Sycamores back on the road with trip to the DakotaDome
Credit Source: Indiana State University Athletics
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State is back on the road this weekend as the Sycamores make the trip to Vermillion, S.D. and H. Lauren Lewis Field for a key Missouri Valley Football Conference matchup on Saturday, October 2. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Coyotes is set for 3:05 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN3 and WZJK 105.5 FM.
Weekly Notes
Back on the Road
Indiana State opens the road portion of the 2021 Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule this weekend as the Sycamores make the trek to Vermillion, S.D. for their second conference game of the season. ISU is currently 1-1 overall in road games on the year with a loss to Northwestern and a last-second win over Eastern Kentucky. The Sycamores will alternate home and road contests the rest of the way with Indiana State traveling to Missouri State, North Dakota State, and Illinois State to close out the rest of the 2021 regular season.
Bouncing Back
Indiana State opened up the season with alternating wins and losses to start the 2021 year with a 2-2 record. The Sycamores opened the year with a 26-21 win over Eastern Illinois, before falling in their ensuing matchup against Northwestern. Coming off the loss, the Sycamores bounced back with a 23-21 win over Eastern Kentucky to improve to 2-1 on the year. Indiana State opened MVFC play this past weekend against South Dakota State before falling to the No. 2/3 Jackrabbits this past weekend at Memorial Stadium. The Sycamores will look to bounce back and pick up their first conference win of the season with another top team in the South Dakota Coyotes.
Tough Conference Competition
The Missouri Valley Football Conference traditionally has dominated the FCS landscape and this season is no exception. The MVFC featured three teams in the top-10 in both major polls last weekend, while seven different teams overall were listed in either the top-25 or receiving votes heading into the start of conference play. The Sycamores make the trip to South Dakota this weekend with the Coyotes looking to bounce back after falling on the road to Missouri State this past weekend. USD had received votes in both major polls leading up to this past weekend’s competition.
Series Matchup
South Dakota leads the all-time matchup between the two teams dating back to the inaugural contest in the 2012 season. The Sycamores won the first matchup, 45-14, and most recently took the 51-48 victory on November 3 in the 2018 season. Both of Indiana State’s wins over the Coyotes came at Memorial Stadium, while ISU is currently 0-3 on the road at H. Lauren Lewis Field.
First Three
October 27, 2012 – vs. South Dakota, W, 45-14
October 12, 2013 – at South Dakota, L, 17-14
October 15, 2016 – vs. South Dakota, L, 33-30
Last Three
October 14, 2017 – at South Dakota, L, 56-6
November 3, 2018 – vs. South Dakota, W, 51-48
October 5, 2019 – at South Dakota, L, 38, 0
On This Date
Indiana State has played in 12 games on October 2 in program history and has posted a 6-5-1 overall record on the date with the last time coming in the 2010 season against Quincy with a 56-22 win.
On This Date
1937 – Evansville – W, 7-0
1943 – Illinois Wesleyan – T, 0-0
1948 – Evansville – L, 13-12
1954 – Evansville – L, 41-6
1965 – Evansville – W, 14-0
1971 – Central Michigan – L, 21-6
1976 – Akron – L, 34-7
1982 – Drake – W, 29-19
1993 – Eastern Illinois – W, 27-24
1999 – Youngstown State – L, 31-28
2004 – Illinois State – W, 41-38 (OT)
2010 – Quincy – W, 56-22
Scouting the Opponent
South Dakota was ranked eighth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll as voted on by the league coaches, media, and sports information personnel. The Coyotes received 163 total points and are coming off a season where they went 1-3 in the 2021 spring season before canceling the season due to COVID concerns.
The Coyotes placed eight players on the 2021 MVFC Preseason All-Conference team with punter Brady Schutt and long snapper Dalton Godfrey both earning First Team honors. The Coyotes placed two more players on the Second Team with wide receiver Caleb Vander Esch and linebacker Brock Mogensen both receiving recognition on the squad.
South Dakota was one of seven Missouri Valley Football Conference teams to receive votes in both the major FCS polls prior to this past weekend’s loss at Missouri State. The Coyotes fell in the opener at Kansas, but rebounded with back-to-back wins over Northern Arizona and Cal Poly prior to the start of MVFC play.
South Dakota won its lone home contest of the 2021 season with a 34-7 win over Northern Arizona back on September 11. The Coyotes scored on their first three possessions with running back Travis Theis scoring a pair of first-half rushing touchdowns on their way to taking the win inside the DakotaDome.
Theis leads the Coyotes’ rushing efforts over the first four games of the season. The redshirt freshman is averaging 64.0 yards per game on the ground and has scored a team-high four touchdowns on the year. He is one of four USD players to record at least 30 carries on the year with Mike Mansaray (34 carries, 184 yards), Shomari Lawrence (33 carries), and Carson Camp (33 carries) also sitting among the team leaders in the category.
Carter Bell (16 catches, 271 yards, 1 TD) has been the primary receiving threat for Camp this season. The freshman quarterback is 54-of-95 for 768 yards through the air in the first four games. He’s added four touchdown passes while averaging 192.0 passing yards per game.
Jack Cochrane (34) and Mogensen (29) both pace the team’s tackling leaders on the season. Cochrane has also posted 4.5 tackles for loss on the season, while Mogensen has 4.0 TFL and one sack on the year. Brendan Webb has been the team’s defensive leader in the backfield with 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.
Rontrez Streaking
Much has been made about Dante Hendrix’s 22-game reception streak and rightly so, but Rontrez Morgan has quietly put together a streak of his own as the senior wide receiver has recorded receptions in every game he’s lined up in dating back to the 2018 season. Morgan recorded multiple catches in all five games he lined up in the 2019 season and has continued that trend through the first four games in 2021, including a nine-catch contest earlier this season at Northwestern. Morgan has already eclipsed his single-season high with 22 catches this season and paces the Sycamores with 173 receiving yards on the year. He added three catches for 31 yards to his totals this past weekend against South Dakota State.
Kerlegrand Bulldozing His Way
Senior running back Peterson Kerlegrand has been the definition of a workhorse back for the Sycamores this season as the Fort Wayne, Ind. enters the week as one of just three players in the MVFC to have posted over 60 carries in the 2021 season. Kerlegrand opened the 2021 season with a 19-carry, 73-yard game with a touchdown in the Sycamores’ 26-21 win over Eastern Illinois. After leading Indiana State in carries in each of the last two games, Kerlegrand again put the Sycamores offense on his back in the MVFC opener against South Dakota State. The senior recorded a season-high 21 carries for 76 yards and added two catches for 50 yards to highlight Indiana State’s efforts in the loss against the Jackrabbits.
Spreading the Wealth
One aspect of Indiana State’s offense that cannot be overlooked in the 2021 season is the Sycamores ability to spread the ball around to various receivers. Following the first four games of the year, 10 different players have recorded at least one catch on the season, while eight of the 10 have recorded multiple catches on the year. Justin Dinka became the 10th player to record a catch with a one-yard reception in the first quarter against South Dakota State. Overall, Rontrez Morgan (22), Phazione McClurge (12), and Zach Larkin (11) have all recorded double-digit catches on the year and will continue to be the primary targets for the Indiana State offense moving forward.
Quarterbacks Making an Impact
Indiana State continues to utilize two different quarterbacks with multiple skill-sets in the 2021 season and will look to continue this trend moving forward as Anthony Thompson and Kurtis Wilderman are expected to be on the field this week against South Dakota. Thompson drew the start in the first three games of the year and enters the weekend going 45-of-78 through the air for 380 yards with two passing touchdowns while adding an additional dimension on the ground with 20 carries. Wilderman took over the reins in the second half of the Eastern Kentucky game and led the game-winning drive in the Sycamores’ 23-21 win over the Colonels. He followed up with his first start of the year this past weekend against South Dakota State and is 21-of-40 through the air for 206 yards. INS will continue to utilize both QBs this season as the Sycamores head into the heart of conference play.
Phazione Breaking Loose
Indiana State wide receiver Phazione McClurge has broken out in a major way over the last three weeks as he’s taken a leading role in the passing game following early season injuries to the position group. The Chicago, Ill. native stepped right into a key position and made an impact in his first game of the season at Northwestern finishing with three catches for 26 yards in the loss to the Wildcats. The following week, McClurge drew his first start in the Sycamore Blue & White and the move paid dividends as the Cornell transfer finished with a team-high six catches for 75 yards and added two touchdowns in earning MVFC Newcomer of the Year honors. Following this past weekend against South Dakota State, McClurge sits 13th in the MVFC with 12 catches, while his two touchdowns put him tied for fifth in the conference.
Larkin Career Game
Indiana State redshirt senior tight end Zach Larkin has quietly become one of the top receiving targets in the MVFC this season as the Hamilton, Ohio native has increased his receiving totals in each of the four games played. Larkin has recorded at least one reception in each of the last 11 games dating back to the 2019 season when he recorded two catches against Western Illinois. Over the last two weekends against Eastern Kentucky and South Dakota State, the converted quarterback has equaled or eclipsed his previous single-game receiving totals with a three-catch game against Eastern Kentucky, before breaking out against the Jackrabbits with a career-high five catches for 42 yards against SDSU. In addition to his receiving prowess, Larkin has also served as the team’s primary rushing threat in the Wildcat package.
No Stopping Inoke
Inoke Moala ran his tackle-for-loss streak to five consecutive games dating back to the end of the 2019 season as the redshirt senior picked up an early TFL in the first quarter on Saturday afternoon against South Dakota State. The Mishawaka, Ind. native leads the Sycamores with 6.5 tackles for loss through the first four games of the season and sits among the MVFC leaders in the category, as well as in total sacks on the year. Moala continues to press the opposition at the point of attack this year as he continues the streak that started in the 2019 season finale against Missouri State when he picked up a sack/TFL. His ability to get into the backfield will be key to the Sycamores’ defensive efforts the rest of the way as he leads a unit that boasts 27.0 TFL and nine sacks in the 2021 season.
Double-Digit Mike
Michael Thomas opened the season with a double-digit tackle night against Eastern Illinois. After ranking second on the Sycamores in tackles in each of the last two contests, Thomas was back atop the team leaderboard with 10 more stops against South Dakota State as the redshirt junior safety continues to excel as the starting free safety. The Corona, Calif. native has been among the conference’s top defensive backs since making the position shift in the 2019 season from wide receiver and currently leads the Sycamores in tackles (31) and interceptions (2), while adding two more pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.
What Can Brown Do For You?
Freshman linebacker Geoffrey Brown has been among the top defensive players for the Sycamores this season after assuming a starting role against Eastern Kentucky. Indiana State’s defense shifted to more of a nickel and dime defensive set which has allowed Brown the opportunity to showcase his playmaking abilities and his agility on the field in the two-linebacker set. Brown led the team with seven tackles and added 1.5 tackles for loss in his first collegiate start against Eastern Kentucky. This past weekend, he tied for fourth on the team with four tackles and added a quarterback hurry against South Dakota State. Brown currently sits tied for second on the team in tackles (15) and tackles for loss (3.5), while adding one sack and one quarterback hurry.
Brewer Impact
Much has been spoken about the impact of Inoke Moala has on the opposing defensive lines, but the Sycamores have another impact edge rusher as the calendar turns into October. Redshirt senior Kaleb Brewer has continued to pressure the quarterback and enters the weekend leading the Sycamores with four quarterback hurries, while adding 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks on the year. Brewer has been especially efficient over the last two contests with back-to-back games that featured a pair of QB hurries as the 6-5 athlete has imposed his will on the backfield. The Sycamores have recorded 27.0 tackles for loss and nine sacks on the season and will look to add to their totals this weekend against an offensive line that is allowing 2.5 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss per contest.
Knock It Down
Indiana State’s secondary has played a major part to the defense’s success this season with four different players sitting among the top-15 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in pass breakups on the year. The Sycamores have utilized a blend of newcomers and returning talent to sit among the conference leaders in the category on the year. Mekhi Ware is tied for the conference lead with four pass breakups on the year, while Dwayne Thompson II and JJ Henderson are both tied for sixth in the conference with three knockdowns on the year. Michael Thomas is also sitting among the conference leaders following his two pass breakups in the opening game of the season. The Sycamores have knocked down a total of 17 passes in the 2021 season with eight different players recording a knockdown on the season.
Defense in the End Zone
Indiana State is among the national leaders in defensive touchdowns heading into the fifth game of the 2021 season. The Sycamores have recorded two touchdowns on the year from the defensive side of the ball with Michael Thomas going 75 yards for the game-clinching pick-six in the opening against Eastern Illinois. Two weeks later, Indiana State’s punt return defense unit was in the end zone as Hunter Lunsford picked up a fumble on an Eastern Kentucky muffed punt snap and scored in the Sycamores’ eventual 23-21 win over the Colonels. Both of Indiana State’s wins in the 2021 season have featured defensive scores with the Sycamores featuring a +1.00 turnover margin on the year following four fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
It’s Up – It’s BLOCKED!!
South Dakota State lined up for a 50-yard field goal in the first quarter, but the Jackrabbits hopes for extending their early lead went for naught as Gavin Dineen went through the middle of the SDSU field goal formation and put a hand on the ball to deflect the kick. It marked the Sycamores first blocked field goal since the 2018 season when Rex Mosley blocked a field goal against Eastern Illinois back on Sept. 15, 2018, in the Sycamores’ 55-41 win over the Panthers. Dineen and the Sycamores special teams currently rank 19th in FCS in blocked kicks on the year through the first four games of the season.
Downed Inside the 20
Travis Reiner continues to be a weapon in the Sycamores special teams as the redshirt senior enters the fifth game of the season sitting second in the MVFC with nine punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Reiner’s technique was on display this past weekend as he dropped two more punts deep in Jackrabbits territory, while the Sycamores’ punt return team held South Dakota State to negative-3 return yards over the seven punts in the game. Reiner has forced eight fair catches over his 28 punts on the year and enters the week with a 39.5 yards per punt average on the year.
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.
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