GAME FIVE || SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 2018 || 3 PM
FAYETTE, IOWA | HARMS-EISCHEID STADIUM
UPPER IOWA VS. MSU MOORHEAD
 
THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa welcomes Minnesota State University Moorhead to Harms-Eischeid Stadium on Saturday for Service Appreciation Day. The game marks the first NSIC cross-division game for both teams. The Dragons have a 3-1 record using a balanced attack to average 32.8 points per game.  Upper Iowa's pass-heavy attack has led to the Peacocks averaging 26.5 points per game. UIU has scored 79 of their 106 points this season at home averaging 39.5 points per game in Fayette. Saturday's home game is UIU's third home game in the month of September, but the Peacocks will only host one game in October and one in November. Upper Iowa will play four of their final six games on the road.
 
LIVE OPTIONS… Fans that can't make the game in beautiful Northeast Iowa can tune in AM 950 KOEL, watch the game on KCRG-TV 9.2, 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 Peacocks hold a slight edge in the all-time series with the Dragons, 4-3. Two years ago in Moorhead, Minn., Upper Iowa committed two turnovers and missed two field goal attempts in a tightly-contested game and fell to the MSU Moorhead 23-21. Upper Iowa had won the last three contests including a 51-33 victory in Moorhead in 2012 and a 45-31 win in Fayette in 2011.  UIU lost their first two games in Moorhead in 2007, 31-28, and in 2010, 28-24, but claimed the inaugural match up in 2006 with a 36-13 victory at home. Four seasons ago, the Peacocks used a dominant, 30-point fourth quarter to erase a 16-point deficit and claim a 44-36 victory in Fayette. MSU Moorhead racked up 709 yards of total offense on the day, but a pair of fumbles and an interception gave the UIU offense the ball back quickly and held the Dragons at bay.
 
BLOCK PARTY... Upper Iowa is ranked 2nd in the nation and 1st in the NSIC in blocked kicks. The Peacocks have four on the season including two by Garrett Johnston and one each by Jesse Hynek and Joe Busch.
 
THE TWO SIDES OF FIRST DOWN... The Peacock offense strives for success on first down to keep the playbook wide open on second and third downs. So far this season, UIU has been producing on the opening play of each set of downs and is ranked 23rd in the country and 4th in the conference in First Down Offense. Unforturnately, the Peacock defense has been allowing the most success to opponents in the conference on the opening down and is ranked 16th in the NSIC.
 
NEARING A MILESTONE... Quarterback Brent Lammers is nearing the 1,000-yard mark in rushing for his career. He has 987 yards on the ground entering the game. Lammers leads the UIU offense, which is ranked 17th in the nation and 2nd in the NSIC in passing yards/game with an average of 296.5. The Manchester, Iowa product has 1,164 yards in the air (14th NCAA DII/2nd NSIC) and 9 passing touchdowns (19th NCAA DII/1st NSIC) this season.
 
SIECH AND ROMMES LEADING THE D... Upper Iowa's defense has been effective in opponent's backfield this season. The Peacocks are ranked 5th in the Northern Sun in sacks/game with 2.5 and 3rd in the conference in tackles for loss/game with 7.5. Senior linebacker Jordan Rommes has 3.5 sacks (3rd NSIC) and 7 tackles for loss (2nd NSIC) this season, while junior backer Mitchel Siech has a sack and 5.5 tackles for loss (7th NSIC). Siech is tops among all tacklers in the Northern Sun in solo tackles after the first four weeks; he has registered 26 solo stops and his 35 tackles are 7th best in the Northern Sun.
 
SEEING RED... The Peacock offense and defense has been playing well in the red zone this season. Upper Iowa is converting 85.7% (3rd NSIC) of their opportunities into points including 11 red zone touchdowns. The UIU defense is holding opponents to a 76.9% conversions rate (6th NSIC) with only 7 touchdowns coming when the defense is backed up inside the 20-yard line.
 
GET YOUR HANDS UP... Upper Iowa's defense has picked off 6 passes this season led by Daniel Ruffin Jr.'s pair of picks in the first two weeks. The half dozen interceptions rank 23rd in NCAA Division II and 4th in the NSIC. Siech, Jordan Wymer, Isaac Barrett and Terrell Powell have all gotten in on the act.
 
THE BROADCAST TEAM... Play-by-play announcer, and 1991 Upper Iowa alum, Joe Stasi is in his 16th consecutive season as the "Voice of the Peacocks" and 18th overall. This week he will be joined by his brother and voice of the Oelwein Huskies, Dan Stasi. The AM 950 KOEL pre-game show is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.