TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State welcomes Western Illinois to Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the Sycamores host the Leathernecks for 2023 Senior Day on Saturday, November 11. Kickoff between the Sycamores and WIU is set for 1 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Game Day Information and Activities
Salute to Service/First Responders Day
Indiana State Football looks forward to welcoming all veterans, active military members and first responders. Sycamores appreciate everything they do and we want to show our appreciation by offering free admission to the game. Family and friends will receive tickets if they show up with them for just $5.
Senior Day
Indiana State football will honor the 2023 Senior Class in a pregame on-field ceremony prior to kickoff. The 18-member class will be recognized in a pregame ceremony set to begin at 12:35 p.m. on the field at Memorial Stadium.
Fan Appreciation Day
The Sycamores will have free hot chocolate for all fans at the stadium while supplies last.
Pacesetter Sports Sale
Pacesetter Sports will have a 20% off sale on Indiana State apparent in their tent outside Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Weekly Notes
Quick Hits
The Sycamores enter the contest boasting the No. 2 overall strength of schedule in the NCAA according to the FCS Massey Rankings. Indiana State's schedule featured seven teams ranked at least once in the polls this season. Indiana State is looking to keep its longest Valley winning streak alive as the Sycamores have won each of their last four contests against Western Illinois dating back to the 2018 season.
Safety Maddix Blackwell enters the weekend with a team-high 89 tackles on the season and is coming off a career-high 15 stops against Youngstown State. Indiana State's last MVFC win came on the road in Macomb last season as the Sycamores topped Western Illinois, 21-0, against the Leathernecks. Indiana State running back Justin Dinka posted a season-high 56 yard touchdown reception this past Saturday against YSU, marking the longest play from scrimmage for Indiana State this season.
Western Illinois at a Glance
Western Illinois enters the weekend with an 0-9 mark, 0-6 record in Missouri Valley Football play in the 2023 season. The Leathernecks have lost 22 consecutive games dating back to the end of the 2021 season when WIU last topped Illinois State on Oct. 30, 2021 (38-31). Western Illinois received 65 total points in finishing getting picked 12th overall in the MVFC preseason poll.
The Leathernecks have two running backs splitting carries in the backfield this season with Ludovick Choquette (60 carries, 234 yards) and Seth Glatz (66 carries, 217 yards) headlining the efforts. Quarterback Matt Morrissey has carried the load offensively for WIU this season posting a 61.4% completion percentage averaging 190.8 yards per game. The Leathernecks have struggled in the pass rush game this season with WIU recording 5.0 sacks over the nine games on the season.
On This Date
Indiana State has played nine games all-time on November 11 dating back to their first contest at Ball State back in 1950.
The Sycamores are 2-7 overall on the date according to current records on hand with their wins coming in 1961 and 1989.
ISU has lined up three times against western Illinois on the date, winning on the road in 1989, while falling at home in both 1967 and 2017.
- 1950 – at Ball State – L, 20-0
- 1961 – vs. St. Joseph's – W, 13-9
- 1967 – vs. Western Illinois – L, 26-7
- 1978 – at Illinois State – L, 27-14
- 1989 – at Western Illinois – W, 13-7
- 1995 – at Illinois State – L, 25-0
- 2000 – at Western Kentucky – L, 28-3
- 2006 – vs. Illinois State – L, 42-20
- 2017 – vs. Western Illinois – L, 45-0
Last Time Against Western Illinois
The Sycamores 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 offense in the 21-0 win in Macomb last 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.
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.
Shutting Out the Leathernecks
Indiana State posted its first shutout in the series history against the Leathernecks last season as the Sycamores held Western Illinois scoreless, 21-0.
It marked the first time the Sycamores posted a shutout since 2018 and second overall shutout in the Mallory coaching era. ISU previously topped Quincy in the 2018 home opener by a score of 49-0.
Trends in ISU's Wins over Western Illinois
Indiana State has won four consecutive games against Western Illinois dating back to the 2018 season when ISU topped the Leathernecks, 15-13. Key to Indiana State's success in the series has been the Sycamores' ability to shut down the Western Illinois run game.
Indiana State has limited Western Illinois to a combined 37 rushing yards over the last two seasons including holding WIU to just nine yards on 21 carries in 2022. The Sycamores held possession 38:25 last season including converting 10-of-18 third downs.
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 the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
