Sycamore smackdown: Indiana State football runs losing streak to 12 games

By Todd Golden/Tribune-Star

Indiana State's football team was convinced it was poised to crest the psychological hump it has been trying to overcome since October 2004, when the Sycamores earned their last victory.

Instead, the Sycamores rolled right back down the hill. Never coming close to gaining a foothold that would earn them a victory. - College Football -

Youngstown State proved it was a legitimate Gateway Football Conference contender Saturday as the Penguins manhandled the Sycamores 45-0 in front of 2,310 at Memorial Stadium.

The loss extends ISU's losing streak to 12, which is the longest major college streak in the nation. The loss also clinched the Sycamores' ninth-straight losing season.

The defeat, especially the resounding nature of it, was galling to the Sycamores, who led Division I-AA No. 3 Western Kentucky in the fourth quarter last week. Most players believed the matchup with the Penguins (5-1, 2-0) afforded them the opportunity to earn that elusive first win. - College Football -

”We expected to win this game. Coming off the disappointment of last week, we felt real good about this one. I think we come out of this one more heartbroken,“ said ISU receiver Carl Berman, one of ISU's few bright spots with five receptions for 109 yards.

ISU's depth was cut down by injuries. Youngsters Cory Blunk and Shelby Smith earned their first significant playing time at defensive tackle, as Anipati Mailo missed the game and Prenny Stokes played hurt. Alexander Thomas made his first start at wide receiver, replacing Markus Naves.

But the kick in the gut from ISU's perspective was the loss of right tackle Fred Staugh, one of the Gateway's best lineman. Staugh suffered a last-minute infection in his shin and was held out as a precaution. He's expected to return to practice Tuesday. - College Football -

”It was an all-of-a-sudden type of infection. The doctors decided to keep him out to avoid having the hit on. They think it came from Athlete's Foot,“ ISU Coach Lou West said. ”It was something we didn't initially think was serious, but we wanted to take precautions to make sure it didn't get worse.“ - College Football -

ISU (0-6, 0-2) was ravaged by injuries, but there were also plenty of occasions where injuries had nothing to do with ISU miscues. Ill-timed penalties, missed tackles, and special teams mistakes were rampant and all contributed to YSU's dominance of the first half as it led 35-0.

”Ninety percent of it was execution. Even though those guys aren't starters, they're football players. I expect them to block, tackle, catch the football. I make no excuses for kids who miss tackles,“ West said.

YSU continually bruised and battered ISU up the middle, as the Penguins gained 379 yards rushing, much of it between the tackles as Marcus Mason (152 yards) and Monquantae Gibson (99 yards) tortured the Sycamores. The Penguins had 238 rushing yards at the half and their first three touchdowns were on runs up the middle. - College Football -

”We were able to sustain drives and keep things going. We played well,“ YSU Coach Jon Heacock said.

ISU's offense had little in response, dogged by poor field position and mistakes of its own. ISU's converted none of its six third down conversions in the first half, on its way to a 1-of-11 mark for the game. The Sycamores' best chance to make a game of it went by the wayside on the first play of the second quarter. On 4th-and-1 from the YSU 36, Jamie Petrowski jumped offside, and ISU punted, never to threaten contention again.

YSU used the run to set up the pass with backup quarterback Vince Gliatta in the second quarter as Gliatta threw touchdown passes to Demetrious Ison and Damian Wright to give YSU a 35-0 halftime lead. - College Football -

It doesn't get any easier for ISU. The Sycamores travel to No. 7 Northern Iowa next Saturday, followed by its Homecoming game against No. 2 Southern Illinois. The Salukis may be No. 1 by Monday, as current No. 1 New Hampshire lost on Saturday.

”We needed to win to change that mentality of how others see us as,“ said ISU defensive end Madison Miller. ”We were so close [last week], but it just slipped away.“ - College Football -

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