The Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University (4-1, 1-0 NSIC South) outlasted the Peacock football team (1-4, 0-1 NSIC South) in a wild offensive shootout in the first Northern Sun South Division game of the season. The teams combined for 1308 yards of offense and 100 points in the game as SMSU posted the 59-41 win in Marshall, Minn.
 
Both teams rushed for over 200 yards, but the home team held a 482-388 yard advantage in the passing game.  On the ground, Derrick Portis continued to lead the Peacocks with his third straight 100-yard game; the sophomore rushed for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns on 20 carries, while his counterpart Isley Carrington rushed for 181 yards and 3 scores on just 11 carries.
 
Blake Gimbel completed 42 of his 53 pass attempts for 436 yards and 3 scores, while UIU's Dimitri Morales completed 42 passes for 388 yards and 4 scores.  Both quarterbacks were intercepted though; UIU came up with 2 interceptions (Jordan Rommes/Nick Corley), while SMSU picked off 4 passes. Morales connected with five receivers on the night with Jalen Amis (13 catches for 134 yards) and Skyler Lehman (12 for 116 and 2 TDs) leading the way.  Jarred Edmonds and David Esswein combined for 14 catches and each caught a touchdown pass. Nate Huot caught 11 passes for 182 yards and a pair of scores to lead the Mustang receivers, while eight other players registered at least one catch.
 
On a tough night for the defenses, Zach Gardner and Mitchel Siech led the Peacocks with 10 tackles apiece, while Michael Everett and Tyler Flud paced the Mustangs with 12 and 10 tackles, respectively.
 
Before some fans had settled into their seats both teams had a touchdown on the board.  The Mustangs went 74 yards on their first possession, while the Peacock's first drive only picked up 14 yards prior to Portis crossing the goal line thanks to an 83-yard kick return by Darius Cohen that set UIU up at the SMSU 14-yard line.
 
After the home team scored on a pair of long passes to Huot, the Peacocks cut the margin in half, 21-14, when Morales connected with Skyler Lehman for a 27-yard score.  The Mustangs scored on a 20-yard field goal in the second quarter, but UIU's Portis got into the end zone for a second time in the game on a 32-yard scamper to pull the visitors within four, 24-20, at halftime.
 
SMSU used two touchdowns in the opening minutes of the third quarter to reestablish their advantage, 38-20, but UIU's offense kept fighting back.  Morales found Lehman for a 25-yard score late in the third quarter cutting the margin to 38-27.  The teams traded scores in the fourth quarter and the 11-point difference remained after two Mustang touchdowns and a pair of Morales touchdown passes to Edmonds (6 yards) and Esswein (37 yards).  Upper Iowa had an opportunity to cut the gap to one score late in the fourth, but turned the ball over on downs inside the Mustang 40-yard line.  SMSU kept the ball on the ground to run the clock out and Carrington got loose for a 55-yard score to put the game out of reach with just over a minute to play.
 
Upper Iowa returns home next Saturday for the 100^th Annual Homecoming on campus in Fayette.  The Peacocks will host the Warriors of Winona State University in Harms-Eischeid Stadium at 2 p.m. on Oct. 8.