With 3:05 remaining the third quarter, the SkyHawks' Taurean Stephens' caught his third touchdown of the game, to inch UT-Martin back into the contest, trailing the Sycamores 27-21.

The Sycamores had the answer as they put together a seven-play, 67-yard drive as ISU went back up 34-21 when senior tailback Sidney Montfort scampered in from 20 yards for the touchdown.

UTM's Taylor Brown kicked his only field goal of the day, a 25-yarder with 9:48 remaining cutting the lead to 34-24.

Junior Martuan Sample became the fourth Sycamore to record a rushing touchdown on the day when be bruised through several tackles on a nine-yard jaunt to the end zone with 7:02 left in the game giving the Sycamores' their final margin of victory, 41-24.

It was of a day of supremacy for the Sycamores on the ground as ISU had two backs, Montfort with 124 yards and senior Jake Shields with 117 yards, rush for more than 100 yards. It was the first time since the 1992 season when facing Glenville State that the Sycamores put two backs over the 100-yard mark. Overall, ISU gained a season-best 328 yards on the ground. Montfort, Shields, Sample and quarterback Phillip Johnson each posted a rushing touchdown on the day.

Johnson scored on a career-long, 21-yard run around right end with just 19 seconds left in the first half to give ISU a 24-7 advantage heading into the break. He also had a solid outing through the air, hitting 10 of his 19 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, the first passing score of the year for the Sycamores.

The season's first score through the air was a 22-yard pass from Johnson to sophomore Sam Logan, which gave ISU an early 7-0 lead. Sophomore Kyle Hooper hit the first of his two field goals, a 26-yarder in the opening period to move ahead 10-0. Shields' 15-yard run with 4:50 remaining the second quarter put the Sycamores up 17-0.

UTM's Stephens caught TD passes of 11 and 22 yards around Johnson's score before Hooper hit a 32-yard field goal to put ISU up 27-13 with 6:50 left in the third quarter.

Sample added a solid effort on the ground, adding 72 yards of his own, following Montfort and Shields' 100-yard afternoons. In the air, Logan was the top receiver, catching five balls for 72 yards.

For the SkyHawks, Stephens made 12 catches for 163 yards -- three for scores. UTM's quarterback Brady Wahlberg hit 29 of 45 passes for 327 yards and three TDs.

Junior Doc Gooden led the Sycamores with 11 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Adam Vogel and Tom Brillhart added sacks while Derrick Williams, John Jackson and Warren English-Malone each recorded interceptions. The Sycamores were able to force four UTM turnovers, while only committing one themselves -- a Johnson interception -- ISU's first giveaway since the Eastern Illinois game.

Overall, the ISU offense collected a season-best 442 yards, while the special teams gained 204 kickoff return yards -- including a 71-yard return by sophomore Therral Hatfield that was one move away from a touchdown. ISU dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for 36:06.

The win caps another perfect season for the Gateway Football Conference versus the Ohio Valley as the Gateway won the 2004 Challenge Series 6-0. It is the second straight perfect season for the Gateway over the OVC.

ISU looks to move to 4-1 for the first time since 1995 Saturday when they host Illinois State in the last of three consecutive home contests. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. (CDT). The Redbirds (2-1) were idle today after their road matchup against Florida Atlantic was postponed due to travel concerns involving Hurricane Jeanne in the Miami, Fla. area.