GAME FOUR || SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 || 6:00 PMST. CLOUD, MINN. || HUSKY STADIUMUPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY AT ST. CLOUD STATE STADIUM
LIVE STATS || LIVE WEBCAST
Upper Iowa Notes || St. Cloud State Notes || Northern Sun Conference Notes || Two Deep
THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... The Peacock football program improved to 8-3 against the NSIC North Division since the 2012 season after rallying from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter last week. The Peacocks scored 27 unanswered points against Bemidji State University to move to 3-0 for the first time since 1990. Upper Iowa will travel to St. Cloud, Minnesota to line up against the Huskies of St. Cloud State University on Saturday night. UIU's balanced offense is averaging 506 yards per game, while the Huskies run-dominated offense has gained 264.7 yards per game with 203 coming on the ground. SCSU has had a tough early schedule with road games at #3 Minnesota State University, Mankato (L, 31-0) and the University of Sioux Falls (L, 36-0), now ranked #24. The Huskies pulled away from Wayne State College in the second half in week two to post a win in their only home game of the season, 43-20.
THE SERIES... Since Upper Iowa's move up to NCAA Division II, St. Cloud State University has claimed all three meetings. The Huskies won the first matchup in 2008 in St. Cloud, Minn. by a 54-28 count and then posted a 57-10 victory over the Peacocks in Fayette in 2009. Upper Iowa hosted St. Cloud State in 2012 to re-open the transformed Harms-Eischeid Stadium in the school's first night football game. SCSU took advantage of three turnovers and a blocked punt to claim a 45-20 victory. The Peacocks lone win in the match up was in 1949; UIU posted a 23-20 victory.
GROUND GAINER... Senior
Chris Smith has found the end zone ten times this season, which is the second highest total in the nation through the first three games. The Brown Deer, Wis. was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week after running for 247 yards, the fifth highest total in program history, His three touchdowns versus Bemidji State bring his career total to 36, which is now the new UIU record as he passed Warren Pierce, who scored 34 times from 1964-66. Smith's 482 yards and 160.7 yards/game are 5th best in the country and first in the NSIC. His 99-yard touchdown run last week also set a new UIU record for longest run for scrimmage. UIU's old record was 95 yards held by Gary Glasby Jr. (2004) and Steve Staker (1966). Smith ranks 17th in NCAA Division II and 1st in the conference with 174.7 all-purpose yards per game.
"COLE"D BLOODED… Senior quarterback
Cole Jaeschke has thrown for the 13th most completions in the nation and most among NSIC QB's with 75 and is connecting with his receivers at a completion percentage of 61.5 (47th NCAA/2nd NSIC). His 885 passing yards are ranked 19th among NCAA DII signal callers and 3rd in the NSIC, while his 912 yards of total offense are 28th best in the country and 4th in the conference. His three touchdown passes add on to his program record for scores thrown in a career; he now has 69. The Moorland, Iowa product is closing in on the 10,000-yard mark. Jaeschke has thrown for 9,249 yards in his career.
"SHAY' HEY KID... Senior wideout
Shay Gutman has pulled down 21 catches for 376 yards and four scores (14th NCAA/3rd NSIC). Gutman is ranked 20th in the country and 2nd in the NSIC in receptions and 10th in NCAA Division II and 3rd in the conference in receiving yards. With his 206 yards, Gutman surpassed the 2,000-yard career mark in week one and now has 149 career receptions and 2,334 receiving yards. He is currently fifth on the all-time receptions list trailing the leader Dwayne Croker (2004-07) by 45 and the all-time receiving yards list behind the record holder Jackie Bridges (1989-92) by 308 yards.
NO FLY ZONE... The Peacock defense is ranked 19th in the country and 3rd in the NSIC in redzone defense holding opponents to a 54.5% success rate. Upper Iowa has held their opponents to just six scores (3 FG/3 TD) in eleven trips into the redzone. UIU has made stops when it counts as opponents have only converted 4 of 16 fourth down attempts resulting in a dozen turnovers on downs. UIU has registered 4 interceptions (38th NCAA/3rd NSIC), 6 sacks (70th NCAA/5th NSIC) and 23 tackles for loss (44th NCAA/5th NSIC). Redshirt juniors
Alex Wahl and
Jevell Rollins and seniors
Jeff Arends,
Chayz Holt and
Tim Tuggle are leading the Peacock defense through three games. Wahl's 41 tackles (10th NCAA/2nd NSIC) and 22 solo stops (11th NCAA/1st NSIC) lead the team, while Rollins' 6.5 tackles for loss are the 8th highest total in the nation and second-best in the conference. Wahl has also forced three fumbles which is tied for the highest mark in the nation with three other defenders. Arends has two interceptions which ranks 22nd in the country and 1st in the NSIC, while Holt has defended 7 passes which is the 5th in the NCAA DII and 1st in the NSIC. Tuggle recorded 3 break-ups against Bemidji State to move into 57th in the country and 7th in the conference in passes defended.
RADIO... Upper Iowa Peacock football can be heard throughout the 2014 season courtesy of AM 950 KOEL.
THE BROADCAST TEAM... Play-by-play announcer Joe Stasi is in his 12th season as the "Voice of the Peacocks." For the third consecutive year he will be joined on the broadcast by Zach Carlyle, a senior sports communication major at UIU. The pre-game show is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
