By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Sycamores return home this Saturday to play host to Southeast Missouri State for the first time since 2008. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
QUICK HITS
• Indiana State is ranked in the top-25 for a school-record 13th-straight week. The Sycamores rank No. 23 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and No. 25 in the FCS Coaches Poll. ISU is one of six Valley teams to be ranked in both polls.
• Indiana State is coming off a 38-14 loss at in-state Big Ten rival Purdue last Saturday (Sept. 12).
• Staring quarterback Matt Adam is the 11th-best rushing quarterback in the FCS thus far in 2015 at 134 rushing yards.
• Starting nickel defensive back Lonnell Brown, Jr. leads ISU with 16 tackles (T-8th MVFC) and has 4.0 tackles for loss (3rd MVFC) -- including a sack last week at Purdue.
• All-MVFC safety Mark Sewall suffered a broken ankle on the first play at Purdue last week and is out indefinitely with a chance to return late in the season. Starting running back LeMonte Booker was also injured at Purdue, but is a gametime decision vs. SEMO.
• Indiana State is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory after going 8-6 in 2014, which included its first trip to the playoffs since 1984 and first playoff win since 1983.
• The Sycamores return 15 total starters from 2014's superb team, including nine on defense.
• This marks the 111th season of football at Indiana State, dating back to 1896. The University did not field teams from 1899 to 1900, 1908 or from 1910 to 1919. ISU owns an all-time record of 376-505-23 and is competing for the 30th consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
ABOUT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE
QUICK HITS
• SEMO ranks second nationally in turnover margin at (+7)
• RB DeMichael Jackson ranks fourth nationally with 243 rushing yards
• DeMichael Jackson needs only 26 yards to eclipse the 2,000 yard mark for his career
• WR Paul McRoberts is Southeast's all-time leading receiver with 2,543 yards and is five TD catches away from the all-time record
• Southeast forced seven turnovers in an exciting win over regional rival Southern Illinois, winning on a last-second field goal by Ryan McCrum
KEY PLAYERS
#1 WR Paul McRoberts | 6-3, 197 | Sr. | St. Louis, Mo.
• 2015 Season Stats: 8 rec., 91 yards, 1 TD
#20 RB DeMichael Jackson | 5-10, 190 | Sr. | Louisville, Ky.
• 2015 Season Stats: 48 rushes, 243 yards, 0 TD | 5 rec., 21 yards, 0 TD
• Ranks fourth in the FCS in rushing yards
#5 S Erik Moore | 5-10, 202 | Jr. | St. Louis, Mo.
• 2015 Season Stats: 11 total tackles (seven solo) | 1 INT (2 return yards) | 1 Forced Fumble | 1 Fumble Recovery (42 yards, TD)
SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
Southeast Missouri comes into Terre Haute at 1-1 overall after losing at No. 24 Missouri in the season opener and following a thrilling 27-24 victory over rival Southern Illinois last week. The Redhawks forced seven Saluki turnovers, turning two of those into touchdowns in the process. SEMO ranks second nationally in turnover margin at +7, thanks exclusively to an impressive defense outing vs. SIU. Offensively, the Redhawks are paced by star receiver Paul McRoberts and running back DeMichael Jackson. Jackson ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards with 243 -- 186 of which came against the Salukis. The Redhawk offense also features junior college transfer QB Tay Bender, who is a threat both through the air and on the ground with 215 passing yards and 96 rushing yards thus far in 2015.
SERIES HISTORY - SEMO LEADS 4-3
The series between the Sycamores and Redhawks dates back to 1935 and is led by SEMO at a 4-3 advantage. Southeast took the first two meetings in 1935 and 1943 before ISU won the next three in 1944, 1998 and 1999. The two schools last met for a home-and-home in 2007-08, both won by the Redhawks.
INDIANA STATE NOTES
#23/25 INDIANA STATE
For a school-record 13th-straight week, Indiana State is ranked in the national top-25 -- No. 23 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and No. 25 in the FCS Coaches Poll. The Sycamores are one of six Missouri Valley Football Conference schools ranked in both top-25 polls, coming off a season that saw all five Valley playoff teams win in the first round and saw No. 2 North Dakota State and No. 4/5 Illinois State meet up in the national title game.
This preseason, the Sycamores were rewarded for last season's playoff run with a No. 20 ranking in the FCS Coaches Poll and a No. 21 ranking in the STATS FCS Preseason Poll.
INJURY BUG HITS SYCAMORES HARD
The Sycamores have been hit hard by injuries in the first two weeks of the season. Against Butler at home on Sept. 5, ISU lost starting inside linebacker Jordan Jackson and backup running back Dimitri Taylor for the season due to ACL injuries. The Sycamores were also without starting inside linebacker Kendall Walker, defensive back Kevin Beacham, defensive lineman Chris McDaniel, safety Phil Wilson and offensive lineman Marcus Smith at Purdue this past Saturday. At Purdue, though, ISU suffered two more potentially devastating injuries in starting running back LeMonte Booker and All-MVFC safety Mark Sewall. Sewall broke his ankle on the first play of the game and is out indefinitely, but ISU's coaching staff are hoping for a late-season return. Booker, meanwhile, is a gametime decision for Saturday vs. SEMO.
CONNOR UNDERWOOD, PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Senior linebacker Connor Underwood is looking to end his stellar Sycamore career on a good note, and the people at STATS have him pegged to do so, naming him to their Preseason All-American squad. Underwood was named a First-Team All-American by The Sports Network at the end of 2014, as well as a Second-Team honoree by the Associated Press. Underwood finished second in MVFC Defensive Player of the Year voting, as well as ninth in the national Buck Buchanan Award voting. In 2014 alone, Underwood broke both the single-season (13.5) and all-time (28.5) sacks record at Indiana State, as well as the school season record in tackles for loss with 25 for a whopping 84 yards.
SIX SYCAMORES NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MVFC
Coming off a historic 2014 season, Indiana State was honored with six Preseason All-MVFC honorees heading into the 2015 season: senior All-American linebacker Connor Underwood; 2015 second-team honorees Travis Starks (senior, cornerback) and Mark Sewall (senior, safety); junior long-snapper Joshua Appel; and honorable mentions LeMonte Booker (junior, running back/return specialist) and Jamar Brown (junior, tight end). Underwood was also named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-American team, following a superb 2014 campaign that saw him named to both the First-Team All-America team by The Sports Network and the Second-Team by the Associated Press.
Indiana State Offensive Notes
QUICK HITS
• ISU's offense ranks in the top-25 nationally in: rushing offense (17th, 231.5 yards/game), total offense (25th, 429.0)
• Matt Adam is the 11th-best rushing quarterback in the FCS through two games at 134 yards.
• Matt Adam ranks fourth in all of the MVFC in total offense (242.0 yards/game).
• Gary Owens ranks T-21st nationally in receiving yards (173) and third in the MVFC in yards per game (86.5).
DOING IT ALL
Two weeks ago, ISU quarterback Matt Adam was in the midst of a position battle for the starting job. Two weeks later, Adam has become the catalyst of the Sycamore offense. Not only has he been effective through the air (27-of-53, 358 yards, four TDs), but Adam has been one of ISU's top rushers through its first two games. On the season, Adam has a net of 134 yards (and a gain of 184, most on ISU's roster) for 5.6 yards per carry and one touchdown. Against Butler, Adam ripped off big runs of 28 yards and a 37-yard dash to the endzone. In just his third-career start on Saturday at Purdue, Adam finished 18-of-37 for 194 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 80 yards on 19 touches. Adam was particularly effective in the running game, rushing for five first downs on his own en route to gaining a total of 111 rushing yards before sack and lost yardage is accounted for. Adam was also responsible for both Sycamore touchdowns on Saturday, finding Gary Owens and Robert Tonyan through the air.
DOWNFIELD THREAT
Senior Gary Owens proved that he hasn't missed a beat from his spectacular 2014 season, opening the year with a 133-yard performance against Butler and then a 40-yard performance at Purdue with one touchdown. Owens has been newly-appointed quarterback Matt Adam's favorite target, hauling in nine catches of Adam's 27 completeions this season for 173 of his 358 yards. Owens was lethal in the deep passing game against Butler, catching passes of 47 yards and a wide-open touchdown of 53 yards in the win. Owens currently ranks T-21st in the FCS in receiving yards.
DEEP BACKFIELD
It hasn't quite mattered who has been running the ball during Indiana State's first two games this season, as the Sycamores have been consistent in their effort on the ground. ISU ranks 17th nationally at 231.5 rushing yards per game, helped by two superb performances by LeMonte Booker against Butler in the home opener and by quarterback Matt Adam at Purdue last week. Booker exploded for 137 yards and three touchdowns on the ground against the Bulldogs, and Adam pieced together 80 against the Boilermakers. Combined, the duo have rushed for 291 yards and four touchdowns through two games.
Roland Genesy has also seen significant time, getting 17 touches for 81 yards throught two games. Genesy has also failed to lose a yard all year. Freshman Marlon Fleming has also seen the field, tallying 55 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown against Butler.
LARGE TARGET
Junior Sycamore wide receiver Robert Tonyan Jr. did not see a ball thrown at him against Butler, but looked right at home against Big Ten defensive backs last week at Purdue. Tonyan led all ISU receivers with 74 yards on four catches, including a 27-yard touchdown up the seam and a 20-yard reception up theright sideline. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Tonyan -- a former quarterback -- provided a big target for Matt Adam to find amid a swarm of Boilermaker defenders last week.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Indiana State exploded for 496 yards of total offense and 52 points against Butler during Week One -- the second-most points scored in the Sanford era (70, vs. Quincy, 2013). The Sycamores put up seven plays of 20 or more yards, three of which were for 45 yards or more. In fact, ISU's final four plays more than 20 yards were all touchdowns: Matt Adam's 37-yard run, LeMonte Booker's 76-yard run, Gary Owens' 53-yard reception and another Booker run, this time of 25 yards. Of those 496 yards, 303 came on the ground -- 137 alone from Booker.
BOOKER TO THE HOUSE
Junior LeMonte Booker took advantage of his first game as Indiana State's starting running back and turned it into the best of his Sycamore career thus far. Booker exploded for a career-high 137 yards rushing on 11 carries (12.5 YPC) for three touchdowns on the ground. Booker also caught a screen pass and ran it in 24 yards to the house to give him four total touchdowns out of seven total the Sycamores scored against Butler in a 52-17 rout. Booker's 137 yards on the ground ranks 11th nationally, his three rushing TD's ranks tied for second and his 161 all-purpose yards ranks 29th. This was Booker's second-career 100 yard game after rushing for 116 against Missouri State in 2014.
Booker's performance was the first four-touchdown game since Shakir Bell scored four in the first half vs. Youngstown State in 2011. His three rushing touchdowns were also the first occurance since he did so last season against Tennessee Tech.
IT ALL STARTS UP FRONT
The Sycamore offense was going to go nowhere without its offensive line, though, and ISU's showed up in full against Butler. The Sycamore front line led the charge to 303 rushing yards and 496 yards of total offense, highlighted by junior left tackle and Terre Haute native Dakota Vermillion (92 percent grade, two knckdowns, zero sacks allowed) and right tackle Preston Collier (89 percent grade, eight knockdowns) in his first game as a Sycamore.
Indiana State Defensive Notes
QUICK HITS
• ISU ranks 30th natioanlly in third-down defense (32.4 percent)
• Lonnell Brown, Jr. leads ISU with 16 tackles -- 11 solo (5.5/game, second in the MVFC)
• Connor Underwood broke ISU's all-time tackles for loss record at Purdue with 55.0 career TFL
• Jameer Thurman ranks sixth nationally with two interceptions and first in the MVFC with 1.5 passes defended per game
IMPRESSIVE SHOWING
Despite giving up 540 yards of total offense, the Sycamore defense was consistently the brightest area of play for ISU on Saturday against Purdue. The Sycamores may have broken down a time too many on long plays through the air (including a 51-yard Hail Mary to end the first half), but ISU's confusing and aggressive defensive look caused a headache or two for Purdue up front.
The Sycamores were physical in their swarm to the ball and were a formidable opponent when it came to short-yardage situations for the first down. Down 7-0 in the first quarter, the Sycamores made a momentum-shifting 4th and 1 stop thanks to Jameer Thurman. Conrrad Nicholls made a key tackle for loss on a goal-line stand not much later to force Purdue into a field goal attempt. Safety Tsali Lough got in on the fun later with a big solo stop on 3rd and 1.
LEAVING A LEGACY
Senior Connor Underwood cemented himself yet again as one of the greatest Sycamore defenders in Indiana State history on Saturday at Purdue, this time by breaking yet another school record. Entering Saturday's contest at 54.0 career tackles for loss, Underwood was .5 TFL shy of Kyle Mitchell's all-time record of 54.5. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Underwood bust into the backfield from the weak side to track down Purdue RB D.J. Knox for a two-yard loss and the all-time record. Underwood ended with five total tackles.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Lonnell Brown, Jr. was once again the top defender for the Sycamores last Saturday against Purdue, recording seven total tackles (all solo), one sack and a fumble recovery. Brown leads all Sycamores with 16 total tackles on the season (11 solo) and 4.0 TFL (one sack). Brown had a strong outing in the season opener as well with nine total tackles and 3.0 TFL. Brown's 5.5 solo tackles per game currently ranks second in the MVFC, and he also ranks third in TFL (4.0) and total tackles (16, 8.0/game).
STOUT DEFENSE VS. BUTLER
The Indiana State defense got off to a great start against Butler last week. ISU yielded only 294 total yards to the Bulldogs -- the best total defense numbers in the MVFC through Week One -- including only 22 yards by the end of the first quarter. ISU also forced two turnovers on back-to-back possessions and were able to force the Bulldogs into a three-and-out on half of its drives (8-of-16).
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Junior linebacker Jameer Thurman had a career day against Butler, but not in the way he was probably expecting to. Thurman had a solid day with four total tackles (two solo, two assisted) -- fourth-best for ISU that day -- but his crowning moment was being in the right place at the right time on consecutive drives for his first and second career interceptions. Thurman returned his interceptions a total of 23 yards, including his second one 19 yards, which helped set up a 25-yard TD scamper by LeMonte Booker.
A FITTING BEGINNING
All-time ISU sack leader Connor Underwood began his senior season in the most fitting way in contrast to his outstanding Sycamore career. On third down during Butler's first drive of the game, Underwood sacked quarterback Matt Shiltz for a loss of five yards to force the first of eight three-and-outs on the day. Underwood also added a half-tackle for loss later in the game, pushing him within one half-tackle for loss away from ISU's all-time record of 54.5 TFL's.
WREAKING HAVOC
Butler had a hard time keeping the Sycamores out of the backfield, as they allowed ISU to record three sakcs for a loss of 14 yards and 11 tackles for loss at a deficit of 32 yards. Indiana State ranks tied for sixth in all of the FCS in team tackles for loss and tied for 19th in team sacks after one week of play.
TACKLING MACHINE
Senior linebacker Kendall Walker may not have gotten as many awards this preseason as his colleagues, but he has the numbers from 2014 to prove his worth. Walker was a one-man wrecking crew, leading ISU with 123 total tackles (50 solo, 73 assisted) and three forced fumbles. His 8.8 tackles per game was the second-best in the entire MVFC and his three forced fumbles ranked third in the conference as well. Walker hasn't gone unnoticed, though; he was a 2014 Honorable Mention selection, as well as a MVFC All-Academic Team member and a FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star.
NINE STARTERS RETURNING
Indiana State returns nine starters to its defense from 2014: defensive linemen Conlan Cassidy and Alec Lyons; linebackers Jameer Thurman, Connor Underwood and Kendall Walker; and all four defensive backs in Mark Sewall, Travis Starks, Alex Stowers and Phil Wilson.These nine Sycamores made up 58.5 of all ISU tackles in 2014 (656 of 1,121).
Indiana State Coaching Staff
HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD
Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 26-61 (.299) overall in his eighth season as a head coach and is 10-18 (.357) in his third season with Indiana State. He is 4-12 all-time in MVFC games, including a 2-6 mark at home and an 2-6 mark on the road. During his career, he is 19-24 in all home games, 7-37 on the road and 8-8 in games decided by three points or less. With the Trees, Sanford is 1-0 in overtime games and 0-1 in shutouts. Saturday's game is Sanford's 29th as the Indiana State head coach and his 89th as a collegiate head coach.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Football team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
