TFL for a loss of 10 yards. Thurman has had double-digit tackles in each of his last two games vs. SEMO (11) and Illinois State (10).

• Thurman is Indiana State's active leader in total tackles (280), solo tackles (135), assisted tackles (145), tackles for loss (22.0), forced fumbles (5) and fumble recoveries (4).

• Thurman is just 20 tackles away from becoming the 20th Sycamore to ever join the 300-tackle club. Current LB coach Aaron Archie is at the top of that list with his school-record 428 total tackles.

• Senior safety Tsali Lough is ISU's second-leading tackler with 27 total tackles. Lough also owns 1.0 sacks for 10 yards, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for a 100-yard TD -- all coming in the season opener vs. Butler.

• Lough's 100-yard return is the fourth 100-yard play in Indiana State history, but the first fumble. 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).

• True freshman kicker Jerry Nunez won the training camp position battle for starting place kicker, and is a perfect 6-for-6 to start his Sycamore career. Nunez hit field goals of 29 and 37 yards against Butler on Sept. 3, two crucial scores of 22 and 43 yards at Southeast Missouri in Indiana State's thrilling 27-24 win, and two shots of 41 and 27 yards to help topple No. 9 Illinois State.

• Nunez leads the Valley with six made field goals, which ranks tied for third in the FCS this season.

• Junior punter Thomas Bouldin owns the second-longest punt in the Valley this season at 62 yards.

CLUTCH DEFENSE

Freshman LB Jonas Griffith sealed the upset against No. 9 Illinois State on Saturday with a clutch forced fumble late in the fourth quarter to stop a charging Redbird offense. However, Griffith was just one of several Sycamore defenders to come through in timely situations on Saturday, as Indiana State recorded a whopping 10.0 TFL for a loss of 48 yards; for reference, the Sycamores entered Saturday's contest with 15.0 TFL for 47 yards on the entire season. A total of 11 different Sycamores had their hands on a tackle for loss against Illinois State. The Sycamore defense also held Illinois State to 392 yards of total offense, making that three of four games this year that Indiana State's defense has achieved the feat. The only team to accrue more this year was Minnesota, who tallied 593 against the Sycamores on Sept. 10.

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 41 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).

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 three years, and he enters his final season at Indiana State the active leader in total tackles (280), solo tackles (135), assisted tackles (145), tackles for loss (22.0), forced fumbles (5) and fumble recoveries (4). Thurman is just 20 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. Thurman ranks seventh in the Valley this season with 8.0 tackles per game and tied for third in forced fumbles with two.

ONE-MAN WRECKING CREW

Butler was knocking on the door and about to strike a decisive blow to Indiana State's momentum early-on in the first quarter on Sept. 3, and then senior Terre Haute native Tsali Lough took matters into his own hands. The safety kept fighting for the ball even after it seemed the play was over, but the whistle never blew and before Butler knew it, Lough was fifty yards down the sideline on his way to a 100-yard touchdown on the goal line fumble recovery forced by Antonio Broadus. Lough immediately entered himself into the Indiana State record books with that play, the fourth 100-yard play in school history – and the first of which that was on a fumble return (the other three were on interception returns). As if that wasn't enough, Lough went on to seal the momentum shift on Butler's very next play with an interception to setup a Sycamore offensive score. On the day, Lough ended as ISU's leading tackler with 8 total stops (seven solo), 1.0 sacks for 10 yards, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery for a 100-yard touchdown and one interception.

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 25.0 TFL for a loss of 95 yards -- 10.0 and 48 yards of which came in Indiana State's 34-31 upset of No. 9 Illinois State, the most by a Sycamore defense since the 2015 season opener vs. Butler (11.0). The Sycamores have recorded 6.0 sacks for a loss of 41 yards this season as well, with 3.0 for 19 yards coming against Illinois State alone. In four games, the Sycamore defense has recorded at least 6.0 TFL in three contests -- averaging 30.7 yards lost in those contests. A total of 13 different Sycamores have had their hands in the TFL fun, but none more so than DL Kenyota Rollins (5.0, 17 yards), graduate transfer LB Cedric Doxy (4.0, 13 yards) and LB Jameer Thurman (3.0, 10 yards) -- who combine for 12.0 TFL for a loss of 40 yards on their own.

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 6-for-6 start to his Sycamore career. Nunez has knocked down field goals of 37 and 29 vs. Butler, 22 and 43 at SEMO, and shots of 41 and 27 against No. 9 Illinois 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's six scores leads the Valley and ranks tied for third in the FCS.

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.