GAME ELEVEN || SATURDAY, NOV. 11, 2017 || 1 PM
WAYNE, NEB. || BOB CUNNINGHAM FIELD
UPPER IOWA AT WAYNE STATE || EGG BOWL 2017

---

 
THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa wraps up their 2017 season on Saturday as they head west to Wayne, Neb. to take on the Wildcats of Wayne State College. The Peacocks are coming off a home defeat to the #13 Sioux Falls Cougars, 19-7, and were outscored 12-0 in the second half in the loss. UIU's defense forced three turnovers, and held USF to just 12 offensive points. Wayne State is coming off a solid effort against #1 Minnesota State, losing 48-27 in Mankato, Minn. last week where they were outscored 21-7 in the final quarter. Upper Iowa searches for its first seven-win season since 1997, when the program finished 7-3 at the NCAA Division III level. UIU's four losses this season have come to nationally ranked opponents.

THE SERIES... Upper Iowa now leads the all-time series 6-5 in the 11-game history with the Wayne State Wildcats thanks to wins in each of the last four seasons. Last season on Senior Day in Fayette, Upper Iowa held on to multiple two-score leads, but had to hold on late for a 35-30 win to claim the lead in the series. UIU tied the all-time series with their come-from-behind, overtime victory in Wayne, Neb. two years ago. Big quarters have been the formula for UIU in the series. In 2014, the Peacocks scored 29 in the second on the way to a 58-29 win, and in 2015 in Wayne, the Peacocks used 17 points in the fourth quarter to rally and tie the Wildcats and added 10 more in a pair of overtime periods to win 34-31 when Brady Beuschel knocked in a game-winner from 34 yards. The two teams began playing each other in 2006.  UIU won the first meeting, 24-14, to claim their first-ever NCAA Division II and NSIC victory. Last season, UIU scored 28 points in the first half and held on for the victory.

DEFENSE WINS GAMES… The Peacock defense has received contributions from everyone this season, and because of it are one of the NSIC's best. UIU's strength is its passing defense with is allowing just 155.2 yards per game, which leads the NSIC and ranks 8th nationally. The team averages 7.0 tackles for loss per game, which is fifth best in the league and ranks 51st in the country. UIU has also been stingy in the red zone this season, allowing scores on just 73% of opponents' trips, which is sixth best in the conference. Upper Iowa has recovered 10 fumbles this season (4th NSIC/27th NCAA), and has been great at blocking kicks on special teams as well, with six blocks (2nd NSIC/9th NCAA). Senior Keith Schwickerath has tallied 75 total tackles this season, which leads the team and ranks 15th in the league. His four forced fumbles are 2nd in the NSIC and 9th in the country, and he leads the league in blocked kicks with 3. Jordan Rommes has picked off five passes this season (3rd NSIC/12th NCAA), and has 45 solo stops (10th NSIC). Mitchel Siech has recorded 40 solo stops this season which ranks 17th in the league.

ON THE WINNING SIDE OF THINGS... With the win over the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State two weeks ago, the Peacocks secured their fourth winning season in the last five years under Head Coach Tom Shea. The 27 wins over the last five years are the most in program history since a five-year span from 1962-66 that produced 32 wins. The six victories this season mark the 19th time a football team at UIU has reached the 6-win mark in the program's 122-year football history. The Peacocks, who had only five winning seasons between 1966 (8-2) and 2013 (6-5), secured their 38th winning season with the 31-20 victory over SMSU.

NEW FACES ON COACHING STAFF... The Peacocks and Head Coach Tom Shea announced a few new coaches to the staff in 2017, including new offensive and defensive coordinators. Justin Wyatt has been promoted to the defensive coordinator position, while still coaching the defensive line. UIU brought in new offensive coordinator Mitchell Kleinschrodt, who enters his first season at Upper Iowa, to call the plays and coach the quarterbacks. Chance Alberswerth enters his first year at UIU as the linebackers coach, while Mike Caniglia, Ryan Hansen, and Andy Merfeld return to the staff from 2016.

NSIC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK...
Offensive POW
#33 Nicholas Truen - Northern State
RB, 5-11, 210, Senior
White Bear Lake, Minn / WBL HS

Defensive POW
#52 Chris Garrett - Concordia-St. Paul
DE, 6-4, 225, Freshman
Milwaukee, Wis. / Wisconsin Lutheran HS

Special Teams POW
#4 Jose Luis Moreno - Minot State
K/P, 6-0, 171, Sophomore
San Lorenzo, Calif. / Bishop O'Dowd HS

THE BROADCAST TEAM... Play-by- play announcer, and 1991 Upper Iowa alum, Joe Stasi is in his 15th consecutive season as the "Voice of the Peacocks" and 17th overall. This week he will be joined by Zach Carlyle, a 2015 graduate of Upper Iowa with an bachelor's degree in sports communications, who is currently pursuing his masters in sports administration. Carlyle serves as the Sports Communication Graduate Assistant and enters his seventh season on the call with Joe Stasi. The AM 950 KOEL pre-game show is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.