The Jackrabbits head east to take on the Indiana State University Sycamores in their first MVFC matchup of the season. ISU is 2-1 on the season with wins over Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky and a loss at FBS Northwestern. Indiana State sat out the spring season and when we last saw them in 2019, they were a veteran heavy team that had been bitten badly by the injury bug. However, the JI team is confident that ISU’s head coach Curt Mallory will have his team ready to compete.
Offense
ISU under Mallory has wanted to run the ball, through quick short passes, and take shot plays when the defense brings another man into the box. This season it sounds like they have been struggling to move the ball consistently on the ground. They are scoring 18 ppg, rushing for just 98.3, and passing for 146 per game. The struggle to run the ball has resulted in holding the ball for just 28 minutes per game. It gets worse for the Sycamores. They are converting on just 29.55% of their 3rd down attempts and are 4 of 7 scoring on trips to the redzone. One bright spot is that they have allowed just 4 sacks through the first three games.
The Sycamores may have a quarterback controversy brewing. #5 Anothony Thompson (6-1, 210) has opened the season as the starting QB after transferring in from Northern Illinois. However, he was relieved by #17 Kurtis Wilderman (6-0, 230), the 2019 starter, last week against Eastern Kentucky and lead his team to victory. On the season Thompson has completed 40 of 72 passes for 321 yards and 2 TD along with 2 INT. Wilderman has completed 12 of 18 for 117 yards and a TD. Neither QB is really a threat on the ground. It will be interesting to see if Thompson gets another chance to keep his job or if Wilderman did enough in the come from behind victory to take the reigns.
ISU deploys a tough hard-nosed back in #9 Peterson Kerlegrand (5-9, 195) who has 134 yards on 40 attempts and 1 TD. His long rush on the season is just 9 yards. #0 Michael Haupert (5-11, 185) , #27 Justin Dinka (5-11, 180), #25 Matt Sora (5-11, 220), and #7 Zach Larkin (6-5, 250) all have between 5-7 carries on the season. Haupert has a TD and a long run of 44 yards while Dinka has busted one for 33. Also of note, Haupert is listed as a running back, Larkin a tight end, and Sora is the 3rd back.
When fully healthy, Indiana State has a receiving duo that rivals any in the MVFC. #8 Dante Hendrix is one of the best in the valley but was injured in the season opener and hasn’t played since. In that game he finished with 5 receptions for 52 yards. The group is lead by speedster #4 Rontrez Morgan (5-11, 175) who has 19 receptions for 142 yards with a long of 52. In 2019 he caught 2 touchdown passes against the Jackrabbits. #39 Phazione McClurge (6-2, 190), a grad transfer from Cornell, burst onto the scene last week against EKU with 6 receptions for 75 yards and 2 TD. In the previous two games he had combined for just 3 receptions for 26 yards. The previously mentioned, Zach Larkin, has 6 receptions for 45 yards and 1 TD from his tight end position.
The offensive line for Indiana State is big but is still coming together as a unit. From left to right they go #73 Carter Herrin (6-7, 315), #55 Isaiah Edwards (6-7, 340), #71 Alvin Clemons (6-2, 310), #67 Jose Vazquez IV (6-3, 335), and #78 Joel Stevens (6-8, 305). This group has a nice mix of youth and experience. Edwards returns after a major injury in 2019 but he was part of a dominant left side in 2018. He was also part of the Netflix series Last Chance U while at Independence Community College.
Defense
The Indiana State defense is definitely the stronger of the two units. ISU has switched predominantly to a 3-4 alignment but will also play a 4-2-5. They are allowing just 22 ppg on 138.7 yards per game on the ground and 174.67 through the air. They have sacked the QB 9 times for 61 lost yards. Opponents are just under 40% on 3rd down conversions and are 7 of 9 scoring in the redzone with all 7 coming as touchdowns.
The defensive line has a couple of standouts and has some really nice depth. The defensive ends set the town for this Sycamore defense. #54 Kaleb Brewer (6-5, 260) and #13 Inoke Moala (6-4, 250) are both redshirt seniors who play hard, fast, and physical. Brewer has 6 stops, 1.5 sacks, and 2 more QBH while Moala has 11 stops, 2.5 sacks,, and 2 QBH’s of his own. The interior is manned by #93 Lucas Hunter (6-2, 290) and he has 4 tackles. His back-up is Drake grad transfer #95 Gavin Dineen (6-2, 295) and has 5 tackles of his own. I remember Dineen from Drake and he was a pest.
Indiana State always has good linebackers. #9 Heath Stephen II (6-2, 225) has had a productive season with 12 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 more QBH while #34 Kelvin Broome Jr (6-1, 235) has 7 tackles and 2 TFL. #43 Matt Thompson (6-0, 210) had a big game against Northwestern with 10 tackles and a sack but has not recorded a statistic in the other two contests. #39 Geoffrey Brown (6-1, 230) is a freshman who has made some plays already this season. He has 11 tackles, 3.5 TFL, a sack, and a PBU.
Again this defense in it’s entirety is strong but the secondary may be the strength. #3 Mehki Ware (6-1, 200) is back after starting in 2019 while #12 JJ Henderson is a grad transfer who had a nice career at Stetson. Ware has 6 tackles and 4 PBUs while Henderson has 9 tackles and 2 PBUs. The nickleback for the Sycamores is #19 Omar Jackson (5-10, 180) who has 6 tackles. The Sycamores have 3 safties that see plenty of action. #1 Michael Thomas (6-2, 210) was the star of week zero because of his interception returned for a touchdown against EIU. He is the leading tackler for ISU with 21 tackles, 2 INT, and a QBH. He is joined by #4 Hunter Lunsford (6-1, 195), a Columbia transfer, who has 6 tackles and a forced fumble to his credit. The 3rd safety that plays there “dollar” position is #32 Ty Hambright (6-0, 195) and he has 8 tackles, 1.5 TFL, .5 sack, INT, and a QBH. It will be important to identify where he and Thomas are at on every play.
Special Teams
Indiana State is transitioning to a new kicker now that Jerry Nunez has graduated. #8 Alan Selzer booted a 48 yarder against Eastern Illinois but has struggled has made 1 of 3 attempts since. #34 Brayden Johnson is handling the kickoff duties and he has 11 attempts for a 55.2 average and 2 touchbacks. It looks like the Jacks will have an opportunity to return some kicks. The punting duties belong to #16 Travis Riener who holds a 40 yard average on 21 attempt. He has forced 6 to be fair caught, landed 7 inside the 20 and has booted 3- 50+ yards.
The return duties belong to Michael Haupert (if healthy) and #12 JJ Henderson if Haupert can’t go. Both have two attempts for 16 and 15 yards total. These two also have handled the kickoff duties. They have just 6 attempts for a long of 27 yards (Haupert).
Prediction
I’m very intrigued by this Indiana State squad. Lots of new faces but Mallory is a good recruiter and his teams always play hard. They have two charchter building wins on their resume so they are tested. However, I think the Jacks are just too talented on offense and I don’t think ISU will be able to consistently move the ball against the Jacks.
Jacks 35 Indiana State 10.
Go Jacks!
Matt
