TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to defeat Western Illinois on Homecoming Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The 20-10 victory marked the second consecutive win over the Leathernecks in the series and the first at home since 2011.
 
Defense kept the Sycamores (3-3, 1-1 MVFC) in the game through the first half as the ISU offense was stagnant for much of the first 30 minutes of action, converting just three first downs and collecting only 71 yards of offense.
 
Michael Thomas (5), Inoke Moala (4), Clayton Glasco (4) and Keawvis Cummings (3) flew to the ball to make stops throughout while several Sycamores pressured WIU quarterback Connor Sampson. Moala recorded 3.5 tackles-for-loss in the first half alone for 11 yards.
 
After a scoreless first quarter of action, Western Illinois opened the second with a play-action pass on fourth down, converting the 23-yard attempt to Jared Drake in the end zone to give the Leathernecks the early lead. After the Sycamore defense forced a punt from WIU, an Indiana State special team player was hit by the punt and Western recovered the ball in ISU territory.
 
Nathan Erickson would later kick a 38-yard field goal to extend the Leatherneck lead to 10-0 with 5:35 left in the first half.
 
Coming out of the locker room, ISU would make a change at quarterback as redshirt sophomore Kurtis Wilderman entered the game. The offense would get things going midway through the third after Peterson Kerlegrand bounced back-to-back runs to the outside picking up nearly 35 yards. Wilderman rushed to the three yard-line on second and long before finding Sullivan, Indiana native Dakota Caton in the end zone a play later to get the Sycamores on the board.
 
Western Illinois (0-6, 0-2 MVFC) looked to answer ISU's score as the Leathernecks marched to midfield before safety Michael Thomas picked up an interception on a deflected ball to take the momentum. Jerry Nunez nailed a 20-yard field goal to tie the game with 44 seconds remaining in the third.
 
Wilderman and Caton would combine for their second touchdown with 8:31 left to play on a six-yard pass to the back of the end zone, giving the Sycamores a 17-10 lead. Michael Haupert reeled off a 29-yard rush out of the wildcat a play before to setup the Sycamores in excellent field position.
 
Sycamore defense forced the ninth punt of the day for WIU a series later before ISU used an 11-play, 52-yard drive that was capped off with a 32-yard field goal from Nunez to make it a 20-10 lead with 2:50 left to play.
 
Indiana State closed out the game with three consecutive sacks of Sampson to turn over the Leathernecks on downs and secure the victory.
 
Glasco finished with a team-best 10 tackles on the day, including three tackles-for-loss and a pair of sacks. Matt Thompson added eight tackles from the linebacker spot along with a sack while Thomas finished with eight tackles and in interception.
 
ISU rushed for 191 yards led by Kerlegrand with 70 yards on 12 carries. Titus McCoy added 62 yards on 13 attempts while Haupert went for 40 yards, including a 29 rush out of the wildcat to setup the second touchdown of the day for the Sycamores.
 
In total, ISU outgained Western Illinois 316 to 214, including 191 to 112 on the ground.
 
Wilderman was 10-for-12 for 74 yards through the air with two touchdowns while Gunnar See was 7-for-12 for 51 yards. McCoy and Caton each tallied three catches on the day to lead ISU. Tight end Matae Thomas made his first catch of the season with a 21-yard reception to convert a third down and setup a field goal.
 
Sampson was 15-for-34 for 102 yards for the Leathernecks. Max Norris led all WIU players with 46 yards rushing on three carries. Andre Whitley led all players with 13 tackles while Zach Glisan had 12 for the Leathernecks.
 
The Sycamores continue their home swing next weekend when No. 3 South Dakota State comes to town. Kickoff with the Jackrabbits is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Memorial Stadium.
 
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.