It was a battle Saturday afternoon at Harms-Eischeid Stadium as the Upper Iowa football team took on the No. 13 Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls in the final home game of the 2017 season. Turnovers, special teams, and penalties played a big role in the game, and defenses held strong on both sides. The second half was the difference as the visitors pulled away with a 12-0 advantage in the final 30 minutes to defeat UIU, 19-7. With the loss, the elusive seventh win will have to wait a week as UIU drops to 6-4 on the year, and 3-3 in the NSIC South division. With the win, USF stays within playoff contention, and improves to 9-1 overall and 5-1 in division play.

Prior to the game, the team honored 21 seniors for their contributions to the football program over their time at Upper Iowa. The group has witnessed three winning seasons in the last four years, and as a program, UIU has had four winning campaigns in five seasons. Blake Bodenstein, Jesse Vizzini, Jarred Edmonds, Matthew Danielson, Keith Schwickerath, Tate Thompson, Brady Beuschel, Tristan Byer, Emmanuel Otoo, Kris Ihde, Austin Vaughn, Nate Skare, Nate Roemer, Zach Ries, Gunner Mohs, Wayne Doerscher, Ross Westphal, Ryan Eiche, Quintin Taylor, and Isaac Freese all played their final game at Harms-Eischeid Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Both defenses were dominant right away on a cold afternoon, as the game began with two punts. On the second possession for the Cougars, Tate Thompson stripped USF's Jason Towns of the ball, and Emanuel Otoo recovered to give UIU the ball at the visitor's 41-yard line, but the Peacock offense could not do anything with it. After two more punts, the first quarter ended with neither team cracking the scoreboard.

In the second quarter, USF struck first, but their defense was the reason why. On Upper Iowa's first possession of the quarter, quarterback Brent Lammers, who was back for the first time since his injury two weeks ago, looked for an out route on the right side, and was intercepted by linebacker Kyle Campiotti, who took it back 67 yards untouched to pay dirt to give the visitors the 7-0 lead.

Later in the quarter, it was Upper Iowa's turn to take the ball away. After three consecutive punts, USF was looking for momentum going into halftime, and they were looking to do it through the air. However, a Ian Fieber pass was intercepted by Jordan Rommes on a post route at the 10-yard line, and the junior safety ran it back to the 42 to set up good field position for the Peacock offense. Four plays later, Lammers through one of the best passes of his career on a fade route to Keagan Pinter to the corner of the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown to even the game, 7-7. The Cougars were looking for more before the end of the half, but Fieber was again intercepted, this time by Mitchel Siech, and the teams went to the locker rom tied.

The second half is when the visitors started to create momentum, and it started right away. After UIU forced a punt on the opening possession, USF caught a break when Jesse Vizzini called for a fair catch and the ball went through his hands, and the Cougars recovered on the Upper Iowa 21-yard line. The Peacock defense, as it did all game as has all season, held strong to force a field goal, and the visitors led 10-7.

After a Nate Skare punt, Sioux Falls put together their best drive of the day, going 61 yards in 13 plays in 5:36 that resulted in a second field goal to lead 13-7. In the fourth quarter, USF added their only offensive score of the day with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Fieber to Ty Smith to lead 19-7. That would put the dagger in the day, as the Peacocks would struggle to move the ball offensively.

The second half was the difference, as USF outscored Upper Iowa 12-0, and outgained the Peacocks 220-71 in the final two quarters. For the gam, USF led 336-237, and UIU was held to just 70 yards rushing after a historic performance a week ago.

Lammers finished 17-33 through the air for 167 with a touchdown and an interception in the game. On the ground, Ryan Parmely finished with 44 yards on 15 carrie. Defensively, Schwickerath was absolutely everywhere, finishing with 18 tackles including 12 solo stops. The senior also added 2.0 tackles for loss as well. Rommes tallied 12 tackles, with 8 solos, and added 1 TFL as well. Siech and Thompson added five tackles apiece. In all, UIU finished with eight tackles for loss.

Upper Iowa, who has not won seven games in a single season since 1997, will have to wait a week for that feat as they travel to Wayne, Neb. next Saturday, Nov. 11 to close out the 2017 season. The matchup with the Wayne State Wildcats is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Bob Cunningham Field.