GAME ONE|| Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 || 6:00 PM
Crookston, Minn. || Ed Widseth Stadium
Upper Iowa University at the University of Minnesota Crookston

UIU Game Notes | UMC Football | NSIC Release | Two Deep | UIU's 2012 Stats

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This Week in Peacock Football... Upper Iowa opens up their 2013 season in Crookston, Minnesota against the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota Crookston. Upper Iowa is undefeated against Minnesota Crookston having played them six times in their first seven years in the Northern Sun Conference; UIU and UMC did not meet last season.

Last Meeting... In their last meeting, Upper Iowa defeated Minnesota Crookston 31-21 in 2011 in northwest Minnesota. The Golden Eagles took a 14-7 lead out of the first quarter, but the Peacocks scored 24 unanswered points to claim the victory. Despite being held to just 64 yards as a freshman, Chris Smith found the endzone three times. Cole Jaeschke threw for 270 yards and found Jesse Hubbard for a receiving touchdown. The Golden Eagles were led by running back Richard Haley, who rushed for 143 yards and one touchdown.

About the Golden Eagles… UMC will open up the season Friday, Sept. 6 under the lights of Ed Widseth Field at 6 p.m. versus Upper Iowa University. The Golden Eagles return eight starters from last season's defense but do not have the same luxury on offense where only five starters return but one of those starters, wide receiver Josh Ross, will be out all season with an injury.

Offensively, the leading threats returning are Marcus Cheatham at wide receiver and Keith McBride, who moves from fullback back to the feature back position after losing two-time All-NSIC back Richard Haley, who was a senior last year. Cheatham had 40 receptions for 498 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago while McBride was more of a receiving threat than a running threat last year, with 23 catches for 245 yards after rushing for over 1,600 yards in his first two seasons.

The biggest story line for the Golden Eagles will be at quarterback where they will look to two freshmen signal callers in Aliso Viejo, Calif. native Nathan Cole and Clayton, Wis. product Kyle Larson. How they acclimate to the NSIC climate as true freshmen may dictate the success of the Golden Eagle offense.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles will be moving to a 4-2-5 defense but return a lot of their best players from last season especially at linebacker where the Golden Eagles return all three starters in Andrew Hall (60 tackles), Ricky Jacobs (55 tackles) and Brody Davidson (49 tackles). Jacobs was an All-NSIC North Honorable Mention pick in 2012. The Golden Eagles also return a lot of experience in the defensive backfield with 2012 All-NSIC North Honorable Mention pick Tevin Kellum, who makes the move from corner to safety, Freedom McCullough and Paul Webster, all who started in 2012.