Game Preview: Indiana State

The Jackrabbits (5-1, 2-0) hit the road for the second consecutive week and travel to Terre Haute, Indiana to take on the Indiana State University Sycamores (3-3, 1-1).  Indiana State came to Brookings last year and nearly upset the Jackrabbits behind strong performances from Ja'Quan Keys and Ryan Boyle.  Unfortunately for the Sycamores, Keys graduated and Boyle is out for the season due to injury.  Indiana State has been up and down this season on both sides of the ball so this week really depends on who shows up for the Sycamores.  Indiana State should have beat Kansas in the opener but then they lost to non-scholarship Dayton in their second game.  They now have won 3 of their last 4 but got thumped by USD in their loss and didn't win convincingly in their other three contests.

Kurt Mallory is in his third season as the head coach and he has seemingly brought some energy to the beleaguered Sycamores.  They have done better on the recruiting front and were a lot of people's "sleeper pick" before the season started.  ISU is a very disciplined team averaging just over 4 penalties per game.  They also look to control the ball and have done so with just over 33 minutes of possession per game. 

Offense 
The ISU offense has struggled to score this season.  They are only averaging 17.83 ppg.  They do favor the run (183 ypg) but can also make plays through the air (175.5).  Much like Southern Illinois, they are looking for quick hitting plays that allow their receivers to make plays after the catch.  They do convert on 42.53% of their third down conversions but they really struggle in the red zone scoring a TD on just 41% of their visits.  Injuries have really hurt the offense and Indiana State just doesn't have the depth built up yet to withstand so many injured players.

Indiana State will likely be without their top two quarterbacks on Saturday. Sophomores  #12 Gunnar See (6-6, 215) and #17 Kurtis Wilderman (6-0, 220) are the two who have taken every snap since Boyle's injury.  See, a transfer from Fort Scott Community College, has gone 30/50 for 290 yards and 1 INT.  Wilderman is 25 of 36 for 255 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT.  See only has 16 positive rushing yards but Wilderman has 80.   See was forced to the bench on Saturday due to a muscle strain and Mallory announced in his Monday press conference that See would likely be out at least for this week.  Wilderman played well on Saturday in relief of See and we will see if his big day can carry-over to this week.

Like seemingly every MVFC school, Indiana State has a stable of capable running backs.  #9 Peterson Kerlegrand (5-9, 185) and #30 Titus McCoy (5-10, 190) are the two primary ball carries for Indiana State and they have both battled injuries in 2019. Kerlegrand has 65 attempts on the season for 450 yards and 3 TD.  That is an average of 6.9 per carry and he has a long of 60 yards.  McCoy has 201 yards on 50 attempts.  #31 Michael Haupert (5-10, 185) is a redshirt freshman who has begun to work his way into the rotation through the wildcat formation.  Last week against WIU he had  5 attempts for 40 yards.

The wide receiver group for Indiana State brings back a lot of talent. #8 Dante Hendrix (6-3, 195) was named to the All-Newcomer team and was honorable mention MVFC in 2018.  He is again off to a strong start and has hauled in 26 receptions for 295 yards and 1 TD.  Hendrix has a really nice combination of size and speed that could challenge the Jackrabbit secondary in a way that we haven't seen since Tyler Johnson.  Opposite him is #4 Rontrez Morgan (5-11, 179) who enjoyed a career day in Brookings last season.  He hauled in 9 receptions for 155 yards and a two touchdowns in that game. This year he has not had the same type of production, while battling injuries, and has just 12 receptions for 157 yards and 1 TD through five games.  Morgan did drop out of the WIU game with an injury and his status is unknown.  #19 Dante Jones II (6-2, 210) is back for his second year in the lineup and has 10 receptions for 144 yards and a TD.  #83 Dakota Caton (5-10, 175) had a big week last week catching 3 receptions for 20 yards and 2 TD, he is finally getting healthy after missing a couple earlier games this season.  #89 Dominique Dafney (6-3, 235) is a transfer from Iowa and has 9 receptions for 125 yards on the year.  Again, this is a deep group that caused some major problems for the Jackrabbit secondary last season.

The tight ends for ISU have a very limited role in the passing game but #7 Zach Larkin (6-5, 245) did have 2 receptions for 14 yards last week against WIU. #80 Henry Woodcock (6-3, 240) is their other starting tight end and he has just two receptions on the season as well.  Both are more than capable blockers.

The offensive line for Indiana State is not what we thought they would be at the start of the season.  Injuries have decimated this group but the replacements have filled in admirably and have only allowed 11 sacks.   #73 Carter Herrin (6-7, 275,RFr), #67 Jos Vazquez IV (6-3, 320, RFr), #68 Wyatt Wozniak (6-3, 300, Sr), #62 James Lang (6-3, 310, Sr), and #79 Fred Fabricius (6-6, 300, So) started last week against WIU. Wozniak is an excellent center and was recognized as second team All-MVFC in 2018.  He is equally good as a pass and run blocker and I'm sure his leadership has made the transition to a new QB a little easier.  Senior offensive linemen #64 Mason Flechler (6-6, 320), foot injury and #55 Isaiah Edwards (6-7, 360), ankle injury, missed last week and their status for this week is unknown but there presence would certainly boost the left side of the offensive line.

Defense       

The Indiana State defense has been really inconsistent in 2019.  They have given up 24, 42, 7, 6, 38, and 10 points.  It just doesn't add up.  They have also been hit with injuries but not as hard as the offense.  Unfortunately for Indiana State they may have taken an even bigger hit.  Their best player, middle linebacker Jonas Griffith went down late in the game with a leg injury.  His status is unknown at this point.  Overall the Indiana State defense is allowing 162 yards per game on the ground and 163 yards per game through the air. They are holding opponents to just a 30% third down conversion rate and have sacked the opposing quarterback 14 times, including 4 on Saturday.  They have also forced 6 interceptions and have recovered 4 fumbles.  Like we are starting to see more of, Indiana State plays a 4-2-5 base defense.       

The defensive line starts with the two standout defensive ends #42 Isaac Fotu (6-2, 245) and #13 Inoke Moala (6-4, 260).  Moala has 19 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, 5 PBU, 2 QBH, and 2 forced fumbles and 2 recoveries.  He's a stud and the Jackrabbit tackles will have their hands full.  Fotu has 9 tackles and 1 sack.  #50 Micha Ghant Jr. (6-2, 300) and #92 Henrik Barndt (6-5, 265) are active players on the interior, each having 19 total tackles.  Ghant also has 2.5 TFL and Barndt has 4 TFL, 3 sacks, a forced fumble, and 2 other QBH.  #54 Kaleb Brewer (6-5, 260), #96 Kris Reid Jr (6-2, 230) and #99 Filip Zacok  (6-4, 290) provide depth along the line and have 29 tackles between the three of them.  Depth may be an issue for the ISU defensive line so we'll see if the #605Hogs can wear them down like they have been doing to opponents throughout the season.

The linebackers are the heart and soul of the Sycamore defense.  #46 Jonas Griffith (6-4, 250) is one of the best defensive players in the MVFC.  If he is out, the Indiana State defense is a little less formidable. On the season he has 54 stops, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks, and an INT.  #6 Clayton Clasco leads the team with 59 tackles including 12.5 for loss.  He also has 3 sacks and an interception.  He started 3 games last season but has really burst onto the scene this year and was named the MVFC Defensive Player of the week against WIU.  When Indiana State plays a 4-3, #43 Matt Thompson (6-0, 210) will be that 3rd guy.  On the season he has 22 stops and a sack and is coming off his best game of the season.  If Griffith is out, #34 Kelvin Broome Jr. (6-1, 235) will step into the middle and he has 5 stops on the year.  Again, if Griffith is out, it totally changes the complexion of the Indiana State defense.

The secondary for Indiana State features a pair of hard hitting safeties in #1 Michael Thomas (6-2, 210) and #22 Denzel Bonner (6-2, 195) who are 3rd and 4th on the team in tackles with 26 and 25 tackles a piece and they both have an interception.  #32 Ty Hambright (6-0, 200) is the primary backup and has 14 tackles on the season.  The corners are #2 Dwayne Thompson II (6-1, 190), #3 Keawvis Cummings (6-0, 175), and #10 Hameed Oyedele (6-0, 195).  Cummings has 13 tackles, and INT, and 6 PBU on the season.  Thompson II has 7 tackles while Oyedele has 19 tackles and an INT.  #14 Mekhi Ware (6-1, 185) and #11 Kaelub Newman (6-1, 200) have also seen significant time this season and have accumulated 23 and 5 tackles.

Special Teams       
Indiana State is okay on special teams. 2018 second team All-MVFC selection  #38 Jerry Nunez has struggled on the season going 8-12 on field goals but has a long kick of 42 yards and has converted all 11 of his extra point attempts.  On 26 kick off attempts he has an average of just 58.8 and only 7 touchbacks.  The punting duties belong to #16 Travis Reiner.  He has 29 attempts for a 38 ypk average with a long of 55, 10 faircaught and 9 inside the 20.   

Dante Hendrix has been serving as the primary punt returner and has 10 returns for a 5 yard average.  The kick return duties have been split between #15 Daijon Collins, Dakota Caton, and #20 Chris Childers. All hold an average of right around 20 yards with a long of 29.

Prediction
Alot depends on if Griffith plays.  Either way, I think the Jacks run the ball and control the clock.  I could see the Jacks having 300+ rushing yards in this one.  ISU is better than they were two years ago but the depth still isn't there to offset the loss of such a great player.  I don't see the ISU offense able to move the ball consistently on the Jackrabbit defense after really struggling against USD and WIU.  However, their backs are against the wall and they need this win to have any hope of still making the playoffs.  There are no easy days in the valley and this promises to be another physical matchup.

Jacks: 27
Sycamores: 13

Go Jacks!
Matt