GAME ELEVEN || SATURDAY, NOV. 10, 2018 || 12 PM
MANKATO, MINN. || BLAKESLEE STADIUM
UPPER IOWA PEACOCKS AT #1 MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS
 
THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa (3-7) heads to Mankato, Minn. this Saturday for an NSIC South Division battle against the No. 1 Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Mavericks have been dominant this season posting a 10-0 record with a scoring margin of nearly 28 points a game.  MSU's closest decision was a two-point win, 38-36, over Augustana University in week two. UIU has more than their fair share of tough losses this season. Four of UIU's losses came by a total of 15 points; Augustana (-3), Southwest Minnesota State University (-1), MSU Moorhead (-4) and Wayne State (-7).

LIVE OPTIONS... Fans that can't make it to the game can 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.
 
THE SERIES... The Mavericks have won all twelve meetings in the series, which began in 2004 and 2005 when Upper Iowa was moving up to NCAA Division II and then restarted when Minnesota State gained membership in the Northern Sun Conference prior to the 2008 season.  The Peacocks have struggled to score over the years against Minnesota State averaging under 11 points per game. In 2014, the Peacocks held a 14-7 lead after the first quarter, but dropped a 45-14 decision. Three seasons ago in Fayette, UIU led 10-7 at halftime, only to surrender 31 second-half points to lose 38-10. The Peacocks held a first half lead over the Mavericks for the third straight year during the 2016 matchup in Mankato, Minn. The difference was that UIU stayed close throughout the second half. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Peacocks pulled with five, 26-21. Minnesota State didn't let Upper Iowa get any closer though as the Mavericks scored a final touchdown with just over four minutes to play in the game securing a 33-23 victory. Last season, the Mavericks claimed a huge 359-14 advantage in rushing yards on the way to a 52-7 win in Fayette.
 
MILESTONES... Quarterback Brent Lammers ran for 78 yards and threw for 356 yards last week versus Wayne State to move over the 7,000-yard mark in career total offense for UIU and the 6,000-yard mark for career passing yards. Senior wide receiver Skyler Lehman caught 7 passes for 92 yards pushing his way into the 1,000-yard receiving club for his career.
 
ALMOST THERE... Running back Ryan Parmely is closing in on 2,000 all-purpose yards in his four sea­sons in Peacock blue. Parmely needs just 75 yards rushing or receiving to climb past the 2K mark. The senior has tallied 1,760 rushing yards and 165 receiving yards in his 36 games. Senior linebacker Nic Patterson is enjoying his best season with the Peacocks. He has taken over the lead in tackles on the team with 89 this season including 54 solo tackles. Patterson needs just 11 more tackles to hit the century mark this year.
 
TURNOVERS... The Peacocks have gained 20 turnovers (39th NCAA DII, 3rd NSIC) this year including 15 interceptions (12th NCAA DII, 2nd NSIC) and 5 fumble recoveries. Upper Iowa has stayed ahead of their giveaways (16) to keep a turnover margin of 0.4 (42nd NCAA DII, 4th NSIC). Daniel Ruffin Jr. leads the team with 4 interceptions, while Jordan Wymer and Mitchel Siech each have 3 and Tanner Thompson has 2.
 
RUNNING BY COMMITTEE... Upper Iowa has rushed for 1,234 yards this season and seven players have carried the ball at least nine times. Antoine Conner leads the team with 325 yards on 85 carries, while Parmely has 272 yards on 78 carries. Lammers has rushed for 263 yards on 117 carries and Jon Deprey has 157 yards on 51 rushes. Lehman, Matt McDonald and Billy O'Neill have combined for 199 yards on 37 carries.
 
IN GOOD HANDS... UIU has 2,757 receiving yards this season and six players have more than 20 catches and 275 yards. Alexander Stevens leads the hands group with 54 catches for 791 yards and 6 scores, while Brandyn Tulloch has 51 grabs for 438 yards and a score. Lehman has caught 45 passes for 470 yards and 4 touchdowns and Bralin Simon has 32 grabs for 303 yards and a score. DJ Emsweller battled injuries this year, but grabbed 31 balls for 350 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Keagan Pinter has 22 catches for 297 yards and a td.