GAME NINE || SATURDAY, OCT. 31, 2015 || 1:00 PMSIOUX FALLS, S.D. || KIRKEBY-OVER STADIUMUPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY AT AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY
LIVE OPTIONS
LIVE STATS | LIVE WEBCAST | AM 950 KOEL | NSICSCORES.COM
WEEKLY NOTES
UPPER IOWA | AUGUSTANA | NORTHERN SUN | TWO DEEPS
THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... The Peacocks travel to Sioux Falls, S.D. this Saturday for the next game on their 2015 slate. Upper Iowa will line up against the Vikings of Augustana University for an afternoon game at 1 p.m. UIU is coming off their second loss at home last Saturday to the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University, 34-19. In two of the Peacocks' three losses, the team held a lead at halftime, 10-7 over #1 Minnesota State University, Mankato and 19-14 over Southwest Minnesota State, but was shutout in the second half of both games. Augustana added to the waves in the Northern Sun standings last week as they defeated #5 University of Sioux Falls and Winona State, who UIU defeated in week 7, dropped #1 Minnesota State.
THE SERIES... Augustana won the first seven match ups with Upper Iowa after the series began in 2005. Upper Iowa trailed Augie 14-6 heading into the fourth quarter of the 2013 game in Sioux Falls, S.D., but three unanswered touchdowns by the home team in the fourth quarter led to a 35-6 for the Vikings. Last season, the Peacocks found themselves in a 25-16 hole heading to the final quarter in Fayette, but this time UIU wrote a different ending to the story. The Peacocks scored 15 unanswered points in the final quarter to rally and pull ahead of Augustana College by six points with just over five minutes to play. UIU's defense stood up on the Vikings' final drive coming up with their sixth interception in the endzone on fourth down. In all, the home team's defense forced seven turnovers to remain undefeated at 5-0 thanks to the 31-25 victory. Prior to Upper Iowa's first win in the series last season, the Vikings had dominated the scoreboard outscoring the Peacocks 306 to 67 over the first seven meetings.
GIVING TEAMS THE THIRD DEGREE... The Peacock defense has been at their strongest on third down this season. After limiting Southwest Minnesota State, which came in converting 53.2% of their third downs, to just 5 of 15 conversions on third, Upper Iowa remains 6th nationally and 2nd in the Northern Sun allowing their opponents to convert on third down just 26.8% of the time. On the other side of the ball this week, the Vikings feature an offense that has been excellent on third down converting at a rate of 52.2%, which ranks 7th in the country and tops in the conference.
LEADING THE BLACKHIRTS... Seniors
Alex Wahl,
Cole Stephen and
Jevell Rollins, along with junior
Tate Thompson have been leading the defense for UIU this season. Wahl and Stephen have recorded 74 (3rd NSIC) and 70 tackles (7th NSIC), respectively, from their linebacker positions. The pair are also two of the best in the NSIC in getting the job done on their own; Wahl has 39 (6th NSIC) and Stephen has 34 (12th NSIC). Rollins has registered 46 from the defensive line and Thompson has stopped 52 ball carriers from his safety spot while adding 2 interceptions and a punt return touchdown. Wahl has 14.5 tackles for loss (20th NCAA, 2nd NSIC) and Rollins is close behind with 13.5 behind the line of scrimmage (26th NCAA, 4th NSIC).
ROLLING THREE WIDE... Upper Iowa's receiving corps is led by three young men that all lead the team in at least one major category.
Jalen Amis is leading the team and Northern Sun, and is 2nd in the nation, in receptions with 73 through the first eight games; he has reached double figure catches three times including a high of 14 against Concordia University, St. Paul. The junior now has 580 yards (11th NSIC) and 5 touchdowns.
Jarred Edmonds has 7 touchdown receptions which ranks 29th in the country and 2nd in the NSIC, while he has pulled in 39 balls (12th NSIC) for 521 yards.
Trey MacTaggart has racked up 588 yards of receiving, good for 10th in the NSIC, thanks to his 47 catches (4th NSIC); the redshirt junior has scored twice.
NEW DEALER... Freshman
Brent Lammers made his first collegiate start on Saturday and completed 21 of his 38 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown pass to Amis. He also ran for 41 yards on 14 attempts with a long of 17 yards. Lammers was pressed into action when former starter
Dimitri Morales suffered a season-ending injury during UIU's first-ever win over Winona State University.
NCAA Super Region 3 Rankings1 Northwest Missouri State 8-0
2 Humboldt State 6-1
3 Sioux Falls 7-1
4 Henderson State 7-1
5 Emporia State 7-1
6 Minnesota State 7-1
7 Augustana 6-2
8 Southwest Minnesota State 6-2
9 Minnesota Duluth 6-2
10 Central Missouri 6-2
