SIU ends their regular season with a must-win game against the Sycamores at home on Senior Day.
Meet the Sycamores:
Indiana State might be a 1-9 football team but they've played a bunch of ranked teams tough over the last few weeks before they got their first win of the year against Western Illinois last week. The Sycamores lost by just 14 to #6 South Dakota, took #15 North Dakota to OT before losing, and lost by 12 to #22 Youngstown State. Last week, they beat Western Illinois 27-6 to finally get in the win column.
On the offensive side, the Trees are 11th in the MVFC in points per game (13.9 PPG), 7th in the MVFC in rushing yards per game (125.6), and last in passing yards per game (142.8).
On defense, Indiana State is 4th worst in points allowed per game (29.2 PPG), 4th worst in rushing yards allowed per game (165.1), and 6th in passing yards allowed per game (215.2).
The Sycamores have used 4 different QB's this year but 6-4 Redshirt Sophomore Cade Chambers has had the most success. Chambers was last year's MVFC Freshman of the Year throwing for 938 yards and 8 touchdowns and adding 111 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns. This season, it hasn't gone as well for him. Chambers missed the first 3 games of the season with a shoulder injury and has thrown for more interceptions for touchdowns this season (5 TD's, 6 INT's). He hasn't provided the value he provided on the ground too as he has -85 rushing yards on 28 attempts and no rushing touchdowns.
5-11 Redshirt Junior Justin Dinka leads the Sycamores in rushing this season. Dinka was a 3 star recruit out of Flower Mound, Texas and chose San Diego State over offers from Arizona, Baylor, Houston and Illinois. Dinka didn't play at all at San Diego State and transferred to Indiana State where he received a MVC 2nd team All-Conference selection last season when he rushed for 895 yards on 155 carries and had 6 rushing touchdowns. This season, that yardage has been cut in half for Dinka carrying the ball 105 times for 480 yards and 4 touchdowns. In their win against Western Illinois last week, Dinka rushed for 147 yards on 19 carries and had 2 touchdowns.
The leading receiver for Indiana State is 6-5 Redshirt Senior Harry Van Dyne. Van Dyne was a 3 star recruit out of Stilwell, Kansas and chose Minnesota over offers from Iowa, Wyoming, Bowling Green, and Kansas. Van Dyne caught one pass at Minnesota and transferred to Indiana State after his Freshman season. This season, Van Dyne leads the Sycamores in receptions (38), receiving yards (566) and has 2 touchdowns.
On the defensive side, 6-2 Junior Linebacker Garret Ollendieck has been a force for the Trees. Ollendieck leads the team in sacks (7.5), tackles for losses (13.5), and he's 2nd on the team in solo tackles (41).
Weather:
Massey Ratings:
Massey Ratings has SIU winning 31-6 and gives SIU a 97% chance of winning.
Links:
SIU Game Notes
Indiana State Game Notes
Not sure if SIU still has a shot at making the playoffs, but they should step up for all the seniors on the roster. Those guys deserve to go out with a win and there’s absolutely no reason SIU shouldn’t win easily in this one. If they struggle it means the coaches didn’t have the team prepared and the players checked out.
Dawgs win a thriller 7-3. We score on 1st drive then suck the rest of the game. Attendance 867
Dawgs win a thriller 7-3. We score on 1st drive then suck the rest of the game. Attendance 867
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Man, I hope you’re wrong….Dawgs win a thriller 7-3. We score on 1st drive then suck the rest of the game. Attendance 867
@1dawg Praying I’m 100% incorrect.
Based on last season and the direction this one went, I just hope we find a way to win. Would not be shocked if we are on the wrong side of the score.
Sam Herder projecting SIU out even with a W Saturday.
Sam Herder projecting SIU out even with a W Saturday.
Hard to argue when they have 2 quality wins all season and had multiple chances to take themselves off the bubble and couldn’t do it. Beating up on Western Illinois and Murray State is basically like playing D2 games. The Youngstown State blowout will be the big killer if they miss.
We need NDSU to beat UNI. If that happens UNI is out with only 6 wins. If we win big and NDSU beats UNI we have a pretty decent shot at getting an at large bid. If UNI beats NDSU we probably do not have any chance no matter what happens against the Sycs. I am of course assuming YSU wins at Murray. If Murray pulled off a huge upset YSU would be out and we would be in with a win against Indy State.Sam Herder projecting SIU out even with a W Saturday.
0-3 vs the three Dakota schools on the 2023 schedule. Defeat one of them, and it helps tremendously. Their not going away anytime soon, so must determine the best path to victory in a consistent manner.
Our once brand new stadium, is now 13 years of age, and has yet to host an FCS playoff game. Frustrating and certainly disappointing.
SDSU and USD are in.
with a UNI win:
probably 5 other MVFC teams with 7 wins...
Northern Iowa 6-2 7-4
North Dakota 5-3 7-4 or Redturd State 5-3 7-4
Youngstown State 5-3 7-4
North Dakota State 4-4 7-4
Southern Illinois 4-4 7-4
Unlikely they will take 6 or 7 MVFC teams. We're probably screwed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
with a UNI loss:
4 other MVFC teams with 7 wins.
North Dakota 5-3 7-4 or Redturd State 5-3 7-4
Youngstown State 5-3 7-4
North Dakota State 5-3 8-3
Southern Illinois 4-4 7-4
Unlikely they will take 6 MVFC teams. We're probably screwed unless the Redturds beat North Dakota and they take 5 teams.
Conclusion: We need to root for Murray, the Redturds, and NDSU and Dawgs need to kick butt tomorrow!
I hope the seniors get a decent crowd today. This group certainly deserves it. Some studs who helped bring SIU football back to relevance. Going to be some big holes to fill next year.
