TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State football defeated Youngstown State Saturday afternoon on Senior Day, 24-17 inside Memorial Stadium. The victory marked just the third time in the series history that the Sycamores have won consecutive game against the Penguins and the first time since 2014-15.  
 
Indiana State (4-7, 2-5 MVFC) put up 383 yards of total offense, including 242 yards rushing but it was the defense that made the final stand for the Sycamores to secure the victory.
 
Michael Haupert led the way with 95 yards on the ground and a touchdown for Indiana State. Nick Sims went for a season high 63 yards and a touchdown while Dominique Dafney added 61 yards and a score. Peterson Kerlegrand added 43 yards on 11 carries for ISU.
 
Kurtis Wilderman was solid at quarterback with 140 yards on 17-for-20. Dante Hendrix caught five passes for 40 yards while Dante Jones II had three catches for 27 yards.
 
The Penguins (5-6, 1-6 MVFC) entered the fourth quarter trailing 24-10 and faced a second-and-27 situation following an offensive pass interference. Youngstown called timeout and out of the stoppage went deep for 45 yards as Joe Craycraft found Ryan Emes up the seam for a 45-yard touchdown to pull YSU within one score.
 
The Sycamores looked to ice the game the very next offensive possession, driving all the way into Youngstown territory, but a missed field goal from 25 yards out was wide right.
 
With 1:55 remaining in the game the visitors took control of the ball from their own 28-yard line. Craycraft rushed for 21 yards to midfield before the Sycamore defense forced consecutive stops, including a nine-yard sack from Kaleb Brewer.
 
The Penguins would catch a break a play later when ISU's Denzel Bonner was called for targeting alongside an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from another Sycamore. After an official review the targeting penalty was overturned, but the dead ball unsportsmanlike call stood, giving YSU first and 10 from the 45.
 
Craycraft threw for six yards on first down before rushing for two yards. Mekhi Ware made a pass breakup on third down on a short pass and the defense forced an incomplete pass to turn the Penguins over on downs with 40 seconds remaining in the contest.
 
The Sycamore defense was stout throughout the game for consecutive weeks apart from two plays – an 80-yard rushing score from Craycraft and a 45-yard passing touchdown. On the day, YSU was just 4-for-15 on third down conversions and 1-for-2 in the red zone.
 
Hameed Oyedele and Michael Thomas each recorded an interception for the Sycamores. Oyedele's pick just before halftime led to a touchdown and Thomas' interception stopped YSU momentum after the Penguins reached the red zone early in the second half.
 
Senior Clayton Glasco led the charge defensively for ISU with eight tackles, including two tackles for loss for 14 yards. Brewer was solid on the defensive line with seven tackles (three solo) to go along with a sack.
 
Indiana State jumped out to an early lead thanks to a Jerry Nunez 41-yard field goal on the opening possession of the game.
 
Nick Sims would make it a two-possession game in favor of the Sycamores after a 33-yard touchdown run five minutes into the second quarter.
 
ISU would again score after solid field position following Oyedele's interception as Michael Haupert ran for a 13-yard rushing score the very next to play to make it 17-3 Indiana State.
 
Haupert would setup the Sycamores in great field position with a season long 50-yard rush in the third quarter. One play later senior Dominique Dafney would find the end zone in the wildcat from 10 yards out.
 
Craycraft was 11-for-33 through the air for YSU for 181 yards. His top target was CJ Charleston who finished with five catches for 105 yards. Craycraft paced the Penguins with 123 yards on the ground and a rushing score.
 
Troy Jakubec led the YSU defense with eight tackles. Terray Bryant added seven stops for the Penguins.
 
Indiana State will close out the 2019 season next weekend with a trip to Missouri State. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. ET from Springfield.  
 
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.