Sycamores look to start streak

For the first time since 2006, Indiana State could win two straight games.
The Sycamores (1-7, 1-4 Missouri Valley Football Conference) will look to keep their momentum going as they host SIU at 11 a.m. Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind. The Sycamores are coming off a 17-14 win at home against Western Illinois, which snapped the nation’s longest losing streak at 33 games.
Indiana State quarterback Ryan Roberts said the best thing about last week’s victory against the Leathernecks was how it finally silenced the naysayers.
“Now you won’t hear that we have the longest losing streak in the nation. That part feels great,” Roberts said.
Before Saturday, the Sycamores had not won a game since beating Missouri State 28-22 on Oct. 21, 2006. Now the Sycamores take their newfound confidence into Saturday’s game against No. 3 SIU (6-1, 5-0 MVFC) — a task head coach Trent Miles said would be tough.
“We’ll have our hands full; this team was up on us 50-0 at halftime last year, so we know it will be tough,” Miles said “Here we are coming off our first huge win, and now we have to host the Salukis, we’ll have to wake up from our win pretty fast.”
SIU head coach Dale Lennon said he is not surprised with the Sycamores’ recent win.
“They’re a team on the rise; there’s no doubt about that. You can tell that just by looking at their past few games,” Lennon said. “They’re getting in there now, competing with their opponents. We’ll have our hands full.”
Roberts has been instrumental in the recent revival of the football program.
Roberts, who was named the MVCF Offensive Player Of The Week Sunday, has sparked the offense since returning to the quarterback position Sept. 26. Indiana State’s 38 points the past two games are more than it scored in its first six games combined.
The sophomore began his career as a safety for the Sycamores, but played quarterback for the final six games of last season. He began this season as a wide receiver before becoming the third quarterback to start for the Sycamores this season.
Miles said Roberts plays well wherever the coaches put him.
“He is such a good player and a great talent. He has moved wherever we have asked him to,” Miles said. “While we wanted to take advantage of his speed as receiver earlier, we knew we had to move him back. He’s at where we need him right now.”
While he has averaged only 38.5 yards a game passing, Roberts has been a leader for the Sycamores on the ground. He has four of the team’s six rushing touchdowns this season, and against Western Illinois, Roberts ran for 160 yards — including an Indiana State record 91-yard dash.
The defense is hoping its performance against Western Illinois carries over as well.
The Sycamores sacked and intercepted Western Illinois’ Wil Lunt three times. Indiana State had only four interceptions heading into the game. It was also the first time the Sycamores held an opponent below 20 points. Teams had been averaging 36.5 points a game against the Sycamores.
Miles said while he hopes the win in Terre Haute helps change the atmosphere around the football team, he knows facing the Salukis is tough.
“Winning is good. There hasn’t been enough of it around here recently,” Miles said. “It’s a wakeup call though to have to face SIU now. After such a big win, to face them does not give us much time to celebrate.”

Ryan Voyles can be reached at 536-3311 ext.