ISU Sycamores fall to Northern Iowa, 34-14

TERRE HAUTE, IN (10-14-2006) — Playing without the services of junior tailback Tony West, the Sycamores were forced to the air against Northern Iowa, and piled up 224 passing yards in the process in falling to the Panthers by a score of 34-14. ISU fell to 0-7, 0-3 Gateway while UNI is 4-2, 2-0.

Ben Schmidt started at quarterback and went 13-of-28 with 124 passing yards while junior Reilly Murphy was 6-of-10 for 100 yards with a TD and an interception.

Sam Logan caught seven passes for 69 yards in the contest. With his seven catches, Logan now has 175 career pass receptions, which tie him with UNI’s Dedric Ward for fourth all-time in the Gateway Football Conference.

Redshirt freshman Robert Barcliff led the way on the ground for the Sycamores with nine rushes for 35 yards. Barcliff saw action after West was forced to sit the game out with an ankle sprain and freshman Darrius Gates left after just four carries with a torn ACL. Gates will miss the remainder of the season.

UNI led 20-0 at the half, but the Sycamores forced a Panther turnover on their first drive of the third period. Junior Scooter Archie forced and recovered the fumble to cap a career-high 20 tackle effort. ISU marched down 18 yards in just four plays, capped by a Ben Schmidt one-yard run for the TD to trim the Panther advantage to 20-7.

After the next Northern Iowa series, junior Greg Hutcherson blocked the Panther punt to set up the Sycamores with some momentum and a short field. Schmidt was sacked on the first play, and the Sycamores could not get a first down.

UNI would go on to score the game’s next 14 points. Murphy found Carl Berman for a 17-yard scoring pass on the Sycamores’ next to last drive to make the score 34-14.

The Panthers’ offense racked up 439 yards on the ground and controlled the tempo of the game, holding the ball for 39:39. Tailback Darrien Williams led the ground attack with 174 rushing yards.

Scoring Summary:
1st 00:17 UNI - Wingert, Brian 32 yd field goal 13 plays, 56 yards, TOP 5:45, UNI 3 - INSU 0
2nd 10:22 UNI - Williams, D. 1 yd run (Wingert, Brian kick) 9 plays, 52 yards, TOP 3:28, UNI 10 - INSU 0
03:31 UNI - Williams, D. 1 yd run (Wingert, Brian kick) 10 plays, 94 yards, TOP 3:42, UNI 17 - INSU 0
00:06 UNI - Wingert, Brian 35 yd field goal 6 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:34, UNI 20 - INSU 0
3rd 12:48 INSU - Schmidt, Ben 1 yd run (Hooper, Kyle kick) 4 plays, 18 yards, TOP 1:02, UNI 20 - INSU 7
04:01 UNI - Lindgren, James 11 yd run (Wingert, Brian kick) 8 plays, 81 yards, TOP 3:25, UNI 27 - INSU 7
00:25 UNI - Sanders, Eric 3 yd run (Wingert, Brian kick) 5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:22, UNI 34 - INSU 7
4th 09:19 INSU - Berman, Carl 17 yd pass from Murphy, Reilly (Hooper, Kyle kick) 8 plays, 71 yards, TOP 1:53, UNI 34 - INSU 14

Indiana State hosts its annual Homecoming contest against Missouri State next week, October 21. Kickoff versus the Bears is set for 1:05 p.m., CDT / 2:05 p.m., EDT. MSU lost at home to Western Kentucky by a score of 17-14 this evening. Live Internet Radio coverage on www.USA-365.com begins at 12:40 p.m., CDT / 1:40 p.m., EDT.