Records 

Upper Iowa (3-1 NSIC) || University of Mary (2-2 NSIC)

Recap
 
It didn't take long for Upper Iowa quarterback Cole Jaeschke to break the all-time passing yardage record and all-time touchdown passes record on Saturday afternoon as the Peacocks hosted the University of Mary. Nor did it take Chris Smith long to surpass 2,000 yards rushing in his career. Both of those records fell quickly as UIU stormed back from a sluggish start to score 36 unanswered points on the Marauder defense – 22 of which came in the third quarter – to fly past their guests and earn their third victory of the season, 36-7.

The win pushes UIU out to a 3-1 record in the Northern Sun Conference, while the Marauders fall to 2-2. Yet U-Mary wasn't going to be an easy pushover.

The Peacock defense got a full dose of the Marauders' high-powered aerial attack on the games' opening drive. After a 69-yard touchdown pass and catch on U-Mary's first possession, the Peacock defense responded with two interceptions, both in the endzone, thanks to plays by Chayz Holt and Jordan Andera and a blocked field goal attempt by a diving Keaton Martin.

Holt's interception was pivotal as U-Mary was looking to extend on its early 7-0 lead. The Marauders controlled the ball on UIU's 5-yard line facing 2nd-and-goal. U-Mary tried to complete the fade rout to the far pylon, but Holt stepped in front of the pass. He was tackled immediately, but his play stopped an imminent score.
 
The Peacocks answered with a score of their own to tie the game before adding another seven with a Jaeschke touchdown pass. Now leading by seven, the Peacocks looked to their defense for another stop. Martin erased another redzone trip for the Marauders as he blocked a 24-yard attempt that could have pulled U-Mary with four, 14-10, but the miss kept the Peacock advantage at seven points.

The home team's defense held the Marauders to just 67 rushing yards in the game and forced their guests into 9 punts. The strong play by the defense and effort by Smith and Evan Dornink on the ground gave Upper Iowa a huge advantage in time of possession, 34:58 to 25:02. The advantage marked the first time this season that UIU has been on the plus side of this category despite their 3-1 record.

U-Mary knew they needed a strong offensive outing if they were to keep up the Peacocks, who were even more potent on offense.

On the very first drive of the game, Jaeschke passed for 47 yards – 24 more than he needed to break the school's all-time passing yardage in a career record. As the redshirt-junior quarterback moved UIU into scoring range, the offense faltered. He would have to wait until the team's fourth possession to break his next record – the all-time touchdown mark.

With U-Mary leading 7-0 in the second quarter, Smith provided the spark for the offense as he tied the game up with his sixth rushing touchdown of the season. On the Peacocks' next possession, Jaeschke hit Derek Giesking on an 11-yard touchdown pass to give UIU a 14-7 lead after a successful two-point conversion. For Giesking, it was his first TD reception of the season, but for Jaeschke it was a record-tying touchdown toss and the 48th of his UIU career.

One play after catching the record-tying TD, Giesking made another nifty play on the two-point conversion. He took the lateral from Jaeschke, but didn't run it in. Instead, he passed it to Lucas Hefty in the left corner of the endzone - a pass reminiscent of his high school days when he was playing quarterback.

With the offense kicking into high gear, the defense followed suit. UIU stifled U-Mary in the second half and proved to be a dominant defense in the third period, holding their guests to just 24 total yards, while forcing four punts and picking off a pass.

The Peacock offense was just as lethal after the intermission. UIU scored on three straight possessions, each drive taking less than three and a half minutes. Jaeschke and Shay Gutman hooked up for a 21-yard score to start the third-period scoring barrage for the home team. It was fitting that Gutman, who could surpass the all-time receptions mark at UIU next season, snagged the record-breaking touchdown pass. But the Peacocks weren't quite finished. Smith scored for a second time on a nine-yard run with 4:27 remaining in the period. Gutman then added another touchdown reception to his stat line as he caught a 17-yarder from Jaeschke with 1:22 left in the third.
 
In all, the Peacocks posted 22 points on their guests in the third quarter to take a commanding 36-7 lead. Through those three quarters, UIU's signal-caller racked up 317 yards passing and went 21-for-30 from the pocket. Jaeschke now has a total of 50 career touchdown passes as a Peacock.

Giesking led all receivers with 108 receiving yards, while Smith finished with 187 total yards rushing and two touchdowns. Smith now has a total of 597 rushing yards in 2013 and 2,157 career rushing yards. Smith was the fastest Peacock to reach that feat and now stands just 1,041 yards away from surpassing the career-mark of 3,198 set by T.C. Hicks (2004-07).

Inside the Team Stats
Total Offense: UIU 573| NSU 309
First Downs: UIU 31| NSU 15
Turnovers: UIU (6) 3 INT, 2 Fumbles, 1 on Downs | NSU (3) 2 INT, 1 on Downs

UIU Standouts
Jaeschke (317 yards and three touchdowns) | Smith (34 carries for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns) | Giesking (6 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown) | Lucas Hefty (5 catches for 66 yards) | Gutman (8 catches for 66 yards) | Keaton Hosch (4 catches for 86 yards, 3 punt returns for -2 yards) | Evan Dornink (7 carries for 54 yards) | Tim Tuggle (9 tackles, five solo) | Jordan Andera (4 tackles, 1 for a loss, 1 interception) | Alex Wahl (6 tackles, 1 pass breakup) | Tyler Fisher (7 tackles) | Chayz Holt (1 tackles, 1 Interception) | Ethan Douglas (7 tackles) | Tyler Fisher (7 tackles) | Martin (5 tackles, 1 FG block)

Up Next
The Peacocks will head to Winona, Minnesota to take on the Warriors of Winona State University next Saturday at 6 p.m. Last year's contest with the Warriors was decided by three points in Fayette, 45-42.