GAME EIGHT|| Saturday, October 22 || 5:00 PM
Marshall, Minnesota || Regional Event Center
Upper Iowa University at Southwest Minnesota State University
Game Notes: Upper Iowa || Southwest Minnesota State
Upper Iowa vs. Southwest Minnesota State Live Options
Radio: AM 950 KOEL - "The Voice" of UIU Football, Joe Stasi, will bring you all the action on northeast Iowa's largest AM radio station.
Live Webcast (provided by New Media Television)
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This Week in Peacock Football...
Upper Iowa will head northeast to Marshall, Minn. for this week’s NSIC South Division battle with the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University. The Peacocks will look to win their fourth game of the year; something that hasn’t been done in the 21st century. The 1999 squad, which finished 6-4, was the last team to win a fourth ball game in a season. The Mustangs coming off a home loss, 24-17, to #16 St. Cloud State last Saturday. SMSU’s final drive ended deep in SCSU territory as the Mustangs looked to tie the game. SMSU boasts two threats on offense in quarterback Tyler Peschong, who ranks 18th in the country in total offense (281.4), and running back Warren Matthews, who ranks 20th in all-purpose yardage (156.2).
The Series...
The Mustangs lead the all-time series with the Peacocks 5-2. Early on, UIU and SMSU split the first four match ups with UIU winning in 2004 and 2007, while the Mustangs picked up victories in 2005 and 2006. Over the last three years, SMSU has defeated Upper Iowa in all three meetings, but two have been close. In 2008, SMSU won a 38-31 decision in Fayette and last year claimed a 40-34 overtime win at Eb Eischeid Stadium. The last time the two teams met in Marshall was in 2009; SMSU handled the Peacocks, 52-24.
Last Meeting...
SMSU 40 - UIU 34
The Peacocks clawed out of an early 14-6 hole to take a 34-27 lead with just under two minutes to play in last year’s game. Thanks to a great kick return, the Mustangs opened their ensuing drive at their own 47-yard line. SMSU pushed the tying touchdown across the goal line just 38 seconds later after using 5 plays to cover 53 yards. In overtime, UIU had a pass intercepted in the endzone and then SMSU put the winning score on the board thanks to a 9-yard touchdown run by Gannon Moore.
The two teams matched each other in the statistical columns in several categories including: first downs (23), passing yards (287/286), and average gain/play (5.5/5.3).
After heading into halftime down 14-9, Upper Iowa owned the third quarter outscoring their guests 15-7 to take a 24-21 lead into the fourth. Mike Moser and Jessie Hubbard scored touchdowns for the Peacocks and UIU added a two-point conversion on a Moser rush.
After the Mustangs fourth touchdown of the day, Price added another 24-yarder to tie the score at 27-27 with 7:22 on the clock. Upper Iowa took their 34-27 lead thanks to a 9-play, 75-yard drive that took 4:29 off the clock. The drive was capped off on Moser’s second touchdown run of the day.
SMSU returned the ensuing kick 33 yards to set up their game-tying drive. The drive was fueled by quarterback Ryan Ratekin, who completed three of his five attempts including the 24-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Dean in the back of the endzone.
The overtime period saw SMSU intercept Curran’s attempt to the back of the endzone and then drive in for the win.
Let the Freshman Lead…
Redshirt freshman quarterback Cole Jaeschke is ranked 27th in the country and 3rd in the NSIC in passing efficiency. He has posted a 143.8 rating through the first seven weeks and is leading the Peacock offense that is ranked 63rd in the country and 6th in the NSIC in total offense (381.0 yards/game). Jaeschke has completed 59.4% of his passes for 1,502 yards and 7 touchdowns, while rushing for 95 yards on 32 carries. He ranks 58th in the nation in total offense at 228.1 yards/game.
Keeping Cole Clean…
The UIU offensive line is keeping their young signal caller’s uniform clean this season allowing just 4 sacks to rank 5th nationally and first in the NSIC in sacks allowed/game.
Catch him if you can…
Senior wideout Jessie Hubbard is enjoying an outstanding senior season averaging 90.9 receiving yards/game which ranks him 18th in the country and 2nd in the NSIC. The two-time All-NSIC performer has 27 catches for 636 yards and 5 touchdowns including a long td catch in three of his last four ball games (76 yds. 75 yds. and 60 yds.). Hubbard also has 10 rushes for 40 yards and 15 kick returns for 306 yards. The West Palm Beach, Florida native is leading the Peacocks in all-purpose yards and is 37th in the nation and 5th in the NSIC with 140.3 yards per game.
Strong Up the Middle…
Junior Tony Leggett is leading the defense from his middle linebacker position. He missed last week’s game due to injury, but is back in there today. Leggett’s 62 tackles tie him for 18th nationally and 4th most in the NSIC with 10.33/game. Sophomore Ethan Douglas is making his presence felt at strong linebacker as well. His 60 tackles are 72nd best in the nation and 8th in the NSIC.
Mr. Smith comes calling…
Chris Smith was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week following UIU’s Homecoming Game win over MSU Moorhead. Smith has rushed for over 100 yards in three of the six ball games he has played in. After sitting out most of the Winona State game and all of the Bemidji State contest, he returned to the field to rush for 232 yards and a touchdown on 39 carries over the last two weeks. He currently ranks 28th in the country and 3rd in the NSIC for rushing yards per game (93.83).
Sandoval... Just Kickin’ It…
Junior Steven Sandoval remains perfect in Peacock blue and white. Sandoval has hit all eight field goal attempts and all nineteen extra point attempts this season. His 43 points rank him 11th in the NSIC in scoring, while he’s is tied for 30th nationally and 5th in the NSIC in field goals made/game (1.14).
Knowlton Finding the Groove...
Punter Evan Knowlton is finding the groove for the Peacocks. He is currently 62nd in the country in net punting with a 34.5 yard average per punt. He is 69th in the nation in yards per punt with a 38.0 average.
Last game for the Mustangs...
#16 SCSU 24 - SMSU 17
No. 16 St. Cloud State held off a furious fourth quarter rally by Southwest Minnesota State to earn a 24-17 victory.
The Huskies held a 24-3 into the fourth quarter, but SMSU rallied with two touchdowns and then had one final chance to tie or win the game, but SCSU’s Marvin Matthews intercepted SMSU quarterback Tyler Peschong with 12 seconds left in the game at the SCSU 14-yard line to seal the victory.
Cody Condon led SMSU with seven receptions for a career-high 108 yards and one touchdown. Peschong finished the game completing 28 of 45 pass attempts for 277 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted three times. Peschong also rushed for a team-high 43 yards on eight carries.
Trailing 24-3 to begin the fourth quarter, SMSU mounted its rally taking advantage of a short field. Facing fourth-and-2 at the SCSU 38-yard line, Peschong connected on a short pass to Condon, who dove across the goal line to cut the SCSU lead to 24-10 with 13:13 left in the game.
The SMSU defense forced the Huskies to punt on their next possession and the Mustang offense took advantage. Peschong moved the team down the field 87 yards in 11 plays, capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass to Britt Wickett with 4:28 on the clock to cut the deficit to 24-17.
SMSU regained possession at its own 20-yard line with 2:14 in attempt to tie or steal the victory. SMSU picked up three first downs to move the ball to the SCSU 37-yard line, before Peschong completed a 16-yard pass to Anthony Dean on fourth-and-15 from the SCSU 42-yard line to keep the drive alive for the team’s fourth first down of the possession. Following an illegal formation penalty on SMSU pushed the ball back to the 31-yard line, Peschong was intercepted by Matthews at the 14-yard line to seal the SCSU victory.
