GAME SEVEN || SATURDAY, OCT. 13, 2018 || 2 PM
FAYETTE, IOWA | HARMS-EISCHEID STADIUM
UPPER IOWA PEACOCKS VS. BEMIDJI STATE
THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa will celebrate Homecoming weekend in Fayette with a home game against the Beavers of Bemidji State University. The Peacocks are coming off a great, complete-game victory at Minot State University last Saturday. UIU performed in all three phases of the game and dominated the contest for their second win. The Beavers are receiving votes in the latest AFCA Division II poll after scoring a 25-21 win over the University of Sioux Falls last Saturday. The only blemish on BSU's record this season is a 26-19 loss at the No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth.
LIVE OPTIONS... Fans that can't make it back for Homecoming Weekend in Fayette can watch live on KCRG-TV 9.3, listen on AM 950 KOEL, follow the game online through live stats and a webcast at UIUPeacocks.com/Live, or stream the game live through the Stretch Internet app on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple or Android TV.
TAILGATE CONCERT... Beau Timmerman will be playing live in the Bemiss Distributing Tailgate Area from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The live music is being presented by the Peacock Tailgate Asscociation and the UIU Athletics Department.
THE SERIES... The Beavers and Peacocks renew their series this Saturday with BSU holding a 6-1 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 four 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 two scores in UIU's win. Two years ago, the teams kicked off the 2016 season next to the lake in Bemidji. The Beavers led by twenty at halftime, but Upper Iowa fought back in the third and early fourth quarters to cut the margin to just six points, 30-24. Turnovers in the fourth quarter slowed the comeback as Upper Iowa dropped the season opener 38-24.
NSIC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK... The Northern Sun awarded two NSIC Player of the Week honors to Peacock football players this week. Junior linebacker
Mitchel Siech was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week and freshman kicker
Jonathan Argueta-Herrera earned the NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week award. Siech intercepted two passes in UIU's 44-9 win at Minot State. The second interception came at the end of the third quarter and the junior returned it 26 yards to the end zone for a Peacock touchdown. Siech recorded 3 tackles in the game with two tackles for loss, including a sack. Argueta-Herrera scored 14 points for the Peacocks with three field goals and five extra points on Saturday. The field goals came from 40, 35 and 44 yards as the freshman improved to 6-for-6 on the year. He also recorded 543 yards on 10 kicks for a 54.3-yard average and 122 yards on 4 punts for a 30.5-yard average.
SCORING ON DEFENSE... Upper Iowa's defense has scored a pair of touchdowns this season thanks to a 20-yard sack fumble return by
Christian Ruff at home against Augustana University and a 26-yard interception return by
Mitchel Siech on the road last Saturday at Minot State University. The two scores leads NSIC defenses and is the 14th most in the nation.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS... In football, as in life, nothing is more important than your first impression. The Peacocks have been successful gaining first downs on offense, but opponents have also enjoyed success racking up a new set of downs. Upper Iowa is ranked 22nd in the country and 3rd in the conference with 138 first downs on offense. Unfortunately, UIU's opponents have also moved the chains 138 times, which ranks the team's first down defense 14th in the NSIC.
STICKY HANDS... Upper Iowa's defense has been a menace to opposing quarterbacks when it comes to interceptions. The Peacocks have nine interceptions this season led by
Mitchel Siech's three and
Daniel Ruffin Jr.'s two. UIU's nine picks rank 21st in the nation and 3rd in the Northern Sun. With the team's five fumble recoveries, Upper Iowa has 14 turnovers gained this season, which ranks 19th in NCAA Division II and 4th in the country.
GROUND ASSAULT... Upper Iowa used a constant ground attack last Saturday to push the Beavers back on their heels. The Peacocks rushed for a season-high 290 yards on 52 carries featuring seven different ball carriers.
Ryan Parmely led the way in his first game back with 81 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts.
Jon Deprey carried 10 times for 73 yards and
Matt McDonald picked up 56 yards on 6 attempts including a 38-yard run. The big day on the ground improved UIU's rushing yards per game average from 88.2 to 121.8.
