For the first time since the 1997 season, the Upper Iowa football team sits at 2-0 after a dominating performance on the road that saw the Peacocks post a 49-3 Northern Sun Conference victory over Minot State University.  UIU traveled to the top of North Dakota to face off against the Beavers in just the second meeting between the two teams.  Behind 21 points in both the first and third quarters, the men in blue ran away with the NSIC showdown to improve their series record against MSU to 2-0.
 
Upper Iowa took their opening drive 75 yards in 9 plays capped off by a 45-yard sprint to the end zone by starting running back Chris Smith.  With just under three minutes to play in the first quarter, the Peacocks closed out another nice drive that covered 52 yards on Smith's second touchdown run of the day.  Quarterback Cole Jaeschke hit tight end Lucas Hefty on a third and nine for 20 yards to keep the drive alive.  One play later, Smith rumbled over the goal line from 13 yards out.  UIU's defense forced another punt from Minot State and the visitors took over at their own 32-yard line.  It only took one play for UIU to put their third score on the board thanks to a 68-yard pass-and-catch between Jaeschke and Keaton Hosch with 25 seconds to play in the opening frame.
 
On the first play of the second quarter, Paul Yokas intercepted a Beaver pass and gave UIU's offense the ball right back.  For the third straight possession, Upper Iowa scored a touchdown.  Jaeschke completed three passes to push the ball down to the Minot 21-yard line.  The Peacocks turned to running back Evan Dornink on three straight carries of 12, 3 and 6 yards to score their fourth touchdown and push out to a 28-0 lead just three minutes into the second quarter.
 
Minot answered the drive with a 16-play, 61-yard drive that resulted in a field goal from 27 yards to put the home team on the scoreboard.  Upper Iowa faced a first and goal at their own 4-yard line, but the defense held up and did not allow the Beavers into the end zone.  It was, after all, the only points allowed by the Peacock defense.
 
The Peacocks ran away in the third quarter scoring on their first three possessions of the frame.  Their first scoring drive lasted only four plays, but covered 65 yards and was highlighted by a Jaeschke to Shay Gutman touchdown pass (pictured above courtesy of Jamie Council of Minot State University) that covered 39 yards.
 
After a great punt return from Hosch, UIU pushed into the end zone for their sixth touchdown of the evening in just three plays.  The final two plays of the drive were runs by Smith, who picked up 9 and 19 yards on the successive carries and scored a touchdown for the third time in the game on his 19-yard scamper.
 
Jeff Arends recorded his second interception of the season to close out Minot's next possession and his 18-yard return set up the Peacock offense at midfield.  Running back Joe McCaffery capped off the drive with an 11-yard rush for a touchdown.  The score was UIU's fifth rushing touchdown in the game.  Tim Rueb made all seven extra points on the day and has made all eleven attempts this season.
 
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, although Minot State threatened once.  The Beavers had a third down and fourth down at the UIU 3-yard line, but a rush for no gain and an incomplete pass ended the opportunity as the Peacock defense was able to hold again.
 
Tyler Fisher led the Peacocks on defense with 9 tackles including one for loss, while Tate Thompson, Alex Wahl and Joe Busch all recorded 5 tackles apiece.  Cody Nilges, Isaac Freese and Garrett Johnston all picked up a sack against the Beavers.
 
Smith rushed for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 9 carries, while adding a catch for 11 yards.  Jaeschke completed 19 of 27 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns while gaining 24 yards on 5 carries.  The receiving corp was led by Derek Giesking (6 catches, 34 yards), Gutman (4 for 76), Hosch (3 for 73), Hefty (3 for 44) and 2 for Trey MacTaggart.  Dornink added 55 yards, while McCaffery chipped in 41 yards on the ground.
 
As a team, the Peacock offense rushed for 234 yards and threw for 255 yards in a balanced attack.  The defense bounced back in week two after allowing 36 points and 709 yards of offense in week one, the Peacock blackshirts gave up only three points and 248 yards of offense to Minot State.
 
The Peacocks will be at home next week, Sept. 20.  Upper Iowa will welcome the Beavers of Bemidji State University to Harms-Eischeid Stadium at 6 p.m.