TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State offense rolled out to an early lead and the Sycamore defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage late as Indiana State topped visiting Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon inside Memorial Stadium, 38-14.
 
The Sycamores honored Indiana State football legend Vincent Allen in a pregame ceremony on the field as friends and family were in attendance in retiring the former All-American's number 26 jersey. When the ball was kicked off, it was like Allen was back on the field as Indiana State racked up 211 rushing yards in a dominant ground display in snapping a two-game losing streak to the Panthers.
 
Indiana State (2-0) took control of the game early as the Sycamore defense forced a three-and-out on EIU's (1-1) opening possession, while Plez Lawrence hauled in a 19-yard touchdown reception to claim the early momentum.
 
Redshirt junior quarterback Keegan Patterson stepped up following an injury in the second quarter and delivered an early four-yard touchdown strike to Larry Stephens III. Jayden Childers followed with an interception and 16-yard return to set up a 25-yard Sebastian Lopez field goal to give the Sycamores a 17-0 halftime lead.
 
The Indiana State offense cruised in the second half as Lawrence (four-yard) and Nick Osho (31-yard) recorded rushing touchdowns, while Rashad Rochelle hauled in a 40-yard touchdown reception as the Sycamores pulled away from the Panthers.
 
The Sycamore defense, paced by Logan Wilson (nine tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks) and Braxton Sampson (eight tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1 forced fumble), controlled the line of scrimmage on Saturday afternoon. EIU was limited to just 89 rushing yards on 45 carries, one week after recording an FCS-leading 336 rushing yards in the Panthers' win over Dayton.
 
Lucas McAllister (nine tackles, 2.5 TFL) and Ahmond Glass (seven tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks) also attacked the line of scrimmage as Indiana State recorded 14.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and 5.0 sacks in the game.
 
Patterson was 11-of-17 through the air for 111 yards and two touchdowns, while adding five carries for 78 yards on the ground. Elijah Owens was 9-of-10 for 67 yards and a score, while adding 50 yards on the ground in the win.
 
Stephens III posted a game-high five catches for 63 yards and a score, while Rochelle hauled in five receptions for 57 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Rochelle added five returns for a combined 70 all-purpose yards in the game.
 
Connor Wolf (9-of-13, 112 passing yards) was effective behind center in the second half for EIU, while running back Charles Kellom finished with 23 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Carlyun Neal was the team leader with two catches for 37 yards.
 
Saipeti Maiava Jr. paced all players with 11 tackles in the loss, while Kaleb Lyons had seven tackles and 3.0 TFL on the line.
 
How They Scored

• Indiana State struck first on their opening drive as Plez Lawrence hauled in a 19-yard touchdown reception from Elijah Owens capping a five-play, 45-yard drive to give the Sycamores the 7-0 lead with 11:49 remaining in the first quarter.
• The Sycamores made it 14-0 in the second quarter as Keegan Patterson found Larry Stephens III all by himself for a four-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to cap a 12-play, 57-yard drive. The drive was aided by a trio of EIU penalties inside the red zone before the Patterson touchdown pass.
• Indiana State added to the lead on their ensuing drive as Sebastian Lopez converted a 25-yard field goal attempt with 3:19 remaining in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 17-0. The Sycamores' scoring opportunity was sparked by Jayden Childers' 16-yard interception return into the EIU red zone.
• Charles Kellom put EIU on the scoreboard with 8:47 remaining in the third quarter as the Panthers' running back scored on a 13-yard carry over the left tackle to cap a 10-play, 65-yard drive. The EIU drive was kept alive on an Indiana State roughing the passer penalty that put the Panthers inside the Sycamores' 25.
• Indiana State responded to make it a 24-7 lead at the 3:34 mark in the third quarter as Lawrence found the end zone for the second time of the game with a four-yard touchdown run capping a seven-play, 84-yard drive. Patterson had the big play of the drive with a 47-yard carry up the middle, while also connecting on a 26-yard pass to Talan White.
• Kellom put EIU back on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter to make it a 24-14 game with a two-yard touchdown plunge to cap a 13-play, 71-yard scoring drive at the 10:20 mark. The Panthers' drive was aided by another Indiana State pass interference penalty, while quarterback Connor Wolf added a 20-yard completion to Carlyun Neal.
• Indiana State responded and pushed the lead to 31-14 as Patterson looked off the safety before finding Rashad Rochelle all alone down the right sideline for a 40-yard touchdown connection at the 8:42 mark in the fourth quarter.
• The Sycamores capped the scoring as Nick Osho scored on a 31-yard touchdown run with 3:10 remaining to close out the 38-14 win.

News & Notes

• Former Indiana State University football player Vincent Allen had his No. 26 jersey retired in the pregame ceremony. He holds the Indiana State record for most 100-yard career rushing games (26) and most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (14), while adding the most career touchdowns scored (33) for the Sycamores.
• Indiana State moved to 2-0 to start a season for the first time since the 1986 season following Saturday's win over Eastern Illinois.
• The Sycamores snapped a two-game losing streak to the Panthers with the win.
• Keegan Patterson and Larry Stephens III both recorded first touchdowns in the Sycamore Blue & White as the Sycamore quarterback (Patterson) recorded his first passing touchdown to Stephens (wide receiver) with a four-yard completion with 6:18 remaining in the second quarter.
• Plez Lawrence had a team-high five touchdowns through the first two games of the season as the redshirt junior running back has equaled his career-high in rushing touchdowns (3), while sitting one off his receiving touchdown total from the 2024 season.
• Wide receiver Talan White hauled in the first reception of his Indiana State career with a 26-yard reception in the second quarter.
• Patterson set new marks in completions (11), passing attempts (17), passing yards (111), and passing touchdowns (2). He added a career-high 78 rushing yards on five carries.
• Kimal Clark started his Indiana State playing career with back-to-back double-digit tackle games following his 10-tackle effort against Eastern Illinois. He currently paces the Sycamores with 24 stops on the season.
• Logan Wilson recorded his second consecutive 3.0 tackle-for-loss game and added a career-high nine tackles and 1.5 sacks in the win. He added a pass breakup with a knockdown at the line of scrimmage.
• Braxton Sampson added a career-high eight tackles, 3.0 TFL, and one sack, as well as a forced fumble.
• Ahmond Glass added seven tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 1.0 sacks.
• Jayden Childers became the third Sycamore to record an interception in the 2025 season and first defensive lineman with an interception since Joey Shew recorded an interception last season on November 2, 2024, against North Dakota.

Team Green Law Postgame Press Conference


Up Next
Indiana State continues nonconference play on the road as the Sycamores travel to Bloomington, Ind. and Memorial Stadium to take on Indiana on Friday, September 12. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and will be carried live on the Big Ten Network and 105.5 The Legend.
 
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