TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Three seemed to be the lucky number for Indiana State Saturday. Facing 3^rd-and-3 on the 3-yard line, Ryan Boyle threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Dante Hendrix in the third overtime period as the Sycamores claimed their third-straight win with a 51-48 victory over South Dakota Saturday afternoon in front of 5,816 fans at Memorial Stadium.
 
Urbandale, Iowa native, Boyle accounted for a school record seven touchdowns in the game while tying the single game record for touchdown passes with five that was set in 1985 by Jeff Miller.
 
It marked the fourth ever triple overtime game in program history and just the second triple overtime win after Indiana State defeated Western Illinois (Oct. 23) in 1999. The victory also marks the first overtime win for the Sycamores since 2014 when ISU defeated Youngstown State.
 
The game-winning touchdown, a pass to a wide-open Hendrix who was running to the left, came from across the field as Boyle was bootlegging right to avoid a sack. It was one of five touchdown passes for Boyle, who was 20-for-27 for 193 yards while also rushing for a career-high 187 yards on 18 carries and scoring twice himself.
 
With the win, Indiana State moved to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play despite being outgained by nearly 100 yards and losing the first down battle, 39-27.
 
The winning catch was one of two touchdown receptions by Hendrix, who totaled 111 yards on 11 catches in the game. It was set up after South Dakota (3-6, 2-4 MVFC) was stopped on third down in the third overtime period as the Coyotes kicked a 27-yard field goal to ensure points scored in the frame.
 
Redshirt senior Katrell Moss led the Sycamore defense with 18 total tackles, 3.5 of which came for a loss of seven yards, while also recovering a fumble. Jonas Griffith added 16 tackles and two tackles for a loss, including a sack, while also forcing a fumble. Deznel Bonner (12), Jamal Jones (12) and Esdras Simervil (11) also added double-digit tackles for the Trees.
 
Along with key stops at opportune times, Indiana State also struck on big plays when they could. Despite only converting 5-of-13 first downs, three of the Sycamore touchdowns came on explosive (20-plus yard) plays. As a team, Indiana State averaged a 7.0 yards per rush as Boyle and running back Titus McCoy combined for 310 of the teams' 316 yards.
 
McCoy, who made his second-straight start went for 123 yards on 21 carries in the game, carving up the Coyote defense on read option plays.
 
Boyle also connected on touchdown passes to Sullivan, Indiana native Dakota Caton (11-yards) and Lakota West, High School product Dante Jones II (14-yards); the first career touchdown catches for each of the newcomers. Sophomore tight end Zach Larkin joined the touchdown club in the second overtime on a fake run and jump pass from two yards out to put the Sycamores on top.
 
Indiana State wraps up the 2018 home slate next Saturday when Illinois State makes the trip to Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET with Senior Day festivities taking place prior to the 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.