TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State travels to No. 17/15 North Dakota on Saturday afternoon as the Sycamores hit the road to the Alerus Center this weekend. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Fighting Hawks is set for 2 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Weekly Notes
Quick Hits
Indiana State trails the all-time series, 1-0, against North Dakota dating back to the inaugural contest between the two programs in 2022. North Dakota joined the MVFC in 2020, but due to the conference scheduling, the first time ISU and UND took the field against each other was this past season in Terre Haute.
Saturday marks Indiana State's first trip to the Alerus Center in program history. The Sycamores enter the season with an 0-7 record, 0-4 in Valley play. It marks just the seventh time Indiana State has started off the season falling in their first seventh games since the 2000 season.
Indiana State faces one of the toughest schedules in the nation this season including three ranked in the top-25 in FCS over their final four games of the season.
About North Dakota
North Dakota enters the weekend ranked in both the major FCS national polls as the Fighting Hawks sit No. 17 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, and No. 15 in the STATS Perform FCS top-25. The Fighting Hawks boast a 4-3 record on the season, 2-2 in MVFC play including wins against Northern Arizona and No. 6/7 North Dakota State. The Hawks are coming off a 27-0 loss at Northern Iowa this past weekend snapping a two-game Valley winning streak against Western Illinois and North Dakota State.
North Dakota is a perfect 4-0 at home in the 2023 season, while sitting 0-3 on the road. UND quarterback Tommy Schuster remains one of the top quarterbacks in the MVFC this season posting a 70.9% completion percentage and an 8:1 touchdown/interception ratio. The top weapon through the air, Bo Belquist leads UND with 35 catches for 412 yards and three touchdowns on the season. The UND defense is led by linebackers Wyatt Pedigo (43 tackles, 5.0 TFL), and Malachi McNeal (37 tackles, 3.0 sacks).
On This Date in History
Indiana State has lined up nine times on October 28 in program history dating back to the 1950 season. Each of the last five October 28 games have come on the road dating back to 1978 at Northeast Louisiana. ISU's two wins on the date came at home against Western Illinois in 1972 and on the road at Youngstown State in 1995.
- 1950 – vs. Eastern Illinois - L, 47-0
- 1961 – vs. Butler - L, 26-0
- 1967 – vs. Ball State - L, 26-24
- 1972 – vs. Western Illinois (HC) - W, 41-7
- 1978 – at Northeast Louisiana - L, 14-0
- 1995 – at Youngstown State – W, 13-6
- 2000 – at Youngstown State - L, 42-7
- 2006 – at Western Kentucky - L, 41-3
- 2017 – at Missouri State - L, 59-20
Last Time Against North Dakota
No. 21 North Dakota scored 35 unanswered points aided by a pair of first-half turnovers as Indiana State fell to the visiting Fighting Hawks at Memorial Stadium, 42-7. The Sycamores tied the game up at 7-7 as Justin Dinka scored on a two-yard touchdown run at the 13:44 mark in the second quarter. The drive was highlighted by a trio of Harry Van Dyne catches, including a one-handed snag that moved ISU inside the North Dakota 25-yard line in leading to the score.
Indiana State had the momentum going their way following a North Dakota punt, but back-to-back ISU turnovers were converted to UND touchdowns prior to the halftime break to swing the edge back to the Fighting Hawks. UND would score touchdowns on five consecutive drives on their way to pulling away in the Valley Football win.
Gavin Screws went 11-of-19 through the air to lead the Sycamore efforts as the sophomore quarterback came into the game due to injury to ISU starter Cade Chambers. Screws targeted six different receivers for 130 yards in the loss. Evan Olaes added 71 rushing yards on the ground including a 57-yard carry down the right sideline to pace the ISU run game.
Rylan Cole recorded a game-high eight tackles, including a tackle-for-loss to lead the ISU defense. Garret Ollendieck added six tackles and the first sack of his ISU career, while Kris Reid Jr. posted 1.5 tackles-for-loss in the game.
Time of Possession
Indiana State has put together a dominant statistical line over the last four games as the Sycamores have won the time of possession battle in all four Missouri Valley Football games this year. The Sycamores put together a dominant 39:58-20:02 TOP edge against Northern Iowa, marking the largest in the Curt Mallory coaching era, surpassing the program's previous single-game high 38:25 set last season against Western Illinois.
Time of Possession in MVFC Games
- at Murray State - 34:37-25:23
- Northern Iowa - 39:58-20:02
- at Illinois State - 31:24-28:36
- South Dakota - 35:10-24:50
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