MACOMB, Ill. -- Just two teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference have won five-straight games -- No. 24 Indiana State and No. 1 North Dakota State. Junior kicker Jerry Nunez made sure of that after hitting a 26-yard field goal as time expired against Western Illinois in a sleet and rained filled afternoon at Hanson Field.
 
The Sycamores capped off a 7-4 regular season and a 5-3 finish in the MVFC with the victory after going 0-11 a year ago. A 5-3 MVFC finish would put the Sycamores at worst tied for third in the conference pending the outcome of Northern Iowa and Missouri State.
 
The Sycamores will learn their postseason fate Sunday, November 18 at 12:30 p.m. ET when the FCS Selection Show airs live on ESPNU.
 
Freshman running back Peterson Kerlegrand had a career day for the Sycamores, surpassing career highs in carries and rushing yards after going for 102 yards on 21 carries for a 4.9 yards per carry average. A credit to the ISU offensive line after Kerlegrand becomes the fourth different Sycamore to rush for over 100 yards this season.
 
The Indiana State defense showed up to play against the Leathernecks, holding Western to just 154 yards on the ground. Jonas Griffith led the Trees with nine tackles (eight solo), including 4.5 tackles-for-loss for 10 yards and a sack for six yards. Two of the TFL's came during the Leathernecks last offensive possession which forced a punt and allowed the Sycamore offense to march down into field goal territory.
 
Katrell Moss added six tackles for the Sycamores while Jamal Jones finished with five. Junior Denzel Bonner forced a fumble in the first half that was recovered by Rex Mosley which led to the game-tying field goal.
 
Sophomore Titus McCoy also added 41 yards on the ground while Boyle finished with a rushing score in the win. Boyle added 149 yards in the air on 9-of-17 passing with Dante Jones II picked up four of the passes for 45 yards. Dante Hendrix added 41 yards on two catches.
 
Ryan Boyle put the Sycamores on top in the second quarter after an impressive 99-yard drive that took 13 plays and 7:57 off the clock. Kerlegrand sparked the offense with a career-long 31-yard rush before Boyle hit Dakota Caton 37-yards. Boyle would eventually end up at the goal line where he audibled to a run, crashing past the goal line to give the Sycamores a 9-3 lead after the PAT was no good due to a high snap.
 
The Leathernecks (5-6, 4-4 MVFC) would answer in the second half as Steve McShane reeled off a 65-yard touchdown run on Western's first offensive play to regain the lead at 10-9.
 
The teams traded field goals later in the third quarter -- the first an 18-yarder from Nunez before WIU's Sam Croso answered to give the Leathernecks a 13-12 lead.   
 
Both defenses stood tall in the final 15 minutes of play until the Sycamores and Jonas Griffith ultimately made consecutive stops for a loss late in the quarter to give ISU back the ball with 3:31 left on the clock and a chance to win.
 
Boyle completed passes to Tynan Williams and Jones II on the drive while Kerlegrand went for 26 yards to setup the game-winner from Nunez.
 
Leading the Leathernecks was McShane who finished with 129 yards rushing and a touchdown while quarterback Sean McGuire was 16-of-27 through the air for 202 yards. Quentin Moon had a game high 13 tackles for WIU in the loss. Western recorded five sacks in the game, a season high against the Sycamores.
 
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