Box Score

Box Score

Despite Chris Smith's 230 rushing yards, the third most in a game in Upper Iowa history, the Peacocks lost a 10-point lead in the final quarter of Saturday's ball game at Southwest Minnesota State.  The Mustangs grabbed a 28-24 victory after scoring the game's final 14 points. 

Smith, who now has 793 rushing yards and four 100+-yard efforts this season in seven games, just keeps getting better in his first collegiate season.  This afternoon the Brown Deer, Wisconsin native rushed 29 times for 230 yards, a 7.9 yard average per carry.  Smith scored one touchdown on the day.

The Upper Iowa offense was in control all day accumulating 501 yards of total offense to SMSU's 323 yards, but two turnovers proved to be too costly to overcome.

The first turnover came on a fumble on UIU's first possession at their own 9-yard line.  The home team needed just three plays to score a touchdown and take a 7-0 lead.

The Peacocks answered quickly with a four-play, 71-yard drive highlighted by a Smith 53-yard run and was capped off as Smith ran in from four yards away.

SMSU retook their seven point lead, 14-7, on the ensuing possession thanks to a 14-yard rush by quarterback Tyler Peschong.

The Peacocks owned the second quarter outscoring the Mustangs 10-0 and taking a 17-14 lead into halftime. 

The touchdown came when quarterback Cole Jaeschke found Lucas Hefty for a 9-yard touchdown reception.  The 8-play drive was fueled by four completions by Jaeschke including a 22-yard hookup with Shay Gutman to put the Peacocks in the redzone.

UIU used a 32-yard field goal from Steven Sandoval as the clock ticked down to all zeroes to claim their 17-14 lead at the break.  The drive came on the back of a 61-yard rush by Smith.

Jaeschke found Drew Kaluzny on a quick 4-yard route to the end zone to give UIU a 24-14 lead on the team's first possession of the second half.  The 15-play drive took 6:07 off the clock and covered 76 yards.  Jordan Otdoerfer rushed for 50 yards on the drive on 8 carries.

Warren Matthews, the SMSU running back, put the Mustangs on his back on the team's next possession.  Matthews carried the ball three times for 48 yards and a touchdown thanks to a 46 yard scamper to the 2-yard line.

After a pair of Peacock punts, SMSU took over at their own 20-yard line with 6:37 to play in the game.  Peschong engineered a quick scoring drive to take a 28-24 lead thanks to three completions including one for 26 yards and one for 45 yards.  The final completion came on the touchdown as the quarterback from Marshalltown, Iowa found his receiver from three yards out with 4:15 on the clock.

Upper Iowa had one last opportunity to steal back the lead.  Jessie Hubbard took the kickoff at the 15-yard line and returned it 34 yards to set up the UIU offense at their 49-yard line with 4:08 remaining.  On 2nd and 9, Jaeschke found Hefty for a 30-yard gain down to the Mustang 20.  After a run and a holding penalty, the Peacocks faced a 2nd and 18 at the 28-yard line when Jaeschke was intercepted by Da'Ronte Smith at the 10.  Smith returned it to the midfield line where SMSU  needed just one first down to put the game away and bleed out the clock.

For the game, the Peacocks rushed for 304 yards.  After Smith's 230 yards, Otdoerfer picked up 63 yards on 11 carries.  Jaeschke completed 17 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked three times and intercepted once.  Gutman and Kaluzny both pulled in four catches, while Hubbard grabbed three. 

Defensively, the Peacocks held the NSIC's number one passer to just 153 yards in the air.  Tony Leggett returned to the Peacock lineup and made 9 tackles, 6 solo, while Keaton Martin and Ethan Douglas registered 7 tackles apiece. 

The Peacocks (3-5, 2-5 NSIC) will travel to Wayne, Nebraska next Saturday, Oct. 29.  Upper Iowa and the Wildcats of Wayne State College will line up for kickoff at 1 p.m.