TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State hits the road once again in conference play this weekend as the Sycamores make the trip to Springfield, Mo. and Robert W. Plaster Stadium on Saturday, October 19, to take on #20 Missouri State. Kickoff between the Sycamores and Bears is set for 3 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Quick Notes
Missouri State at a Glance
Missouri State was selected ninth overall in the 2024 MVFC Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's head coaches, SIDs, and media members. The Bears had 11 different players voted to the preseason All-Conference team with punter Grant Burkett named First Team, while Darion Smith (DL), PJ Hall (DB), and Todric McGee (DB) were named to the Second Team.
Missouri State is in its last season in the FCS after announcing plans to move up to the FBS and join Conference USA in the 2025 season. The Bears enter the weekend as one of four teams remaining undefeated in MVFC play in the 2024 season joining NDSU, South Dakota, and SDSU to achieve the mark.
Missouri State has achieved the record courtesy of its passing offense as the Bears lead the MVFC and sit fourth overall in the NCAA FCS in passing offense at 314.7 yards per game. The Bears have also been opportunistic in the turnover game posting a 13:5 turnover margin going plus-8 overall in the 2024 season. The Missouri State defense currently leads the MVFC with 2.5 sacks per game.
On This Date
Indiana State has posted a 3-6 overall record on October 19 according to current records on hand. The Sycamores been on the road seven of their nine contests played on the date, including a 68-19 loss at Missouri State back in 1991. The last six contests played on the date for the Sycamores have come against current or former Missouri Valley Football Conference opponents.
- 1957 – at St. Joseph's – L, 42-0
- 1963 – at Ball State - L, 15-7
- 1968 – at Valparaiso - W, 28-0
- 1974 – at Western Carolina - L, 18-3
- 1985 – vs. Western Illinois - W, 42-24
- 1991 – at Missouri State - L, 68-19
- 1996 – vs. Illinois State - W, 23-7
- 2002 – at Western Illinois - L, 52-21
- 2013 – at Illinois State - L, 55-14
- 2019 – vs. South Dakota State - L, 42-23
Pursuing Back-to-Back MVFC Wins
Indiana State heads into the weekend matchup against Missouri State pursuing something the team has not accomplished since the 2019 season - winning back-to-back games in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Sycamores have achieved the feat twice during Head Coach Curt Mallory's tenure at the helm as Indiana State continues to play in FCS' premier conference.
The last time Indiana State won back-to-back MVFC games came over the final two contests of the 2019 season when the Sycamores topped both Youngstown State (home) and Missouri State (away).
Indiana State MVFC Winning Streaks Under Mallory
Two Games
- Nov. 16, 2019 vs Youngstown State W, 24-17
- Nov. 23, 2019 at Missouri State W, 51-24
Five Games
- Oct. 20, 2018 at Southern Illinois W, 24-21
- Oct. 27, 2018 at Youngstown State W, 43-17
- Nov. 3, 2018 vs South Dakota W, 51-48
- Nov. 10, 2018 vs #22 Illinois State W, 28-23
- Nov. 17, 2018 at Western Illinois W, 15-13
Last Time Beat a Ranked Opponent
Indiana State's last win over a ranked opponent came back in the 2018 season in Missouri Valley Football play as a part of the team's five-game winning streak to wrap up a 7-4 overall campaign. The Sycamores topped No. 22 Illinois State on November 10, 2018, 28-23, inside Memorial Stadium.
In the win over the Redbirds, the Sycamores scored 21 consecutive points in the second quarter and held off a late Illinois State comeback attempt to secure the conference win. Quarterback Ryan Boyle found Dakota Caton for a 25-yard touchdown pass late in the game to secure the win, while Titus McCoy finished with 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win.
Indiana State's Last Win over Missouri State
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 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.
Dominique Dafney's Touchdowns Against the Bears
- 1st Q - 3:42 - 19-yard TD Reception
- 2nd Q - 11:41 - 1-yard TD Run
- 3rd Q - 13:10 - 57-yard TD Run
- 4th Q - 9:20 - 41-yard TD Run
- 4th Q - 4:58 - 1-yard TD Run
Elijah Owens garners National Honors
Elijah Owens accounted for 264 yards of total offense and two touchdowns in the Sycamores' win over the Racers as Indiana State picked up its first Missouri Valley Football win of the 2024 season. Owens completed 25 of 34 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown, adding 46 yards and a TD on the ground. The Sycamores scored the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds left, and Owens directed the drive with passes or runs on seven of the nine plays.
Stats Perform FCS Player of the Week Honorees Under Mallory
Nov. 5, 2018 - Ryan Boyle (QB) vs. South Dakota
Sept. 18, 2017 - Bob Pugh (WR) vs. Liberty
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.
