The Peacocks built an 11-point lead in the third quarter and then held on for a 35-30 victory over Wayne State College on Senior Day in Fayette. Upper Iowa forced a turnover on downs after the Wildcats pushed the ball down to the UIU 4-yard line as time ran out in the NSIC South Division battle. A pair of incomplete passes after tremendous pressure in the backfield ended the WSC threat and gave the home team the victory. The Peacocks and Wildcats are now both 3-6 overall and 2-3 against the south.
 
The Wildcats wasted little time in driving the field on their opening drive going 82 yards in just nine plays as quarterback Zach Osborn pushed his way into the end zone from two yards out to put the visitors up 7-0. Two minutes later, Upper Iowa had their answer when Dimitri Morales, the UIU signal caller, scrambled out of the pocket and found Jarred Edmonds in the back of the end zone for the score. Running back Derrick Portis picked up runs of 14 and 31 yards to highlight the drive.
 
UIU's leading receiver Jalen Amis caught his first touchdown pass of the season on the team's next possession. Amis been held without a score this season after eight a year ago. The big play on the drive was a 37-yard hookup between Morales and Edmonds down the sideline.
 
The Wildcats drove the ball into the red zone as the first quarter ended but a holding penalty bogged the drive down and forced a 34-yard field goal in the opening seconds of the second frame.
 
Upper Iowa pushed their lead to 21-10 with their third straight scoring possession that covered 78 yards in 12 plays.  The drive, which featured several runs by Portis and a pair of connections to Amis that secured first downs, was capped off when Morales broke through the line and fought into the end zone from 15 yards away.
 
Wayne State wouldn't go away though; the Wildcats took the ensuing kickoff and cut the gap back to four, 21-17, thanks to a 35-yard scoring run by Alex Kline.
 
The home team made it four straight drives that ended in touchdowns on their next touch. Morales found Amis in traffic and the senior from San Bernardino, California broke free and ran 70 yards getting caught at the 2-yard line.  Two plays later, Ryan Parmely went off the left side of the line and walked in for a touchdown as UIU regained their 11-point lead.
 
UIU forced a turnover on downs at the one and a half yard line as they stuffed Osborn on a quarterback sneak at the goal line, but the offense couldn't move the ball for a first down as time began to wind down in the second quarter.  After a punt, the Wildcats needed only two plays, both completions between Osborn and Nate Rogers, to score a touchdown and pull within four, 28-24, heading into the halftime break.
 
Portis set up the Peacocks at the Wayne State 25-yard line when he rushed for a 63-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. Unfortunately, UIU was unable to come away with points and turned the ball over on downs at the 16-yard line.
 
The UIU defense showed why the offense feels comfortable going for it on fourth down on the Wildcats next possession.  Zach Gardner and other Peacocks blew up a running play before it had a chance to get going; the senior linebacker knocked the ball out and Jojo Simpson jumped on it to give UIU the ball back at the Wayne State 22-yard line. On second and goal, Morales hit Trey MacTaggart over the middle for a touchdown. Upper Iowa had one more shot to score in the third quarter, but a field goal was blocked by the Wildcats.
 
As the fourth quarter opened, Wayne State had the ball in UIU territory when Jordan Rommes stepped in front of an Osborn throw to the sideline to give Upper Iowa the ball back.
 
Trailing 35-24, the Wildcats used a 93-yard, 12-play drive that lasted over five minutes to pull within five, 35-30. The drive was marred by a pair of 15-yard personal fouls on the Peacocks that kept the drive alive on third down. Kline rushed in from two yards away to get the road team within striking distance 35-30 after a two-point conversion failed.
 
After UIU was forced to punt again, the Wildcats had time for one last drive.  WSC started at the 19-yard line and quickly moved onto the Peacocks' half of the field. Wayne State kept their drive alive on fourth down twice; the first time on a pass over the middle and the second time on a roughing the passer penalty after an incomplete pass that would have ended the rally.
 
Wayne State found themselves at the 6-yard line a few plays later with a first and goal, but couldn't punch it in as the final pass attempt sailed high and wide of its initial target.
 
Morales thew for 265 yards and 3 scores on 22 completions and added 76 yards and a score on the ground, while Portis ran for 164 yards with no scores. Amis pulled in 10 catches for 167 yards and a score to lead the receiving corps. On defense, Rommes, Mitchel Siech and Zach Ries all had 8 tackles in the contest with Gardner adding 6.
 
Upper Iowa recognized their 18 seniors on the field prior to the game with family and friends on the field to meet them.
 
The Peacocks will travel next Saturday, Nov. 5, to face the #4 Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls at 12 p.m.