Peacocks Fall to Nation's Best; Chris Smith Becomes UIU's New Career Leader in Rushing Yards

The #1 Mavericks of Minnesota State controlled the Peacocks in Fayette on Saturday winning 73-7, but junior running back Chris Smith became the program's all-time leader in career rushing yards (3,230).

Box Score
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Records

Minnesota State (11-0, 7-0 NSIC South) || Upper Iowa (6-5, 3-4 NSIC South)

Recap

Upper Iowa hosted the #1 Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato Saturday afternoon in Fayette. Minnesota State scored touchdowns on each of the first ten possessions and added a late field goal dominating the contest, 73-7. The top team in the country held the Peacocks to just 159 yards of total offense.

Despite the tough loss, junior running back Chris Smith ran for 34 yards before leaving the game with an injury and surpassed T.C. Hicks (2004-07) for the all-time lead in career rushing yards at Upper Iowa. The Brown Deer, Wis. product has now accumulated 3,230 yards in his first three seasons with the Peacocks. For the season, Smith has rushed for 1,706 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Prior to kickoff, the Peacocks said thank you to eighteen seniors. The players were met by their family and friends, as well as Head Coach Tom Shea, Athletics Director David Miller and University President Dr. William R. Duffy II. This year's squad finishes with a 6-5 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the NSIC South Division. The six wins this season mark just the 16th time a football team at UIU has reached that mark in the program's 119-year football history. The Peacocks, who have only had four winning seasons prior to 2013 since 1966's 8-2 campaign, wrapped up just their 35th winning season in their history.

The scoring started early for the Mavericks as they took advantage of a pair of Peacock miscues on the punt team. Two snaps got over the head of UIU's kicker and MSU converted both opportunities into touchdowns. In between the two Upper Iowa misfires, Minnesota State's Andy Pfeiffer rushed in for a score from 19 yards away and the visitors to Harms-Eischeid Stadium were out to a 21-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

The Mavericks added 28 points in the second quarter highlighted by a pair of Mitch Brozovich touchdown runs and two scoring runs by quarterback Jon Wolf. One of Wolf's runs was an 85-yard scramble on third down after he was nearly sacked in the backfield.

Three more touchdowns by the Mavericks in the third quarter pushed MSU's lead to 70-0. Brozovich scored his fourth rushing touchdown on the opening possession of the quarter.

After a field goal midway through the fourth quarter, Peacock quarterback Cole Jaeschke led the Peacocks on a 7-play, 76-yard drive and found tight end Lucas Hefty in the endzone for Upper Iowa's only score of the afternoon.

The Mavericks held a 633-159 yard advantage in total offense. Minnesota State rushed for an impressive 526 yards on the ground with Wolf leading the charge thanks to 201 yards and two touchdowns and Chad Zastrow picking up 162 yards and a score.

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