CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Tyler Hoosman and Will McElvain ran for touchdowns and Matthew Cook added two field goals while the Panther defense put up a dominating performance to lead third-ranked UNI to a 20-10 win over No. 15 Illinois State Saturday at the UNI-Dome.
The Panthers allowed Illinois State just nine first downs, 185 yards of total offense and just three points on the offense in the win. Illinois State quarterback threw for just 69 yards and led Illinois State with 60 yards rushing on 14 carries while facing constant pressure. He was sacked three times, giving up a fumble on the last one that led directly to UNI’s final score.
The game started with a bang Quan Hampton returned the opening kickoff 65 yards to the Illinois State 35. The return set up a 6-play drive that culminated in an 11-yard touchdown run for McElvain.
After an Illinois State three-and-out, the Panthers drove 50 yards on eight plays to set up a 43-yard Cook field goal to give UNI a 10-0 lead.
Illinois State hit a field goal of their own early in the second quarter to cut the lead to 10-3 and tied the game later in the quarter when ISU’s Kenton Wilhoit intercepted a McElvain pass and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 10-10 at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Panthers took the lead for good on a 44-yard Cook field goal with 13:03 to play.
The Panthers forced a fumble late in the fourth and Jared Brinkman recovered to give UNI the ball on the Illinois State 24. Four plays later Hoosman ran 13 yards for the score and the 20-10 lead.
The Redbirds couldn’t muster a response and the Panthers closed out the 10-point win.
UNI notched 114 yards on the ground and 148 yards through the air. Hoosman again led the rushing attack with 63 yards on 15 carries. McElvain was 14-33 passing with an interception. Hampton led the receiving with five catches for 40 yards. Logan Wolf made his return from injury and caught three passes for 28 yards. Tysen Kershaw grabbed two catches for 39 yards.
Hampton returned two kickoffs for 94 yards and Cook’s two made field goals are his fifth and sixth of the year. He is 6-7 on the season.
The Panthers move to 2-1 on the year and into a four-way tie for second in the MVFC. North Dakota remains unbeaten at 3-0 so far this spring.
UNI travels to Southern Illinois next Saturday to play the Salukis. SIU is 2-1 on the year and part of the group tied for second among Valley teams. They lost their opener to North Dakota but won their last two, including a 38-14 stomping of North Dakota State which ended the Nation’s longest winning streak.
