Box Score Southwest Minnesota State University came from behind in the fourth quarter against Upper Iowa to claim a win on their Homecoming, 28-25, to improve to 2-4 on the season and 1-1 in the NSIC South.  The loss was UIU's first on the season as they fall to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the division.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Peacocks led 17-14 and were sitting at the Southwest Minnesota State 17-yard line with a first down.  On third and five Cole Jaeschke hit Shay Gutman over the middle for what looked to be a touchdown as Gutman extended the ball as he laid back on the ground before the ball was knocked away.  At worst, the Peacocks thought they were looking at a first and goal at the one, but a fumble was ruled on the play which added to UIU's struggle in the red zone on the night.

The Peacocks entered the game as the only team in the nation to convert on 100% of their opportunities in the redzone, but on Saturday the Mustangs held them to just two conversions in five chances inside the 20-yard line. 

Southwest Minnesota State took the ball at the two-yard line and marched 98 yards in 11 plays to claim a 21-17 lead when Charlie Kern hit Jordan Cross on an 8 yard touchdown on a back shoulder throw in the endzone.

The Mustang defense forced a three and out and then used three plays to cover 53 yards helped by a pass interference and capped off by a 24-yard hookup between Kern and Cross again.  With the second score inside of two and a half minutes, the home team had a 28-17 lead with just over six minutes to play in the game.

Upper Iowa took over and covered 78 yards in 10 plays to pull within three, 28-25, as the clock moved to just over three minutes.  Vincent Otdoerfer took the ball into the endzone from a yard out and Evan Dornink dove through the middle for a two-point conversion as the Peacocks kept hope alive.

After an onside kick attempt, the Mustangs took the ball at midfield, but Upper Iowa's defense did a good job forcing a punt after the home team earned one first down.  The SMSU punt rolled out at the five-yard line with 1:38 showing on the clock.

After four first downs by Jaeschke, three through the air and one with his legs, the Peacocks had the ball at the SMSU 40-yard line with 21 seconds to play.  After a pair of incomplete passes, the Mustangs sacked Jaeschke for the third and final time as the Peacocks couldn't stop the clock without any timeouts.

The Mustangs opened the scoring in the game with a touchdown in the first when Kern ran it in from 7 yards out, but the Peacocks answered in the opening frame when Trey MacTaggart returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown.  On Upper Iowa's next possession, Tim Rueb connected on his only made field goal of the night from 31 yards to push UIU ahead 10-7.

Southwest Minnesota State scored the only points in the second quarter when Kern found Nathaniel Huot streaking free down the home sideline for a 64-yard touchdown pass and catch.  The scoring pass came on a 2nd and 27 after a snap got past Kern on first down.

Trailing 14-10, Upper Iowa retook the lead by three, 17-14, thanks to a 5-play, 73-yard drive.  Chris Smith got loose into the Mustang secondary and raced to the goal line for a 55-yard touchdown, his 16th score of the season.  Smith, who battled an injury that kept him out of practice all week, rushed 24 times for 104 yards and caught 5 passes for 63 yards.

Jaeschke completed 32 of his 64 throws for 342 yards.  UIU's quarterback found seven different receivers including Derek Giesking, who pulled in 10 catches for 111 yards, and Gutman, who caught 9 balls for 84 yards.  David Esswein also had a decent night catching passes with 4 catches and 42 yards.

Alex Wahl led the defense with 15 tackles including three for loss and two sacks.  Tyler Fisher added 9 tackles including two for loss, while Javon Moore made 7 tackles.

Upper Iowa (5-1, 1-1)  will host the Warriors of Winona State University (3-3, 0-2) in Fayette at Harms-Eischeid Stadium at 6 p.m.  UIU will celebrate Military Day on Oct. 18.