GATEWAY CONFERENCE Sycamores looking to end losing streak

Indiana State has lost three straight after an earlier four-game winning streak.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Indiana State has not had a winning record in the Gateway Conference since 1996.
In fact, the Sycamores have had only one winning conference season in the last 14 years. Indiana State, which comes to Youngstown State Saturday at 4 p.m., is 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
The Sycamores thought this would be the year to turn things around. After losing their season opener to Miami (Ohio), 49-0, they won four straight games, including a 41-38 overtime time victory over Illinois State in their conference opener.
The Sycamores brought in 12 Division I-A transfers and eight junior college players since last season. Of those 20, nine are in the two-deep rotation and seven are starters.
Indiana State also defeated Eastern Illinois, 33-30 in overtime, Murray State, 28-21 and Tennessee-Martin, 41-24.
But since the Illinois State game the Sycamores have run up against Western Illinois (29-27 loss), Southwest Missouri State (31-28 loss) and Western Kentucky (31-9 loss).
Good offense, bad defense
The Sycamores come into Saturday's contest averaging 356.6 yards per game on offense, but are giving up 433.9 yards per game on defense.
Sophomore quarterback Phillip Johnson (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) leads the offense. He's completed 105-of-195 passes for 1,336 yards and five touchdowns and has been intercepted five times.
Johnson's top receiver is sophomore Sam Logan (6-3, 185). He has 44 receptions for 645 yards and two scores and has had three games with over 100 receiving yards, including last week when he had a career-high 10 catches for 114 yards.
Senior tailback Jake Shields (5-11, 185) is the team's rushing leader with 525 yards on 125 carries and seven touchdowns, while his backup, senior Sidney Montort (5-9, 175), has 450 yards on 135 carries and he's also scored seven times.
Defensive leaders
The defense is led by junior linebacker Doc Gooden (6-2, 230), who has made 80 total tackles, including three for losses, and recovered two fumbles.
Junior linebacker Ladrelle Bryant (6-2, 225) leads the team in tackles for losses with eight, while senior defensive tackle Tom Brillhart (6-4, 245) has four sacks.
The Sycamores have intercepted nine passes this season, including two each by freshman safety Derrick Williams and junior cornerback John Jordan.
Freshman Brandon Anweiler is the punter, averaging 37.7 yards, while placekicker Kyle Hooper leads the team in scoring. He's 25-for-25 on extra points and 11-of-15 on field goals, with from 40 yards or more. His longest kick has been from 46 yards.
Tim McGuire, in his seventh season as coach of the Sycamores, has a record of 24-52 coming into Saturday's contest.
mollica@vindy.com