Sycamores fall in MVFC opener

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The top two running backs in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) faced off inside Memorial Stadium Saturday as South Dakota State's Zach Zenner, the top rusher in FCS, and Indiana State's Shakir Bell, ranked second in the FCS, looked to carry their respective teams to victory.

The day did not go the Sycamores way, however, as South Dakota State posted a 24-10 victory in the opening game of Missouri Valley Football Conference play for both schools. Indiana State fell to 2-2 on the season and 0-1 in the MVFC with the Sycamores visiting Southern Illinois next Saturday. South Dakota State improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the MVFC with the Jackrabbits hosting Missouri State in the Beef Bowl next Saturday.

Bell was held to 54 yards on 18 carries by South Dakota State which is his lowest total since being held to 43 yards at Penn State a year ago. Zenner rushed for 237 yards on 29 carries with 164 of those yards coming on just two plays in the game.

The Jackrabbbits opened the scoring on their first possession of the game as Justin Syrovatka connected on a 37-yard field goal with 4:29 left in the opening quarter of action. South Dakota State broke out to a 10-0 lead in the second quarter when Zenner broke through the Sycamore defense and ran 57 yards for a touchdown with 2:47 left in the opening half. Syrovatka was good on the point after.

Indiana State broke into the scoring column late in the first half after getting the ball back with just 32 seconds remaining. The Sycamores moved the ball down to the South Dakota State nine-yard line where Tanner Fritschle connected on a 25-yard field goal as time expired. The boot marks the fourth straight game this season that Fritschle has kicked a field goal to end the first half.

South Dakota State extended their lead to 17-3 late in the third quarter when the Jackrabbits Austin Sumner connected with Seth Daughters on a 23-yard scoring strike with 2:54 left in the quarter.

The Sycamores were able to answer on their next possession although they were stymied and looked like they would have to punt the ball back to the Jackrabbits. However, Sycamore punter Lucas Hileman did not hesitate and took off on a 12-yard run that resulted in an Indiana State first down at the South Dakota State 47.

Mike Perish completed a 21-yard pass to Donald Spencer and a nine-yard completion to Demory Lawshe before the Jackrabbits were called for pass interference which put the ball at the South Dakota State two-yard line. Bell took over from there and pushed his way into the end zone for the touchdown with 21 seconds remaining in the period. Fritschle booted the point after as Indiana State cut the lead to 17-10.

South Dakota State pushed their lead back to 14 points with 6:18 left in the game after Cam Jones rushed in from two yards out for the score. The drive was aided by an 87-yard run by Zenner after the Sycamores had pinned the Jackrabbits back at the SDSU two-yard line following a 48-yard Hileman punt.
South Dakota had 348 yards of offense with 297 rushing yards and 51 passing. Indiana State was held to 242 yards as the Sycamores accumulated just 23 net yards of rushing and had 219 yards passing. Perish was sacked six times in the game in losing 43 yards.

Perish was 27-of-46 for 219 yards and one interception for the Sycamores. Lawshe had seven receptions for 62 yards with Michael Mardis hauling in five passes for 59.

Aaron Archie led the Sycamore defense with 11 tackles while Larry King and Jacolby Washington had 10 each.

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Release from Indiana State University Athletics