Published: October 24, 2009 12:32 am         

Is homecoming game the one for ISU?

Sycamores’ last victory came three years ago on homecoming

TERRE HAUTE — If Homecoming hope was ever going to go from springing eternal to equaling a victory for the Indiana State football team, today’s game against Western Illinois would seemingly be the time for it to happen.

The Sycamores’ 33-game losing streak is the nation’s longest, but ISU showed signs of life offensively in a 38-21 loss to Illinois State last Saturday. Moreover, the Leathernecks are 1-5 and are seemingly the lowest-hanging fruit the Sycamores are going to get a chance to pick before the season ends. ISU has also never lost to Western Illinois on Homecoming.

Not so fast says ISU coach Trent Miles. Western Illinois might seem to be in a vulnerable place, but it’s still going to be a big challenge for the Sycamores to send a Homecoming crowd home happy as the Leathernecks are no pushover.

“Ignore the record,” Miles bluntly stated. “They’re 1-and-whatever, but they could easily be 4-2. They lost to some good football teams [Stephen F. Austin, Southern Illinois and FBS Northern Illinois all beat WIU] and it’ll be a challenge for us.”

If ISU has any chance, it must regain the defensive swagger it had at times in the first half of the season. Illinois State had 365 yards of total offense last Saturday. Illinois State quarterback Matt Brown had time to throw at will and Redbird receivers — notably Eyad Salem, who had nine catches for 133 yards — have plenty of room to roam.

The Leathernecks have talented skill players in running back Dre Gibbs (103 rushing yards per game) and wide receiver Lito Senatus (86 receiving yards per game), so getting the defense in order is a priority.

“We have to have a much better defensive performance if we have any chance to win the game. They’re throwing it more than they have, but they’re always a run-first team, that’s their mentality,” Miles said. “I think our defensive problems were on missed assignments, guys being confused and not being where they needed to be.”

Encouragement for ISU (0-7, 0-4) came in the form of a vastly-improved offense, though it helped that the Redbirds’ defense was the first average-level unit ISU had faced. The uptick in production was most notable in the running game where ISU rushed for 218 yards — Antoine Brown gained 102 of it.

The ability to run, especially between the tackles, was naturally going to help ISU’s passing game, but starting quarterback Ryan Roberts also played better. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown pass.

It was the best 2009 performance by an ISU quarterback, by far, and Roberts will need a repeat performance against Western Illinois’ 3-4 defense, the first 3-4 ISU has faced this season.

“They play a different scheme than anybody else we’ve seen defensively, they’re an attacking defense. We have our work cut out for us. Every game for us is a play at a time,” Miles said.

The Leathernecks are on a five-game losing streak, though they haven’t lost to any FCS teams by more than 20 points in any of the losses. Western Illinois lost 17-16 to Missouri State at home last Saturday on a field goal in the final minute.

In addition, longtime coach Don Patterson resigned on Sept. 25, citing health issues related to his recovery from tonsillar cancer. Mark Hendrickson has taken over on an interim basis.

“The mood of our football team is excellent. Last week they were very focused and determined to play to the best of their abilities. We talked about having a good start and playing hard for all four quarters, and I thought we did that against Missouri State,” Hendrickson said. “Did we play very smart? Not on every snap, that’s for sure.”

Western Illinois is ranked 79th in total offense and 83rd in total defense. By contrast, ISU is 93rd in total defense and 118th — last in the nation — in total offense at 163.86 yards per game.

On the injury front, ISU punter Gabe Mullane is expected to play today, though he is nursing an injured right foot.

ISU’s last victory came on Homecoming 2006 when it defeated Missouri State 28-22.