Hooper, Wallace named Gateway Players of Week

Gateway Conference names two Sycamores players of week

ST. LOUIS, MO. (9-12-2004) The Indiana State Sycamores (1-1), still fresh off a thrilling 33-30 overtime victory at Eastern Illinois on Saturday evening, had two players – senior defensive back Quincy Wallace and sophomore placekicker Kyle Hooper – named Gateway Football Conference Players of the Week for games on Sept. 11 by the league office.

Wallace, who played a key role in the defensive backfield and on punt returns took home Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. He is the first Sycamore to take the honor since junior defensive end Kyle Mitchell was honored following the 2003 Northern Iowa contest.

He recorded nine total tackles, five of which were solos, at Eastern Illinois. Wallace made a huge interception early in the contest that set up a Sycamore scoring drive during the closely contested ball game. A force all game long, Wallace was credited to two passes defended during the contest, including a key breakup with in the back of the endzone with the Sycamores trailing late in the contest. As a punt returner, Wallace had two returns for 34 yards, including a 34-yarder back to the EIU 23-yard line that set up a Sycamore field goal to pull ISU back to within four points at 24-20 with just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Hooper took Special Teams Player of the Week honors following a school-record performance on Saturday night. After missing his first attempt, he was a perfect four-of-four to boost ISU to the overtime win.

The sophomore from Fort Myers, Fla., tied the school record for field goals made in a game as he hit four of his five attempts at Eastern Illinois. He started the night with a career-long 46-yarder early in the game. Hooper then notched a pair of 40-yarders in the fourth quarter - including one as time expired to force overtime against the Panthers. He put ISU ahead to stay in the first overtime, hitting a tough-angle, 20-yard field goal giving the Sycamores a three-point advantage that the defense made standup on EIU's possession. Hooper added a perfect three-for-three effort on PAT's to account for 15 points in the win.

The Sycamores look to ride the momentum of Saturday’s win into its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 18 as ISU hosts Murray State at 1 p.m. (CDT). A salute to Sycamore Football Alumni is scheduled during the contest. USA-365.com provides live Internet audio streaming with Brian Fritz providing the play-by-play and Pete Emmert with the color commentary. The pre-game show starts at 12:40 p.m., with the kick-off set for 1:00 p.m., CDT / EST on www.USA-365.com.