GAME TEN || SATURDAY, NOV. 7, 2015 || 1:00 PMWAYNE, NEB. || MEMORIAL STADIUM || BOB CUNNINGHAM FIELDUPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY AT WAYNE STATE COLLEGE
LIVE OPTIONS
LIVE STATS | LIVE WEBCAST | AM 950 KOEL | NSICSCORES.COM
WEEKLY NOTES
UPPER IOWA | WAYNE STATE | NORTHERN SUN | TWO DEEPS
THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa is off to Wayne, Nebraska this week for a final road game in the 2015 season. The Peacocks will line up against the Wildcats of Wayne State College in WSC's Annual Egg Bowl. The Wildcats opened the 2015 season with a 3-1 record against the NSIC North, but injuries plagued the team throughout their NSIC South Division schedule. UIU is in search of their sixth win of the season. If victorious, the Peacocks would claim their third straight winning season for the first time since Upper Iowa posted above-.500 seasons in 1962-64. In fact, UIU had winning seasons in four straight years from 1961-64 with a cumulative record of 26 wins and 10 losses.
THE SERIES... Upper Iowa pulled within one win of evening the all-time series with Wayne State thanks to 29 second quarter points in Fayette last season on the way to a 58-29 win over the Wildcats last season. The win was the Peacocks' second straight over Wayne State; both victories secured winning seasons for Upper Iowa. The potential for a third straight winning season may ride on Saturday's final score as well. The Peacocks are 5-4 with just two games remaining against the Wildcats and the #8 Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls. Last time Upper Iowa visited Wayne State in 2013, the Peacocks rallied from a 13-0 deficit to win 24-21. The Wildcats lead the series 5-4; the teams began playing each other in 2006. UIU won the first meeting, 24-14, to claim their first-ever NCAA Division II and Northern Sun Conference victory.
POSSESSION DOWNS ARE KEY... Upper Iowa's defense has held opponents to an impressive 28.6% conversion rate on third downs this season, which ranks 12th nationally and 2nd in the NSIC. UIU will need to keep that success on possession downs this week against Wayne State. The Wildcats have struggled on third down this season converting on only 36.6% percent of their big downs to maintain possession.
GETTING DEFENSIVE WITH AGE... The Peacock defense has been led by a group of veterans and is ranked 12th in NCAA Division II and 2nd in the NSIC in rushing defense allowing just 92 yards per game to their opponents. In addition to stone-walling opponents running games, Upper Iowa has recorded the 5th most sacks in the NSIC and the 2nd most tackles for loss. Seniors
Alex Wahl,
Cole Stephen and
Jevell Rollins, as well as juniors
Tate Thompson,
Darius Cohen and
Marcus McCoy have been at the forefront of UIU's defensive leaders this season. Wahl and Stephen have recorded 90 (31st NCAA/2nd NSIC) and 76 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 49 (35th NCAA/3rd NSIC) and Stephen has 37 (12th NSIC). Rollins has registered 47 tackles from the defensive line and Thompson has stopped 57 ball carriers from his safety spot while adding 2 interceptions and a punt return touchdown. Wahl has 17 tackles for loss (15th NCAA, 2nd NSIC) and Rollins is close behind with 13.5 behind the line of scrimmage (37th NCAA, 4th NSIC). McCoy and Cohen each have intercepted three passes (5th NSIC) this season at cornerback.
CAN'T "MIS" JALEN... While Upper Iowa's receiving corps has been led by a group of three young men, junior
Jalen Amis is leading the conference and is third in all of NCAA Division II in receptions with 9.1 per game. His 82 catches are only 11 shy of
Derek Giesking's record of 93 grabs a season ago. Giesking's record is the top mark for both Upper Iowa and the Northern Sun for receptions in a season. Amis has recorded 642 yards (10th NSIC) with 5 touchdowns.
ROUNDING OUT UIU'S RECEIVERS...Jarred Edmonds has 7 touchdown receptions which ranks 42nd in the country and 4th in the NSIC, while he has pulled in 47 balls (11th NSIC) for 622 yards (13th NSIC).
Trey MacTaggart has racked up 623 yards of receiving, good for 12th in the NSIC, thanks to his 53 catches (3rd NSIC); the redshirt junior has scored three times.
NO "LAM" TO THE WOLVES... Not many true freshman could come in midway through the football season to replace an injured teammate. Add to it that the injury occurred at the quarterback and the injured player had been having a stellar season. Not many, but
Brent Lammers has proven he's not like many true freshmen. Lammers replaced
Dimitri Morales after an injury sidelined the former Peacock starter, who was enjoying a great season as UIU's signal caller. In two games, Lammers has completed 54 of his 91 passes (59.3%) for 509 yards and two touchdowns, while running for 112 yards and a score on 34 rushes.
NCAA SUPER REGION 3 RANKINGS...1 NW Missouri State (MIAA) 9-0
2 Humboldt State (GNAC) 7-0
3 Henderson State (GAC) 8-1
4 Sioux Falls (NSIC) 8-1
5 Emporia State (MIAA) 8-1
6 Minnesota State (NSIC) 8-1
7 Augustana (NSIC) 7-2
8 Central Missouri (MIAA) 7-2
9 Arkansas Tech (GAC) 7-2
10 Western Oregon (GNAC) 5-2
