GAME SIX || Saturday, October 8 || 1:00 PM
Crookston, Minnesota || Ed Widseth Field
 
Game Notes:  Upper Iowa

Upper Iowa vs. Bemidji 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. Junior Sports Communication major Cooper Weidenthaler will be along with color commentary.

Live Webcast (provided by New Media Television) || Live Stats || Online Audio Only
 
This Week in Peacock Football...
The Upper Iowa Football team will look to bounce back from back-to-back losses this week as they travel to northern Minnesota to face the Golden Eagles of Minnesota, Crookston.  The Peacocks hope to reach the 3-3 mark for the first time since 2006 when Upper Iowa defeated Wayne State, MSU Moorhead and Minnesota, Crookston in their first six games.  The Golden Eagles come into today’s ball game with one of the best rushing attacks in the country.  UMC is ranked 7th nationally in rushing averaging over 257 yards per game on the ground.  The Golden Eagles also have the 14th best pass defense in the country as team’s are averaging just 153.8 yards per game in the air.
 
The Series...
The Peacocks have won all six meetings with the Golden Eagles.  Upper Iowa has won three games in Crookston and three at home in Fayette. 
 
Last Meeting...
UIU 56 - UMC 19  (2010 in Fayette, Iowa)
 
Eb Eischeid Stadium was the setting for the Peacocks first win of the 2010 season. Upper Iowa University’s campus was buzzing as they 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 the win 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.
 
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.
 
Let the Freshman Lead…
Redshirt freshman quarterback Cole Jaeschke is ranked 35th in the country and 6th in the NSIC in passing efficiency.  He has posted a 141.75 rating through the first five weeks and is leading the Peacock offense that is ranked 68th in the country and 5th in the NSIC in total offense (380.2 yards/game).  Jaeschke has completed 58.8% of his passes for 1,025 yards and 5 touchdowns, while rushing for 65 yards on 23 carries.  He ranks 69th in the nation in total offense at 218 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 13th nationally in sacks allowed/game.
 
Catch him if you can… 
Senior wideout Jessie Hubbard is enjoying an outstanding senior season averaging 95.4 receiving yards/game which ranks him 14th in the country and 2nd in the NSIC.  The two-time All-NSIC performer has 20 catches for 487 yards and 4 touchdowns including a pair of long td catches over the last two weeks (76 yds. and 75 yds.).  Hubbard also has 7 rushes for 30 yards and 13 kick returns for 272 yards.  The West Palm Beach, Florida native is leading the Peacocks in all purpose yards with 157.8 per game.
 
Strong up the Middle… 
Junior Tony Leggett is leading the defense from his middle linebacker position.  Leggett’s 55 tackles tie him for 16th nationally and is the second highest total in the NSIC with 11.00/game.  
 
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 had a second straight 100-yard rushing game for the Peacocks as he accounted for 158 yards and a pair of long touchdown runs on just 14 carries.  After sitting out most of the Winona State game and all of the Bemidji State contest, he currently ranks 51st in the country and 6th in the NSIC for rushing yards per game (82.75).
 
Sandoval... Just Kickin’ It…  
Junior Steven Sandoval remains perfect in Peacock blue and white.  Sandoval has hit all seven field goal attempts and all thirteen extra point attempts this season.  His 34 points rank him for 98th in the country and 12th in the NSIC in scoring, while he’s is tied for 16th nationally and  2nd in the NSIC in field goals made/game (1.4).
 
Last game for the Golden Eagles...
The University of Minnesota, Crookston football team hosted the University of Mary on Saturday in UMC’s 2011 Homecoming game. The Golden Eagles combined for 267 total yards of offense including 232 rushing yards.
 
The Golden Eagles were led by Richard Haley (RB, 6-0, 205, Jr., Detroit, Mich.) who rushed for 179 yards on 26 carries and averaged 6.9 yards/rush. It is the fourth time this season Haley has rushed for more than 150 yards in a game.
 
Quarterback A.J. Barge (QB, 6-3, 190, Fr., Carrollton, Ga.) completed eight passes for 35 yards.  Eric Fiege (WR, 5-9, 175, Jr., San Diego, Calif.) caught three passes for 31 yards with a long of 17 yards.  Cody Hendrickson (DB, 5-10, 185, Sr., Wright, Minn.) led the Golden Eagle defense with 10 total tackles (7 unassisted, 3 assisted).