SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – It was a night to remember for Dominique Dafney as the senior put up the fourth-best single game rushing performance in program history after going for 244 yards out of the wildcat, leading the Sycamores to a 51-24 victory over Missouri State Saturday at Plaster Stadium.
 
Dafney found the endzone five times - four times on the ground and another after catching a 19-yard pass from Michael Haupert to put the Sycamores ahead with 3:42 left in the first quarter.
 
Indiana State (5-7, 3-5 MVFC) would take a 7-0 lead into the second quarter and soon after they would extend the ISU lead to 14-0. Kurtis Wilderman connected with Dante Hendrix in stride on a 70-yard pass to setup the Sycamores at the one-yard line. Dafney would finish off the drive with his second touchdown of the day and first rushing score.
 
After Missouri State (1-10, 1-7 MVFC)  broke into the scoring column midway through the second, the Sycamore special teams picked up the slack as Hendrix took a punt 70 yards to the endzone, marking the first punt return touchdown of the season for the Sycamores and the first since Dakota Caton did so last season against Quincy.
 
The Sycamores took a 21-7 lead into the locker room, before opening the third quarter with Dafney recording the longest rush of the day – 57 yard – to jump over the 100-yard mark.
 
Indiana State went on to outscore Missouri State 30-17 in the second half as they cruised to victory. Haupert exploded for a 49-yard rushing score in the final minutes of the third before Dafney reeled off his third rushing score from 41 yards out and again from a yard out of the end zone in the fourth quarter.
 
Wilderman finished 10-for-14 passing for 148 yards while Haupert was 1-for-2 for 19 yards and a touchdown. Peterson Kerlegrand rushed for 42 yards on seven carries.
 
Zach Larkin was the top pass catcher for the Sycamores with three receptions for 35 yards. Hendrix tied a program record with his 21st-straight game with a reception, tying ISU alum Robert Tonyan Jr.
 
The Sycamore defense was once again solid, forcing three turnovers on the day while recording five tackles for loss as well as a pair of sacks. Michael Thomas and Jonas Griffith each forced fumbles while Matt Thompson, Michael Ghant Jr. and Tony Williams recovered fumbles for the Sycamores. Thomas along with Clayton Glasco led the Sycamores with 12 tackles apiece.
 
Jonas Griffith etched his name into the record book after picking up nine tackles on his way to his third consecutive season of 100 or more tackles. The Louisville native is just the third player in program history to achieve the feat.
 
Indiana State outgained the Bears 492-401, including 325-152 on the ground. Peyton Huslig passed for 249 yards on 27-for-42.
 
The ISU defense held Missouri State to 5-for-15 on third down while the Sycamores were 4-for-10 offensively. ISU also finished 4-for-5 in the red zone.
 
Jordan Murray caught two touchdowns to lead the Bears while Myron Mason led the team with 94 rushing yards. Angelo Garbutt and McNeece Egbim had nine tackles each for the Bears.
 
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