Box Score Southwest Minnesota State's quarterback rushed the ball into the endzone with 25 seconds remaining to tie the score.  A successful point-after attempt later, the Mustangs claimed a 38-37 win over Upper Iowa on Saturday night in Marshall, Minn.

Upper Iowa (2-6, 0-4 NSIC South) took two leads in the fourth quarter of tonight's Northern Sun Conference shootout, but SMSU had the ball in their hands last and converted the game-winning touchdown on fourth down from the seven-yard line.

All week long, Head Coach Tom Shea talked to his offense about taking what the defense gave them.  After two unproductive weeks for the offense, the Peacocks took what the Mustang defense gave them and gained 226 yards on the ground.  The team rushed 48 times for a 4.7 yard/carry average.  Ray Bradley recorded his third 100-yard day with 122 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, while Mike Moser added 52 yards and a score on 13 rushes and Cole Jaeschke picked up 47 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries. 

The Peacocks scored a touchdown on their first two possessions.  After an extra point attempt hit the right upright and bounced away and a two-point attempt was ruled incomplete, the Peacocks led 12-0.

SMSU controlled the second quarter thanks to three touchdowns incuding one that came in the final minute of the half.  The Peacocks' Gabe Summerhays knocked in a 32-yard field goal early in the quarter and UIU held a 15-14 advantage until just before halftime.

Trailing 21-15, Upper Iowa used a 7-play, 46-yard drive on their first possession of the third quarter to retake the lead, 22-21, when Cole Jaeschke pushed his way into the endzone from a yard out. 

The lead changed hands five times over the remainder of the game.  After the home team grabbed a 28-22 lead in the third quarter, the Peacocks reclaimed the lead, 29-28, in the second minute of the fourth quarter when Mike Moser dove over the goalline from a yard away. 

The Mustangs' Lance Schuveiller hit a long, 49-yard field goal that gave SMSU a two-point lead, 31-29.

With 5:37 seconds to play in the game, Jaeschke ran into the endzone for the second time for an 8-yard score.  The touchdown and two-point conversion from Jaeschke to Derek Giesking put UIU ahead by six, 37-31.  The scoring drive was highlighted by two big passes from Jaeschke to Keaton Hosch and Giesking.

SMSU's final possession began at their 25-yard line and the Mustangs converted on a pair of third and shorts to move the ball into Upper Iowa territory.  The Mustangs pushed into the redzone with one minute to play.  The Peacocks forced two incomplete passes to set up a third and ten at the 14-yard line. 

SMSU's Tyler Peschong found Cody Condon for seven yards leaving a fourth and three for the home team from the seven.  Peschong rushed up the middle to pick up the first down and then forced his way into the endzone.  The extra point attempt went through and the Mustangs claimed a one-point lead.

The Peacocks got the ball at their 14-yard line with twenty seconds to play, but without timeouts Upper Iowa was unable to put together a miracle drive and lost a heartbreaker.

Jaeschke added 231 yards in the air for UIU and one score on 16 of 27 throwing.  Shay Gutman pulled in 5 passes for 91 yards, while Giesking had 5 gbrabs for 58 yards and Hosch added 68 yards and a touchdown on four catches.

Sooner Skinner led the Peacocks on defense with 14 tackles including one for loss, while Keaton Martin, Jeff Arends and Ethan Douglas all added 9 apiece.  Douglas recorded two tackles for loss as did defensive lineman Jevell Rollins.

The Peacocks remain on the road next Saturday with a noon kickoff in Sioux Falls, S.D.   Upper Iowa will line up with the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls on Oct. 27, 2012.