Box Score Box Score

Minnesota State took a 25-0 lead early in the third quarter after Danny Padilla hit his third field goal of the game.  Upper Iowa scored a touchdown midway through the third on a Chris Smith run from two yards out.  After MSU scored their final score as the third quarter ended, the Peacocks used a long drive to convert a final score on a Cole Jaeschke to Shay Gutman 34-yard pass to put the final score at 32-14.

Trailing 3-0, the Peacocks used an 11-play, 64-yard drive to get into the redzone with a chance to tie or take the early lead midway through the first period.  But the UIU offense stalled and misfired on third and short and fouth and short.  The turnover on downs gave the visitors the ball at their own 16-yard line and the Mavericks converted that possession into a touchdown ten plays later.

The three field goals by Padilla were impressive considering the distances (43, 37, 43) and the constant wind that was blowing through northeast Iowa today. 

The Mavericks also caught the Peacocks off guard on their opening drive of the third quarter.  UIU's defense had apparently forced a fourth down at midfield, but the MSU punter threw a strike to a receiver on a fake punt that gave the Mavericks a new set of downs at the UIU 28-yard line.  The Mavericks hit their third field goal of the day four plays later.

Smith owned the first Peacock scoring drive picking up 58 yards on 5 carries and capped it off with a two yard dive up the middle. 

On the second and final UIU score, Jaeschke bought some time in the pocket and got great protection to find Gutman streaking down the far sideline for a 34-yard completion.  The quarterback was 6 for 7 on the drive for 74 yards and hit three different receivers on the drive.

Smith ran for 168 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, while Jaeschke threw for 207 yards and a score.  Gutman caught 6 passes for 91 yards, Jessie Hubbard pulled in four balls for 66 yards and Joe Alanis grabbed four passes for 36 yards.

Casey Popenfoose and Ethan Douglas led the team in tackles with 12 and 9, respectively.

Upper Iowa will be on the road next week at Southwest Minnesota State University.  The Peacocks and Mustangs will kickoff in Marshall, Minnesota next Saturday at 5 p.m.