TERRE HAUTE -
Maybe Trent Miles got a smile when he looked at his team's schedule Saturday and what was under the opponents name.
"Homecoming" is what it said, and for Indiana State football fans, it brings back a good memory-their last winning one in fact. 34 Games ago, the Sycamores beat Missouri State 28-22 on October 21st, 2006, and they haven't won since.
That was till the gathering of the alumni brought his team back to victory.
Ryan Roberts' touchdown run with just over four minutes to go gave Indiana State a 17-14 victory, snapping a dubious 33-game losing streak that put the Terre Haute football program on the map for all the wrong reasons. It is also the first win for Miles with the Sycamores after losing his first 19 games.
Our coaching staff will be able to relax more tonight and see our name in yellow at the bottom of the TV screen," said Miles following the victory-who was soaked with Gatorade afterwards. "I know I have a lot pride in this program, and so do all of our supporters and former players.
Credit for the victory goes mostly to Roberts, who was only 4-for-14 passing for 34 yards but made up for it with his feet. He carried 16 times for 160 yards on the game, and he gave Indiana State their first lead of the game when he took off for a 91-yard run for a score to make it 10-7 Sycamores.
The offensive line did a great job blocking for me today," said Roberts of his performance. "When you have those guys up front and Brock Lough leading the way, it makes it a lot easier to run.
Western Illinois would keep Indiana State off the board for most of the second half and regained the lead when Marva Carley put in a score from five yards out to give the Leathernecks a four-point lead.
Roberts then put together his best drive at the school, helping the team go 80 yards in 15 plays, taking up 8:35 of clock before he got the go-ahead four yard touchdown run. Western Illinois had two chances to get the lead back, but the Sycamore defense stopped the Leathernecks at their own 47 in the drive after Roberts' touchdown.
We've tried the live by the bend but don't break defense all season," said Sycamore defensive lineman Rod Hardy. "They gained some yards on us today, but at the end of the day we held them enough to let the offense do what it needed to do.
Andrew Blackman then intercepted Western Illinois quarterback Wil Lunt's hail mary pass to end the game and the losing streak for the Sycamores, who were then joined by hundreds of fans who rushed the new field at Memorial Stadium in celebration of a win three years in the making.
Our offense and defense really worked well together today," said Miles of the win. "Our defense made stops, and on the next possession, our offense moved the ball. When the offense scored, the defense went out and stopped them right away. That's what we as a team have to do to continue to taste victories.
"Homecoming" is what it said, and for Indiana State football fans, it brings back a good memory-their last winning one in fact. 34 Games ago, the Sycamores beat Missouri State 28-22 on October 21st, 2006, and they haven't won since.
That was till the gathering of the alumni brought his team back to victory.
Ryan Roberts' touchdown run with just over four minutes to go gave Indiana State a 17-14 victory, snapping a dubious 33-game losing streak that put the Terre Haute football program on the map for all the wrong reasons. It is also the first win for Miles with the Sycamores after losing his first 19 games.
Our coaching staff will be able to relax more tonight and see our name in yellow at the bottom of the TV screen," said Miles following the victory-who was soaked with Gatorade afterwards. "I know I have a lot pride in this program, and so do all of our supporters and former players.
Credit for the victory goes mostly to Roberts, who was only 4-for-14 passing for 34 yards but made up for it with his feet. He carried 16 times for 160 yards on the game, and he gave Indiana State their first lead of the game when he took off for a 91-yard run for a score to make it 10-7 Sycamores.
The offensive line did a great job blocking for me today," said Roberts of his performance. "When you have those guys up front and Brock Lough leading the way, it makes it a lot easier to run.
Western Illinois would keep Indiana State off the board for most of the second half and regained the lead when Marva Carley put in a score from five yards out to give the Leathernecks a four-point lead.
Roberts then put together his best drive at the school, helping the team go 80 yards in 15 plays, taking up 8:35 of clock before he got the go-ahead four yard touchdown run. Western Illinois had two chances to get the lead back, but the Sycamore defense stopped the Leathernecks at their own 47 in the drive after Roberts' touchdown.
We've tried the live by the bend but don't break defense all season," said Sycamore defensive lineman Rod Hardy. "They gained some yards on us today, but at the end of the day we held them enough to let the offense do what it needed to do.
Andrew Blackman then intercepted Western Illinois quarterback Wil Lunt's hail mary pass to end the game and the losing streak for the Sycamores, who were then joined by hundreds of fans who rushed the new field at Memorial Stadium in celebration of a win three years in the making.
Our offense and defense really worked well together today," said Miles of the win. "Our defense made stops, and on the next possession, our offense moved the ball. When the offense scored, the defense went out and stopped them right away. That's what we as a team have to do to continue to taste victories.
