Box Score
Eb Eischeid Stadium was the setting for the Peacocks first win of the 2010 season today. Upper Iowa University’s campus was buzzing as the campus celebrated Homecoming weekend in Fayette. The Peacock offense hit on all cylinders in front of one of the largest home crowds in recent years. The defense also played solid limiting the Golden Eagles’ success with the ball. UIU posted win number one for 2010 thanks to a 56-19 victory.
Upper Iowa scratched the scoreboard on their second drive when Mike Moser pushed the pile across the goal line from two yards away. The Peacocks improved their advantage to 14-0 just before the first quarter ended when quarterback Kirby Hovden found John Baldwin streaking down the right side for a 46-yard scoring strike.
UIU added their third touchdown when Hovden found Jessie Hubbard over the middle for a 30-yard touchdown giving the home team a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Prior to halftime, the lead grew to 28-0 when Hovden and Moser, former teammates at North Fayette High School, connected on an 11-yard screen pass.
The Peacocks owned the first half thanks to a 302 to 141 yard advantage in total offense. UIU’s success shown through on third down where the defense held UMC to a 0-6 mark and the offense converted 4-6.
After the Golden Eagles scored a touchdown, Marcus West scored for the first time in a Peacock uniform. West hit the left side on a sweep and didn’t break stride as he split a pair of defenders and raced to pay dirt 45 yards away. Upper Iowa added three more big-play touchdowns before the final seconds ticked away. La’Mont Williams caught a 59-yarder, Hubbard hauled in his second score (this time from 47 yards), and Dominique Jackson closed out the scoring with a 36 yard grab on the back line of the endzone.
Kirby Hovden threw all six touchdown passes for the Peacocks and hit on 15 of his 24 throws for 317 yards. The six scoring passes were snared by five different receivers. The six touchdown passes in a game ranks second all-time to Dedrick Sykes’ seven thrown against Dubuque in 2003.
Baldwin led the receiving corps with four catches for 78 yards, while Sam Epsteen cracked the 100 yard mark for the first time this season; the senior finished with 103 yards on 17 carries. West added 82 yards on 9 carries.
The defense was spear-headed by Aaron Miller (12 tackles, 3 for loss) and Craig Henry (11 tackles). Eric Addy made an impact on kick offs and punt returns registering 8 tackles on the day between his special teams and linebacker duties. Joe Nix and Preston Spencer added quarterback sacks for the home team.
Upper Iowa will travel to Minnesota State University, Mankato next Saturday for a 1 p.m. match up with the Mavericks.
