Three years ago at the Memorial Stadium, the Indiana State University football team broke the 33-game losing streak at a Homecoming matchup against the Western Illinois Leathernecks.  On that day the Sycamores came from behind in a nail-biting game and secured the victory 17-14.

Fast forward to this past Saturday and these two teams were once again meeting each other at Memorial Stadium during Homecoming week.  The difference this time around was the Leathernecks were now up against the number 21 nationally ranked Sycamores and were defeated 46-24.

The victory improved the Sycamores' current overall record to 5-2, 3-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC).  In additon, this was the third consecutive Homecoming game won by the Sycamores.

The offense focused on quality over quantity.  The Sycamore offense had a total of 44 offensive plays compared to the Leathernecks' 101.

Sophomore running back Shakir Bell had a record setting day on the ground for the Sycamore offense.  Bell rushed for a total of 213 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns.  The Leatherneck defense, in the first half, surprised the Sycamores and successfully limited Bell in the first half.  Bell said the Leathernecks brought a totally different scheme than what the team reviewed all week, but, in the second half, adjustments were made and the team achieved results.  By the third quarter, Bell had only rushed for 65-yards before he exploded in the fourth quarter with a 51-yard and 47-yard touchdown runs.

On Bell's 51-yard touchdown run, he accomplished more than six points.  On that rush to the end zone he passed the 1000-yard rushing mark for the season and became the fastest Sycamore in history to reach that mark.

"That's our rushing record," Bell said.

Senior quarterback Ronnie Fouch threw for 167 yards and three touchdowns.  Senior tight end Alex Jones led the Sycamores in receiving for 119 yards and two touchdowns, his longest being 80 yards.  

On defense for the Sycamores, junior defensive lineman Ben Obaseki led with 22 tackles and three sacks for a loss of 19 yards. Obaseki was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Player of the Week for his efforts on Saturday.

"Ben Obaseki is a beast," Trent Miles, head football coach, said.  "He works hard and makes the guys around him better."

The defense played a major role in holding Western Illinois at bay.  The Sycamores came away with a few major stops on fourth down and key turnovers which allowed the offense to come away with big scoring drives.

"[Western Illinois University] let me go against their tackles one-on-one and that is what I really like," Obaseki said.

In front of 8,255 spectators, the game began with ISU deferring to the Leathernecks.  Turnovers were key to both teams' success in the first quarter.  On the opening drive by the Leathernecks, ISU sophomore linebacker Zakee Bashir forced a fumble on the WIU 45-yard line.  Teammate, sophomore defensive lineman, Tyler Boyd recovered the ball for ISU and the big man returned the ball to the Leathernecks' six-yard line.

The Sycamore offense took the field with excellent field position and scored the first touchdown of the day on their first play.  The ball was handed off to Bell for a six-yard touchdown run to the right corner of the end zone.  Freshman place kicker Tanner Fritschle missed the PAT attempt so the Sycamores led 6-0 with 10:41 remaining in the quarter.

The Sycamores would once again force a turnover as sophomore defensive back Calvin Burnett intercepted a pass at the Indiana State 21-yard line and returned it for 45 yards.  The offense capitalized on the turnover, as sophomore wide receiver Demory Lawshe threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Donald Spencer.  The Sycamores led 13-0.

An ISU fumble in the second quarter led to a scoring drive for the Leathernecks.  However, their success was short lived as on the Sycamores' next possession it took just one play and 18 seconds to extend the lead.  Senior quarterback Ronnie Fouch threw a pass to an open senior tight end Alex Jones, who took it for 80-yards to the end zone.

Opening the second half the Leathernecks scored once again on an 11 play, 74-yard drive bringing the score 19-14.  With six minutes of play completed in the third quarter the Sycamores began to establish the run game with Bell.  This opened up a 39-yard pass to Jones from Fouch that he took to the end zone.

The Leathernecks retaliated, moving down the field and bringing the game within five points.  However, the Sycamores continued to build momentum as they moved the ball into Leatherneck territory.  Fouch completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Michael Mardis, extending their lead 33-21 going into the fourth quarter.

After stopping the Leathernecks to a field goal at the opening of the fourth quarter, the Sycamores exploded, led by Bell, who rushed for two touchdowns ensuring the victory for the Sycamores.

The next game for the Sycamores is against the Illinois State University Redbirds in Normal, Ill. Oct. 22.  Kick off is scheduled for 2 p.m.