The Indiana State Sycamores (1-6) come to Brookings for Hobo Day to take on the Jackrabbits (7-1). The difference in record would lead one to believe that the Jackrabbits are going to dominate Indiana State. However, Indiana State has played a one score games in each of its MVFC contests this season which includes UNI, NDSU, YSU, and Illinois State. They’ve had stretches where they look like a really good team but have struggled to put a complete game together. Kurt Mallory has this team bought in and playing hard. The Jacks should be fired up for a big Hobo Day crowd. In an ideal world, they would put this one out of reach early and allow 2’s and 3’s to get some much needed reps.
Offense
The Sycamore offense has good weapons and naming a fulltime QB before the NDSU game seems to have stabilized their offense. On the season, they average 19.14 ppg but in their 4 MVFC contests they are at nearly a touchdown more per game. They are passing for 176 per game and rushing for 127. They only possess the ball for 27:15 per game and that is partially because they are not good on 3rd down, converting on just 26% of their attempts. In the redzone, they have scored on 16 of 22 attempts with 11 coming on touchdowns. They have allowed 18 sacks this season.
The QB that has led the offensive turnaround for ISU is #9 Cade Chambers (6-4, 215) and he was recently named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List; which is given to the top FCS Freshman. He is completing 47% of this passes for 705 yards and 7 TDs to just 1 INT. Those numbers have come in just three starts too! He is also willing and able to rush the ball with 88 gross yards. He is a good QB and he has plenty of weapons to distribute the ball to.
#8 Dante Hendrix (6-3, 210) is just one of those dudes that makes plays. With so much wide receiver talent in the MVFC he is often overlooked but he is just as talented as those who are most frequently mentioned. This year he leads the team in yards (549), receptions (32), and TDs (3). He is also a gamebreaker and has a long of 67 yards. His fellow wide receivers are also capable of making plays. #1 Dakota Caton (5-10, 185) has 16 receptions for 202 yards and 2 TD while #6 Harry Van Dyne (6-5, 220) has 12 receptions for 145 and 1 TD. In a reserve role, #89 Kevin Barnett (6-4, 200) has added 11 receptions for 115 yards. #44 Tyce Ferrell (6-4, 245) is the h-back/tight end and he has 6 receptions for 56 yards.
When Chambers isn’t slinging it he is handing off to a very talented running back in #27 Justin Dinka (5-11, 180). Dinka is a good all-around back and even took one to the house on an 82 yard TD run vs. NDSU. All told, he has 637 yards on 94 attempts (6.8 ypc average) and 3 TD. He can also catch the ball and has 5 receptions for 61 yards. #4 Tee Hodge (6-1, 215) is the change of pace back and he has 56 attempts for 182 yards (3.3 ypc avg).
The offensive line for the Sycamores has allowed 18 sacks on the season. From left to right they go #78 Joel Stevens (6-8, 300), #66 Michael Ross (6-2, 310), #75 Jackson Byrne (6-2, 310), #67 Jose Vazquez IV (6-3, 320), and #72 Keagen Trost (6-6, 310). Ross is a WIU transfer where he had previously started. Vazquez has started 26 games for the Sycamores but the rest of the line is fairly inexperienced.
Defense
The Indiana State defense was really light on experience entering this year but is gaining valuable reps for a fairly young group. They are giving up 35 ppg and 181 rushing yards per game along with 237 passing yards per game. YSU has recorded 15 sacks and forced 5 interceptions. However, opponents are converting on 51% of their 3rd down opportunities and have scored on 26 of 30 attempts in the redzone (23 touchdowns). ISU plays a 4-3 defense and will slide into a 4-2-5 frequently and does blitz from all levels. This group yielded 20 quick points to Illinois State last week but then really tightened up and allowed just 7 after that.
The front four for ISU has good size and the starters are #98 Casey Miller (6-3, 260), #0 Gianini Belizaire (6-1, 310), #93 Lucas Hunter (6-2, 290) and #6 Kris Reid Jr. (6-2, 245). Miller has been productive from his DE spot with 27 tackles, 2.5 TFL, and 1 sack. Opposite him, Reid Jr. has 25 tackles and leads the team with 3.5 sacks. On the interior, Hunter has 25 tackles and 3.5 TFL. Belizaire, an SIU transfer, has 24 tackles and 2.5 sacks. This starting front is probably the strength of the defense but they lack depth at this point! #13 Juju Williams (6-3, 255) had two sacks in the season opener against North Alabama and has added 13 tackles this season as a reserve.
The linebackers for the Sycamores are led by MLB #2 Geoffrey Brown (6-1, 230) who is a productive two year starter. Brown has 63 total tackles this year along with 4.5 TFL, 2 QBH, 2 sacks (both vs. UNI), and a forced fumble. He is flanked by #37 Johnny May (6-0, 230) and #11 Jarin Johnson (6-3, 225). May has 26 tackles and 1.5 sacks while Johnson has added 21 total tackles, .5 sack, and a forced fumble. Reserve backer and Iowa Central CC transfer #35 Garret Ollendieck (6-2, 230) has 26 total tackles and 4 TFL. #3 Michael Lufile (6-2, 235) has 11 total tackles.
The secondary for ISU is light on experience. The two deep for the five secondary positions has 2 true freshmen, 2 RFr, 6 Sophomores, and 1 Junior. #7 Johnathan Edwards (6-1, 200) is the field side cornerback and he has 15 total tackles and 7 PBUs. Opposite him is #24 Bilhal Kone (6-2, 190), an Iowa Central CC transfer, and he has added 30 tackles and 6 PBUs. The nickel back is #17 Maddix Blackwell (5-10, 190) and he is third on the team with 35 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF, and 5 PBU. He is a good young player for ISU! As reserves, #29 Tony Roberts (5-10, 175) has 8 tackles and #20 Malik Chatman (6-2, 180) has 7. The safeties for ISU are tackling machines. #28 Rylan Cole (6-0, 205) is second on the team with 59 total tackles, and 3 TFL. He leads the team with 3 INT and also has 3 PBUs. He is joined in the starting lineup by #4 Ethan Hoover who has 21 stops and 1 PBU. #14 Kaleal Davis (6-1, 200) has also added 21 tackles and a forced fumble.
Special Teams
The Indiana State special teams is okay in 2022. They do have a very talented return man in #1 Dakota Caton and he handles both punt and kick return duties. On 5 punt returns he has a 7.60 yard average and a long of 24. On 9 kick returns he has a 23 yard return average with a long of 48.
The ISU kicking game features two punters. #46 Harry Traum has 35 attempts with an average of 37.34 yards per punt. He has a long of 55 and has forced 17 to be fair caught, and landed 7 inside the 20. The other punter, #16 Anthony Beacom appears to have the bigger leg averaging 44.6 yards per punt with a long of 65 yards but has just 10 attempts. The punt coverage unit has been excellent and opponents have -2 yards TOTAL on 9 attempts.
The field goal duties belong to #32 Ryan O’Grady and he is 4-7 on the season with a long of just 30 yards. He has also had one field goal blocked. He has not attempted a kick since the NDSU game but is perfect on the year on his extra points. #1 Stephen Ruiz handles the kickoff duties and has a touchback on almost half his attempts this season (12 TBs on 25 kicks). The ISU kick coverage has not been as solid as the punt coverage unit and did allow a 98 yard touchdown to YSU where the returner was never touched and I’m not sure if Indiana State ever had anyone within 5 yards of him at any point.
Prediction
The Jacks need to prepare for this matchup like any other matchup. Indiana State is better than their record and their last 4 games have been very competitive until the final whistle. This will not be a cakewalk. Some folks believe there is a Hobo Day curse, I don’t believe that. Going back to 2010, the Jackrabbits are 6 and 5 on Hobo Day and 3 of those losses have come to UNI. I think this is a mature Jackrabbit team and that they will take care of business on Saturday. It may not be a blow out but the Jackrabbits will get the win… and that’s all that really matters right now.
Jackrabbits 34- Sycamores 17
Go Jacks!
Matt
