TERRE HAUTE, IN -
Indiana State junior running back Shakir Bell ran for 150 yards and scored three touchdowns to pace the 18th-ranked Sycamores to a 45-14 win against South Dakota Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Bell scored from 2- and 4-yards out in the first half to help ISU build a 28-0 halftime lead. He added a 25-yard touchdown reception near the end of the third quarter that made it 38-7. It was the sixth 100-yard rushing effort for Bell in nine games this season.
The Sycamore defense ran two interceptions back for touchdowns and held South Dakota to 84 yards of total offense through three quarters. Jasper Sanders’ 5-yard touchdown run on the Coyotes’ first possession of the third quarter ended a string of seven consecutive scoreless quarters for South Dakota.
The ‘Yote defense held Indiana State on three plays during the following possession, but an unnecessary hit on a defenseless receiver extended the drive. The Sycamores would run eight more plays to get inside the red zone before settling for a 27-yard field goal that made it 31-7 midway through the third quarter.
Redshirt-freshman quarterback Kevin Earl entered in the fourth quarter and led the Coyotes on a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by an 11-yard touchdown strike to Will Powell that made it 45-14 with seven minutes left. It was Powell’s first touchdown catch of the season and 20th of his career, breaking a tie with Dan Skelly for the most touchdown grabs in USD history.
Earl was 11-of-16 for 101 yards on two drives – his firsts as a collegiate quarterback. He hooked up with Powell five times for 53 yards. South Dakota more than doubled its offensive output in the fourth quarter against mainly a second-string defense and finished with 236 yards for the game. ISU totaled 294 yards.
Courtesy: Bryan Boettcher, USD SID
DISCLAIMER: The views of the author are not necessarily those of this station, its owners, officers, agents or employees.
White Wall Sessions
