Sept. 15, 2007
Box Score
Wayne State College visited Fayette, Iowa to compete in their first NSIC game of the season against Upper Iowa University. Wayne State jumped out to a 20-0 lead early in the third quarter. Upper Iowa rallied throughout the second half and cut the lead to six points on two occasions, 27-21 and 34-28, but came up short in the end. The Peacocks were led by senior running back T.C. Hicks who ran for 188 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries (11.1 yard average). Wayne State is now 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC, while UIU falls to 1-2 and 0-1 in the NSIC.
The first quarter stats told an ugly story for the Peacocks. After just fifteen minutes, the Wildcats held a 17-0 lead. Wayne State maintained control of the ball for nearly two-thirds of the quarter (9:47) and accumulated 181 yards on 22 offensive plays. The visitors picked up seven first downs in the quarter and picked up most of their yards on the ground (120). On the other side of the ball, the Peacocks picked up 77 yards of offense, 43 of which came on a deep pass from Jay Lehman to Kyle Hosch. The home team turned the ball over on all three first quarter possessions. Twice on downs and Lehman threw one interception that bounced off both multiple hands before being pulled in by the Wildcats.
Upper Iowa began a long drive at the end of the first quarter picking up a first down on an 18-yard pass from Lehman to Dwayne Croker. When the teams returned to the field, the Peacocks had the ball at the Wayne State 39. The home team moved the ball slowly and converted on a 4th and 1 as Lehman kept it up the middle for two yards. Four plays later, thanks to a holding call, the offense faced 4th and 12. Again the Peacocks went for it and Lehman connected with Aaron McFarland, who wrestled his way for thirteen yards and a Peacock first down. After two runs and an incomplete pass UIU faced their third 4th down (and goal) of the drive from the 4-yard line. Lehman threw outside to Ryan Hudgins who had to drop to both knees to make the catch, but while Hudgins knees were in the endzone, the officials determined that the ball never crossed the line as Hudgins leaned forward to make the catch. The 17-play, 71-yard drive ended one foot short of the promised land and Wayne State took over on downs.
Upper Iowa's defense grabbed the ball back five plays later as Anthony Calamita intercepted a pass from the Wildcats' quarterback Silas Fluellen. The stands went wild as the Peacock fans felt that this would certainly be the drive the home would get on the board. Before the fans could take their seats, a fumbled hand off gave the ball back to Wayne State at the 50-yard line. The half finished with stalled drives by both teams that ended in punts. Upper Iowa trailed 17-0 heading into the locker room at halftime.
The third quarter began the same way the second quarter ended; a punt by each offense. However, on the Peacocks second possession quarterback Kevin Linnell threw late over the middle as he was getting smashed from behind and the Wildcat safety Matt Greenway picked off the pass easily and returned it thirteen yards to the UIU 42. Fluellen led Wayne State's offense on an 8-play, 35-yard drive that ended with a 23-yard field goal from Nick Hope and a 20-0 WSC lead.
On the kickoff Croker returned the ball 38 yards to Wayne 46, where Lehman came back in at the quarterback position. Lehman engineered a 46-yard drive that put the Peacocks on the board. The drive was highlighted by a 14-yard Hicks rush and a 21-yard hook up with Ryan Hudgins, who fought his way into the endzone after an ankle breaking move at the 15-yard line. Mike Sharp hit the extra point to cut the lead to 20-7.
The Peacocks put the kickoff out of bounds and the Wildcats started their next possession at their own 45. WSC took 2:47 off the clock while covering 55 yards in 8 plays. The drive ended with a touchdown as Fluellen found Brian Locke (2 yards) for his second touchdown catch of the game. The score put the visitors up 27-7 with 1:13 to play in the third.
The Peacocks finally turned the switch on the next two possessions and the offense moved the ball quickly and effectively behind the running of Hicks and passing of Lehman. Upper Iowa put another touchdown on the board before the third quarter ended thanks to a Hicks 18-yard carry and two completions; one to Hudgins for 18 yards and the second to Allen Conrad by the pylon for an 11-yard touchdown. The Peacock defense held strong and gave the ball back to the offense after a punt to begin the fourth quarter. The Peacock offense would not stay on the field for long. The offensive line made up of Jared Jandrain, Ervin Kehoss, Curtis Goddard, Louise Kuisle, and Adam Kirksey opened a gigantic hole up the middle and Hicks did the rest. The senior running back showed his speed with a 76-yard sprint to pay dirt. The twenty-one Peacock points came in a matter of 6:47 and cut the deficit to six points, 27-21.
The scoring cooled off for a possession each as both teams were forced to punt. The Peacocks' punt traveled 44 yards, but Wayne State's Nile Legania returned the kick 33 yards to set the visitors up 1st and 10 at the UIU 27. The Wildcats put an insurance score on the board seven plays later on a Fluellen completion to Brian Chapman.
With 5:59 on the clock, Upper Iowa took over at their own 32-yard line trailing 34-21. Kevin Linnell came back in at quarterback and led the team on a 9-play, 68-yard drive that took 3:24 off the clock. The Peacocks' drive was fueled by some hard running and a pass interference call that gave the home team a first down at the WSC 21. Five plays later, a scrambling Linnell found Kyle Hosch in the back of the end zone under the goal post. Hosch made the leaping grab over the defenders and came down in bounds for the score. Sharp added the extra point and the Peacocks cut the lead to six again, 34-28.
After an unsuccessful pooch kick, the Peacock defense held strong and forced a punt that gave the offense the ball back with 1:17 on the clock and 59 yards to go. Linnell took the first down snap, avoided the rush several times, but never let go of the ball and was finally brought down for a six yard loss. The offense ended the game with three straight incomplete passes and gave the ball back to Wayne State, who downed the ball once to end the game.
The heartbreaking six point loss seemed reminiscent of the Wisconsin-Stout game a year ago where the Peacocks trailed big at halftime and then stormed back only to fall short. An alarming stat for the Peacocks comes in their scoring breakdown. This season Upper Iowa has been outscored 34-9 in the first quarter and 24-18 in the second quarter, while they are the better team in the second half. The Peacocks have outscored their opponents 42-19 in the third quarter and 28-23 in the fourth quarter.
Upper Iowa out gained Wayne State in yardage 396-395, but six Peacock turnovers including three on downs were the difference in the game. Upper Iowa was led by Hicks who finished with 188 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Lehman threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns on 12-21 throwing, but had one interception and was sacked four times. Hudgins led the receivers with 60 yards and a touchdown on 5 catches, while McFarland added four for 41, Croker caught four for 40, Hosch pulled in 3 for 56 and a touchdown, and Conrad nabbed one for 11 yards and a score. The Peacock defense was led by Anthony Calamita (6 solo, 8 assisted) who had two tackles for loss, forced a fumble and picked off a pass. Adam Johnson (7 tackles), Malcolm Cole (8), Mike Slaughter (8), and Vernard Wilkins (7) also played well for the defense.
Upper Iowa will have to bounce back quickly as they will host the Warriors of Winona State next Saturday, September 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Upper Iowa University will be celebrating family weekend from the 21st through the 23rd.
