Upper Iowa rallied from a 24-6 deficit midway through the third quarter to post a 27-24 victory over Bemidji State University, who is receiving votes in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, on Homecoming Weekend in Fayette. The win was UIU's second win eight match-ups with the Beavers and improved UIU's record to 3-4 overall, while the Beavers fell to 5-2 on the season.
The Beavers opened the game with 14 points in the first eight minutes of the game, but it was the Peacocks' 21 points in the final 21 minutes of the game that proved to be the difference. Upper Iowa trailed 24-6 with six minutes to play in the third quarter when
Tyreec Washington blocked a Bemidji State punt, scooped up the ball and then returned it 31 yards for a touchdown to put the home team down 11 points.
In the fourth quarter, Upper Iowa faced a fourth down at the Bemidji State 26-yard line.
Ryan Parmely rushed for 5 yards to pick up the first down and keep UIU's drive alive. Two plays later quarterback
Brent Lammers found
Alexander Stevens down the left sideline for a 20-yard touchdown bringing the Peacocks within striking distance, 24-20.
On the Beavers' ensuing possession,
Joe Busch got into the backfield and made contact with the BSU quarterback forcing a floater over the middle of the field.
Tanner Thompson reacted to the ball, intercepted the pass and returned it to midfield. The Peacocks converted the turnover into a touchdown six plays later on a 1-yard dive by Lammers. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 33-yard completion to Stevens to move UIU into the redzone.The score came with six and a half minutes to play.
Trailing by three, 27-24, Bemidji State moved the ball 29 yards in 11 plays, but took over four minutes off the clock. The Beaver drive ended when a fourth down pass was broken up by
Tanner Thompson at the UIU 40-yard line.
BSU got the ball back one last time, but could not push the ball off their side of the field. When UIU made a second-straight fourth down stop, the home team took over and needed only one kneel down to close out the game.
Bemidji State built their 24-6 lead thanks to big plays. BSU's Landon Jones took the opening kick back 94 yards for a quick 7-0 lead. After UIU got a 22-yard field goal from
Jonathan Argueta-Herrera, but the Beavers followed with an 11-play, 61-yard drive to go ahead 14-3 with seven and a half minutes to play in the first quarter.
UIU made it 14-6 heading into the locker room when Argueta-Herrera pushed a field goal through the uprights from 37 yards away as time expired.
The Beavers put the first 10 points on the scoreboard in the third quarter thanks to a 29-yard rush from Andrew Lackowski and a 28-yard field goal to push their lead to 24-6 with 8:48 on the clock in the third quarter.
Upper Iowa held Bemidji State to just 106 passing yards, but the Beavers did rush for 229 yards. The Peacocks rushed for 151, but passed for 248 yards but threw three interceptions in the game.
UIU's defense was the difference in the game led by
Nic Patterson. Patterson recorded 15 tackles including 10 solo stops and
Mitchel Siech added 12 tackles.
Jordan Rommes rounded out the linebacking crew with 10 tackles.
Ryan Parmely rushed for 88 yards, while Lammers threw for 248 yards on 23 completions. Stevens caught 8 passes for 130 yards and a score.
UIU will play on the road the next two weeks before returning for their only home game in November against Wayne State College. The Peacocks will face the Huskies of St. Cloud State University on the road next Saturday, Oct. 20.
