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Indiana State University Athletics

defense
21
Winner Indiana St. ISU 2-8 , 1-6
0
Western Ill. WIU 0-10 , 0-7
Winner
Indiana St. ISU
2-8 , 1-6
21
Final
0
Western Ill. WIU
0-10 , 0-7
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ISU Indiana St. 0 14 7 0 21
WIU Western Ill. 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Football | | Seth Montgomery | GoSycamores.com

Dominant defensive effort leads Sycamores past Western Illinois, 21-0

MACOMB, Ill. – Indiana State powered past Western Illinois on Saturday afternoon as the Sycamores picked up their first win in Missouri Valley Football Conference play with the 21-0 victory at Hanson Field.
 
The Sycamores (2-8, 1-6 MVFC) scored two touchdowns in the final 2:50 of the first half to take control of the contest, while the ISU defense limited the Western Illinois (0-10, 0-7 MVFC) offense to just nine rushing yards in their second win of the 2022 season.
 
Justin Dinka and Tee Hodge both picked up rushing touchdowns in Saturday's win, while Evan Olaes added a touchdown pass to Dante Hendrix as the Sycamore offense moved up and down the field throughout the game. ISU recorded 350 total offensive yards and held onto the ball for 38:25 in picking up their fourth consecutive win over the Leathernecks.
 
Kaleal Davis and Ethan Hoover both recorded interceptions to lead the Indiana State defensive effort against Western Illinois, while Gianini Belizaier (2.5 TFL) and Kris Reid (2 TFL) combined for 4.5 of ISU's nine tackles-for-loss in the game. The Sycamores limited Western Illinois to just 2-of-11 on third downs in controlling the game.
 
Olaes was efficient 16-of-24 in his first ISU start as the redshirt freshman completed passes to seven different receivers in the win. Hendrix was his favorite target with five catches for 47 yards and a score, while Dakota Caton (three catches, 29 yards, Michael Haupert (two catches, 25 yards), and Harry Van Dyne (three catches, 18 yards) all posted multi-catch games on the day.
 
Dinka led the Sycamore rushing attack with 22 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown, while Hodge added 81 yards on 17 carries including a 39-yard score in the third quarter as the Sycamores pounded the ball with 51 rushing attempts for 163 yards in the game.
 
Defensively, Johnathan Edwards and Malik Chatman both finished with five tackles apiece to lead ISU, while Geoffrey Brown added three stops and his third sack of the season. Gianini Belizaire added four tackles and a forced fumble in addition to his 2.5 TFL in the win.
 
Clay Bruno went 12-of-28 through the air for 193 yards and two interceptions in the loss. Naseim Brantley was the team's receiving leader with five catches for 83 yards, while Jaylin Jackson added five receptions and four carries for 47 total offensive yards in the game.
 
Chase Graham was WIU's tackling leader with 11 stops and a tackle-for-loss on the day, while Juan DelaCruz added 10 tackles in the loss.
How They Scored
  • Indiana State took the 6-0 lead with 2:50 left in the second quarter as Justin Dinka shrugged off a tackle on his way to the seven-yard touchdown run. The carry capped an 11-play, 72-yard drive to give the Sycamores the lead.
  • Following a Kaleal Davis interception, the Sycamores marched down the field on eight-plays with Evan Olaes finding Dante Hendrix by himself for the 10-yard touchdown pass with 38 seconds left in the first half. Olaes added a two-point conversion to Dakota Caton to make it a 14-0 score just before the break.
  • Tee Hodge broke a tackle near the line of scrimmage and went untouched the rest of the way for a 39-yard touchdown run to give the Sycamores the 21-0 lead with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter.
Inside the Numbers
  • ISU posted 350 total offensive yards in the game with 163 coming on the ground in picking up their second win of the 2022 season.
  • The Sycamores tied their season high with 22 first downs and held onto the ball for a season-best 38:25 in the win.
  • The Sycamores converted a season-best 10-of-18 on third downs and were a perfect 1-for-1 on fourth-down conversions.
  • Harry Traum connected on a season-best four punts downed inside the 20-yard line for Indiana State.
  • Western Illinois recorded 236 total offensive yards in the loss.
  • The Leathernecks were limited to just nine rushing yards on 21 attempts and held onto the ball for just 21:30, including just 3:02 in the fourth quarter.
News & Notes
  • The Sycamore defense posted its first shutout since holding Quincy (49-0) scoreless in the season opener on August 30, 2018.
  • Indiana State added its first shutout of the Leathernecks in program history with the 21-0 win dating back to the inaugural game in the series in the 1967 season.
  • Indiana State has allowed a combined 17 rushing yards in their two wins in the 2022 season following Saturday's game. The Sycamores surrendered just eight rushing yards in the season opening win against North Alabama and allowed nine yards in today's effort.
  • Western Illinois' 236 total offensive yards was the fifth-fewest allowed by a Sycamore defense in the Mallory coaching era.
  • Kaleal Davis and Ethan Hoover both recorded their first interceptions of the 2022 season in the win.
  • Gianini Belizaire's 2.5 tackles-for-loss marked a career-high for the interior defensive lineman.
  • Redshirt senior wide receiver Dante Hendrix ran his receiving streak to 36 consecutive games with a reception following his five-catch day. Hendrix currently trails Sam Logan (196, 2003-06) by 11 career receptions heading into the season finale against Missouri State.
  • Redshirt freshman quarterback Evan Olaes became the third ISU quarterback to earn a start in the 2022 season after taking the opening snaps against Western Illinois.
  • Evan Olaes and Carter Herrin both recorded their first starts of the 2022 season in the game against the Leathernecks.
  • Indiana State converted its second successful two-point conversion of the season in the win.
  • Freshman punter Harry Traum dropped four punts inside the opponent 20-yard line for the first time in his career giving him 12 for the 2022 season.
Up Next
Indiana State closes out the 2022 season at home on Saturday, November 19 as the Sycamores host Missouri State at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Bears is set for 1 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Football, visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
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