GAME FIVE || SATURDAY, OCT. 1, 2016 || 6 PM
MARSHALL, MINN. || MATKE FIELD
SCHWAN REGIONAL EVENT CENTER
UPPER IOWA AT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa will look to build on the momentum of their first win of 2016 as they head out on the road to battle the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University in the first NSIC South Division game of the season. The Peacocks will have their hands full with a Mustang offense that is averaging 42.8 points per game this season and racking up over 500 yards of total offense each contest. Upper Iowa will look to get the passing game back on track this week after establishing an impressive running attack last Saturday against Minot State in Fayette. Special teams could play a vital role as SMSU holds a 24.9 to 15.1 advantage in kick return average through the first four games of the season.
THE SERIES... The Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State leads the all-time series 10-2 having won the last eight straight. Before last year's game in Fayette, the four prior games were decided by just twelve points combined; three were played in Marshall, Minn. The Mustangs won 28-24 in 2011 and 38-37 in 2012 before holding off a first and goal for UIU with under a minute to play in 2013 to claim a 52-48 win in Fayette. In 2014, the Mustangs scored 14 fourth quarter points to claim a come-from-behind 28-25 win over UIU; the loss was UIU's first of the season after opening 5-0. Last season, Upper Iowa took a 19-14 lead into halftime in Fayette, but the Mustangs put 20 points on the board in the second half while shutting out the Peacock offense to post a 34-19 victory. The UIU wins in the series came in 2004 (28-16) and in 2007 (39-27).
THIRD TIMES THE CHARM... Thanks in large part to a 21-point outburst in the final five minutes of the third quarter on Saturday, the Peacocks are doing the majority of their damage on the scoreboard in the quarter following halftime. UIU is averaging 10.25 points in the third quarter, while marking the scoreboard for 4.25 in the first and 5.25 in the second and fourth quarters.
PORTIS ON POINT... Derrick Portis, one of UIU's two sophomore running backs returned to the lineup at MSU Moorhead after an injury sidelined him in the second quarter of UIU's opening game. Portis has run rampant over the last two games picking up 253 yards and scoring 5 touchdowns on 40 carries. The 6.3 yard per carry average is impressive and the Lompoc, Calif. native has added a pair of catches. His five rushing touchdowns are 5th most in the NSIC this season.
SPEED LIMIT 55... Senior
Zach Gardner (#55) is pulling over opposing speeders are at a pace that would make police officers jealous. UIU's middle linebacker has 39 tackles (41st NCAA DII/4th NSIC), 16 more than the Peacocks' second leading tackler. The Grimes, Iowa product has made 18 solo stops (12th NSIC), 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks (11th NSIC) and has recovered a fumble.
BALANCE OFFENSE... The Upper Iowa offense used the ground game to pick up their first win of the season last week at home. The Peacocks outgained Minot State 338-110 in rushing yards. The Peacocks had three individuals over 100 yards rushing on the afternoon; quarterback
Dimitri Morales accounted for 133 yards and a score on 8 carries, while Portis ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns on 15 attempts and
Ryan Parmely notched 100 yards and a score on 12 runs. So far this season, UIU has thrown the ball 173 times for 978 yards and run the ball 161 times for 747 yards.
MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU... The Peacocks have been a solid fourth down team the last four years posting 55 first downs in 111 chances for a conversion percentage of 49.5. This season, Upper Iowa has converted 54% of their fourth down tries (7-13).
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. The AM 950 KOEL pre-game show is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
