GAME ONE || THURSDAY, SEPT. 1, 2016 || 6:00 PM
BEMIDJI, MINN. || CHET ANDERSON STADIUM
UPPER IOWA PEACOCKS AT BEMIDJI STATE BEAVERS
 
THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa opens their 2016 campaign in northern Minnesota at Bemidji State University on Thursday night, Sept. 1, at 6 p.m.  The Peacocks and Beavers are both coming off winning seasons in 2015; UIU went 6-5 for the third straight season, while BSU won seven of their final eight games after dropping their first three decisions to go 7-4.  Both teams boasted productive offenses last season. The Peacocks averaged 426.6 yards/game and 28.2 points, while the Beavers picked up 411.2 yards/game and averaged 30.9 points.  UIU picked up the majority of their yards in the passing game with 3,332 yards coming on the arms of Dimitri Morales and Brent Lammers.  BSU used a more balanced attack to gain 2,100 yards on the ground and 2,423 yards through the air.
 
THE SERIES... The Beavers and Peacocks renew their series this week with BSU holding a 5-1 mark in meetings. Bemidji State won the first five games played including two in the HHH Metrodome as part of the NSIC Dome Classic.  Upper Iowa broke the streak two years ago in Fayette with a 47-30 victory over the Beavers; the Peacocks scored 27 points in the fourth quarter to rally from a ten-point deficit. Chris Smith led UIU with 247 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, while Cole Jaeschke threw for 259 yards, 3 scores and added a rushing touchdown as well.  Shay Gutman recorded 170 receiving yards and 2 scores in UIU's win. The last time the Peacocks visited Bemidji State was in 2012; the home team came away with a 25-23 victory that night.
 
NSIC PRESEASON PUB... Upper Iowa was picked 11th overall and 6th in the NSIC South Division by the conference coaches. The Peacocks finished their 2015 season tied for 7th overall and 5th in the South Division with a 6-5 overall record marking their third straight winning season. The Peacocks, who only had five winning seasons between 1966's 8-2 campaign and 2013's 6-5 run, wrapped up just their 37th winning season in their 121-year football history.
 
NSIC PLAYERS TO WATCH... Dimitri Morales (QB) and Tate Thompson (DB) were named as NSIC Players to Watch as well.  Morales returns for his second season with the Peacocks after suffering a season-ending injury during Upper Iowa's first-ever win over Winona State. Morales was named the NSIC Player of the Week after the victory with 378 passing yards and three touchdowns, as well as 39 yards rushing and two touchdowns. In his seven games, Morales threw for 2,244 yards (320.6 ypg) and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 180 yards and 6 scores. Thompson will return for his final season with UIU and anchor the defense from his safety position. Thompson was third on the team in total tackles with 68 including 38 solo stops and recorded two interceptions. The Forest City, Iowa product also returned 17 punts including a 44-yard touchdown return against Minnesota Crookston.
 
ALL-NSIC RETURNERS... The Peacocks return four All-NSIC performers from last year's squad in the form of seniors Jalen Chambers (2nd Team OL), Jalen Amis(Hon. Mention WR) and Trey MacTaggart (Hon. Mention WR), as well as junior punter Nate Skare (2nd Team).
 
RECORD BREAKER... Junior wide receiver Jalen Amis shattered Upper Iowa's and the Northern Sun Conference's record for receptions in a season with 108 as a junior.  The Butte College transfer passed Upper Iowa's Derek Giesking, who grabbed 93 passes in 2014.  His 9.8 catches per game rank 2nd nationally and led the NSIC by nearly three receptions/game.  Amis' 880 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns were both the 6th highest totals in the NSIC. Amis was named an Honorable Mention All-NSIC performer last season.
 
JUST KICKIN' IT... Kicker Brady Beuschel tied the Upper Iowa record for field goals in a single season with 13 last year. He is tied with Steven Sandoval who kicked the current record in 2011.    The thirteenth boot through the uprights came on a game-winning, 34-yard kick in overtime at Wayne State College. The Juda, Wisconsin native ranked 23rd nationally  and 3rd in the NSIC in field goals per game (1.18) and sits 16th in the NCAA and 2nd in the conference  for field goal percentage (81.3%).
 
SPLITTING THE TARGETS... Senior Trey MacTaggart is ready for his final run with the Peacocks.  The Manchester native has hauled in 115 catches for 1,245 yards and 8 scores in his first three seasons.  In 2015, MacTaggart brought in 65 catches for 704 yards and 5 scores last year, while junior and fellow wideout Jarred Edmonds added 57 grabs for 724 yards and 7 touchdowns. Derrick Portis returns to the backfield for his sophomore season.  As a true freshman, Portis led the running backs with 505 yards and 3 touchdowns on 134 carries and added 18 catches for 142 yards and a score.
 
THE BROADCAST TEAM... Play-by-play announcer, and Upper Iowa alum, Joe Stasi is in his 14th consecutive season as the "Voice of the Peacocks" and 16th overall. This week he will be joined by Howie Thompson, UIU's Director of Sports Communication at Upper Iowa.  The pre-game show is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.