BROOKINGS, S.D. – The University of Northern Iowa football team knocked off No. 6 South Dakota State on its Hobo Day (Homecoming), 26-17.
The No. 20 Panthers improve to 4-3 overall, 2-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Jackrabbits slip to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in MVFC.
Matthew Cook notched his longest career field goal, with a 55-yard score. It tops his first collegiate kick as a freshman against Iowa State in 2019, which was 50 yards. He finished the day with four field goals, two over 50 yards. He had four field goals on the day, with two over 50 yards.
Isaiah Weston continues to be a big-play receiver for the Panthers. He leads the nation in yards per catch. Today, he led UNI in receiving yards. He amassed 125 yards on four catches.
Vance McShane was the leading rusher for UNI with 56 yards.
Alfonso Lambert was in on 10 tackles for the Panthers, with four of those being solo tackles.
UNI’s Korby Sander forced an SDSU fumble in the Jackrabbits’ opening drive. Bryce Flater recovered the ball on the SDSU’s 25, setting up UNI’s first touchdown. UNI has 18 forced turnovers on the season, which leads the league and ranks second in the FCS to Campbell’s 20 takeaways. UNI’s 10 fumble recoveries leads the MVFC and ranks third nationally. The Panthers rank eighth nationally in turnover margin.
1Q: UNI’s Korby Sander forced an SDSU fumble in the Jackrabbits’ opening drive. Bryce Flater recovered the ball on the SDSU’s 25, setting up UNI’s first touchdown. The Panthers scored off a one-yard rush from Bradrick Shaw. Cook’s extra point was good to put UNI up, 7-0. SDSU would respond with a 12-yard passing touchdown to tie it up 7-7. Cook closed out the first half with a field goal from 55 yards to put UNI up, 10-7.
2Q: SDSU tied up the team score with a 34-yard field goal early in the second (13.21 left), 10-10. Theo Day completed a 40-yard pass to Isaiah Weston in the end zone. UNI went up 17-10, and capped the first half with a 27-yard field goal from Cook to go up, 20-10.
3Q: Cook adds another 46-yard field goal to the Panther tally to put UNI up 23-10.
4Q: SDSU ended its scoring drought with a nine-yard rushing touchdown to kick off the fourth quarter, but continued to trail 23-17. A 41-yard toss from Day to Weston set the Panther offense on SDSU’s 35-yard line and resulted in a 51-yard field goal to put UNI up 26-17.
