ISU taking on Bears in last game

As the season began for the Indiana Sycamore football team back in late August, hopes of change and redemption were coursing through the veins of the collective Sycamore faithful: fans, students, faculty, players and coaches. However, 11 games later without a win, that wave of excitement had rescinded into a listless murmur of support and enthusiasm. Saturday will be the Sycamores last chance to redeem the seniors and show the progress that has brought this team so far, but just short of a couple of wins.

The Missouri State University Bears (3-7, 2-5) will challenge the Sycamores (0-11, 0-7) this Saturday at Memorial Stadium and are currently riding a losing streak of four games. As both teams have struggled all season and currently ride at the bottom of just about any statistical category in the Missouri Valley Conference, both teams will look to end their seasons on a high note with a win and have a proper send off for the seniors.

"You always want to leave your career winning your last game," head coach Trent Miles said. "You are always going to remember what the weather was like, what the game was like, how many people were there. It's huge for [the seniors]."

"A win would be a great deal for us, it would build momentum towards winter into the spring and on to next season as well as sending off the seniors in the right way."

Although the Missouri State Bears have three wins on the season, their struggles have been just as frustrating as the Sycamores. Currently, they are allowing 483 yards a game on defense-83 more yards than the Sycamores-and 36.7 points per game as opposed to the Sycamore's 43.7 points allowed on defense. Both teams have had some success running the ball, but Missouri is third in the conference in passing offense with 181.9 yards per game. This should test the young secondary of the Sycamores as freshmen defensive backs Larry Carter and Alex Sewell may have a busy day.

The Sycamore offense, although shutout against Northern Iowa last week, has made vast improvements over the course of the season with freshman quarterback Ryan Roberts under center and has found an ability to score when executing correctly. With sophomore running back Darrius Gates running well, ISU will look to attack the worst run defense in the MVC. Missouri State has been barreled over all season allotting 302.2 yards on the ground with 34 rushing TDs. If the Sycamores can run the ball effectively with Gates and sophomore RB Antoine Brown, the passing game may open up for Roberts and allow for some big, game-changing plays.

This season for the Sycamores has been anything but stellar or satisfactory. The team has looked uncoordinated and very young for most of the games with flashes of talent; however, this team has never once quit on the coaches or fans. They have instilled heart and dedication into every losing effort and have not backed down from any challenge yet. Put all of this work together and it should pay off this weekend. The seniors want it, the coaches want it, the fans want it, but the team as a whole deserves it.

Kick off will be at 12:05 p.m. at memorial stadium. ( Trever Fehrenbach is a junior English major. He can be reached at sasspted@isugw.indstate.edu.)