Throw in the towel
Indiana State stuns Western Illinois 17-14 as the 'Necks lose their sixth-straight game
Bill Welt
Issue date: 10/26/09 Section: Sports
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The Sycamores (1-7, 1-4) trailed 14-10 late in the fourth quarter, as sophomore quarterback Ryan Roberts led Indiana State to the 'Necks' four-yard line with less than five minutes to go.
Roberts battled his way into the end zone on a quarterback draw for the game-winning touchdown with 4:12 remaining in the contest.
A Homecoming crowd of 6,038 immediately stormed the field after redshirt freshman Wil Lunt was picked off by freshman defensive back Andrew Blackmon as time expired on a desperate heave.
"They executed very well," said head coach Mark Hendrickson. "At some point in time you have to stay on both sides of the ball they out-executed us and certainly did on their final offensive drive. They continued to run the quarterback power play, and it was very successful for them."
Roberts carried the Indiana State offense, scoring both touchdowns for the Sycamores.
Following an interception by Lunt at the Sycamores' 10-yard line, Roberts gave the Sycamores a 10-7 lead on a 91-yard touchdown draw play.
The former wide receiver threw for only 34 yards but rushed for 178 yards on 16 attempts to lead the Sycamores' rushing attack.
"His effort was fantastic," Hendrickson said. "In the first half, they probably weren't going to score a touchdown, except he runs 91-yards with the ball, so that's just a tremendous play. I guess I could say this, he can beat because he beat us today."
Tailbacks Antoine Brown and Darrius Gates earned Indiana State an additional 86 yards on the ground.
Senior running back Dre Gibbs rushed for 168 yards and one touchdown on 33 attempts to lead the 'Necks' offense but suffered an ankle injury during Western's final scoring drive in the third quarter.
He was replaced by freshman running back Marva Carley. Carley scored his first touchdown run late in the third quarter from five yards out to retake the lead 14-10 and finished the contest rushing for 49 yards on nine carries.
"Marva is a very talented young man," Hendrickson said. "He hadn't had any few carries prior (to) today, and he's a true freshman. It's always just nerve-wracking to use that true freshman for the first time, and he's obviously going to play a lot from now on."
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Bye-Bye, Van Alstine !!
posted 10/26/09 @ 11:32 AM CST
The blame for the football debacle rests with Athletic Director Tim Van Alstine. He was the one that allowed Coach Patterson to return last year (following cancer surgery & treatment) with 4 games left in the 2008 season. (Continued…)
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