Sept. 19, 2009

Box Score

The Peacock football team was back in action this afternoon in Marshall, Minnesota. Upper Iowa lined up against the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State in a match up the top two scoring teams in the Northern Sun Conference. The game marked the first Southern Division contest for either team. Upper Iowa put the first score on the board with a field goal, but then surrendered twenty-one unanswered points in the first quarter. UIU found some success on offense and put two touchdowns up in the first half, but SMSU scored twice as well to take a 35-14 lead into halftime.

The second half found much less scoring for both teams, but SMSU was still able to extend their advantage running away to win 52-24. After the loss, Upper Iowa falls to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the Northern Sun, while Southwest Minnesota State improves to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

Upper Iowa took the opening kickoff and drove the ball 68 yards in 10 plays; a Tim Eulitz 27-yard field goal capped the drive off and gave UIU a 3-0 lead. Southwest Minnesota State then took control of the first quarter as they scored twenty-one points in less than five minutes off the game clock.

Facing a 21-3 hole, Upper Iowa closed the first quarter off with a blue-collar drive that covered 85 yards in 11 plays. The drive ended when quarterback Ben Curran hit La'Mont Williams on a wide receiver screen; Williams fought out of a pair of tackles to cross the goal line and bring UIU to within 11 points, 21-10.

Southwest Minnesota refused to let the momentum turn as the Mustangs added another score on a long 74-yard drive.

Upper Iowa stayed in the ball game as they scored their second touchdown on their ensuing possession. Kinon O'Neal capped off a quick four-play, 75-yard drive with a one yard run to once again get UIU within striking distance, 28-17.

The Mustangs added a touchdown before halftime and one to open the third quarter.

Trailing 42-17, the home team found the red zone again and was poised to put more points on the board, but D.W. Williams intercepted a pass at the UIU five yard line to set up the Peacock offense at their own nine. Upper Iowa used only 3:36 to go 91 yards as Sam Epsteen found the endzone from eight yards away.

In the fourth quarter, the Mustangs posted a field goal and a touchdown early in the fourth quarter and pushed their advantage to 52-24.

For the game, SMSU's offense tallied just short of 700 yards of offense including 210 rushing yards and 465 passing yards. Mustang quarterback Ryan Ratekin completed 25 of his 34 passes for 425 yards and 4 touchdowns. Ratekin found Wade McDonough, who racked up 209 yards on 9 receptions, in the end zone twice on the afternoon. Zach Wysong and Gannon Moore each ran well for the Mustangs, but it was Moore who crossed the goal line three times for the home team.

Upper Iowa's offense compiled nearly 500 yards of offense. Curran completed 20 passes in 35 attempts for 217 yards and one touchdown. Sam Epsteen led the running back corp that gained 214 yards; the senior picked up 83 yards on 14 carries. The receiving group was led by Bobby Davis' 50 yards and Michael Reddick's 38 yards. Aaron Miller had a team-high 12 tackles, while Nate Curran made 11 tackles. Craig Henry picked up two fumbles for the Upper Iowa defense.

The Peacocks will return to the friendly confines of Eischeid Stadium next week for Homecoming weekend at Upper Iowa University. UIU will welcome the Huskies of St. Cloud State University for a cross-division NSIC game on Saturday, September 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Fayette.