The Upper Iowa football team played in their sixteenth game against the NSIC North Division over the last four years entering tonight's matchup with the #25 Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth with a 12-3 mark including nine straight wins.  In fact, the last time that UIU lost to an NSIC North team was in Fayette on Sept. 14, 2013 when the #7 UMD Bulldogs handed the team a 37-19 loss. After falling behind 18-0 at halftime, Upper Iowa rallied with 24 points in the second half taking a 24-21 lead midway through the fourth quarter.  UMD scored the go-ahead touchdown with less than four minutes to play and UIU's final drive stalled at midfield as the team fell despite a great effort 28-24.  With the loss, UIU falls to 3-1 on the year, while the Bulldogs improve to 2-2.
 
Both teams had to fight through the fury Lake Superior, which unleashed a thick fog prior to the game making visibility a major issue throughout the whole contest. The fog was constant from mid-afternoon through the end of the game and made it hard on players and fans alike to follow the action.
 
Minnesota Duluth scored a pair of touchdowns and converted a 41-yard field goal in the first half to claim an 18-0 lead at the break.  During the first half, the Peacocks had just 106 yards of offense on 4 possessions, while the home team earned 237 yards and 3 scores on 5 possessions.
 
Midway through the third quarter, Zach Ries broke loose in the Bulldog backfield and forced a fumble, which he recovered, setting up the Peacocks' first score as Brady Beuschel converted a 30-yard field goal.  As time expired in the third quarter, Peacock quarterback Dimitri Morales found Jarred Edmonds running free down the left side for a 34-yard touchdown pulling Upper Iowa within one score, 18-10.
 
On the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs pushed their lead to eleven, 21-10, thanks to a 20-yard field goal.  Upper Iowa made UMD settle for the field goal after stopping the home team on three straight goal-to-go downs.
 
Upper Iowa faced a fourth down and two at the UMD 45-yard line on their next possession.  Freshman running back Derrick Portis took the ball and tried to turn the corner off the right tackle.  After shedding one would-be Bulldog tackler in the backfield, Portis raced down the right side and crossed the goal line to pull Upper Iowa within five, 21-16, with 9:33 showing on the clock.
 
The UIU defense stood up strong again forcing a quick three-and-out and taking over at their own 38-yard line. Four plays later, Portis was at again; this time running in from 33 yards as the Peacocks took a 24-21 lead after a two-point conversion to Portis as well.
 
With just over six minutes to play, the Bulldogs started their drive at their own 34-yard line.  On the third play of the possession, quarterback Drew Bauer hit Beau Bofferding for 51 yards over the middle down to the UIU 3-yard line.  The defense made stops on first and second down, but a play-action fake caught the defense and Drew Bauer found Ben McDonald for a one-yard score.  The touchdown and extra point reestablished the Bulldogs into the lead, 28-24, with three and a half minutes. 
 
Vincent Otdoerfer got the Peacocks started with a 33-yard return on the kickoff and UIU's offense pushed the ball toward midfield.  Unfortunately, the drive stalled on a rushing attempt from the UMD 44-yard line on 4^th and 2 to set up Minnesota Duluth for the victory as Upper Iowa turned the ball over on downs.
 
Portis had 107 yards on 18 rushes for the Peacocks, while Morales added 54 yards on 15 carries.  In the air, Morales threw for 202 yards and a touchdown on 19 completions.  David Esswein and Jalen Amis each caught four passes, while Jarred Edmonds and Trey MacTaggart pulled in three apiece. On defense, the Peacocks were led by Alex Wahl, who registered 15 tackles including 7 solo stops and 1.5 for loss.  In addition to Wahl, Upper Iowa got 9 tackles from Jevell Rollins and Cole Stephen.
 
Upper Iowa will return home to Fayette and Harms-Eischeid Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. to battle the #1 Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato.