GAME FIVE || SATURDAY, OCT. 5, 2019 || 3 PM
FAYETTE, IOWA || HARMS-EISCHEID STADIUM
UIU PEACOCKS VS. NSU WOLVES

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THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa will host the Wolves of Northern State University on Saturday. The Peacocks will play their first NSIC cross-divisional game of the year at 3 p.m. at Harms-Eischeid Stadium as part of UIU's Homecoming Weekend. The Peacocks will be playing for their first win of the season, while the Wolves are looking to build momentum off last week's win over St. Cloud State University. UIU has dropped a pair of one-score games at home this year to Concordia University-St. Paul (28-23) and Soutwest Minnesota State University (35-28). The game will be broadcast live on KCRG-TV 9.2 and on AM 950 KOEL. The game can be streamed through the NSIC app on Roku and Amazon Fire devices, as well as Apple and Android televisions. Live stats and a webcast are also available online at UIUPeacocks.com/Live.
 
THE SERIES… Upper Iowa owns a 5-2 record against Northern State since UIU moved up to NCAA Division II. The Peacocks and Wolves met four times from 2006-09 including a pair of games at each team's home stadium, but have only seen each other three times in the last nine seasons.  Northern State earned 26-20 and 55-35 wins over the first two years, but Upper Iowa bounced back with 31-26 and 42-35 wins to even the series at two wins apiece. After a three-year break in the series, UIU traveled to Aberdeen, South Dakota in 2013.  The Peacocks forced a fumble late in the fourth quarter and scored the go-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion with 35 seconds to play to win 24-17. UIU made it four in a row with a home win, 17-6, to open the 2015 season. UIU's defense held NSU to only 12 first downs and 235 yards of total offense, while the Peacock offense moved the chains for 24 first downs and 419 yards of offense. The teams last met in Aberdeen in 2017 as UIU posted their fifth straight victory over the Wolves. Upper Iowa pulled away from their hosts after dominating statistically on both sides of the ball. The Peacocks capitalized on turnovers by converting them into touchdowns and allowed just 154 yards of total offense to the Wolves. UIU racked up 410 yards of total offense thanks to 270 yards through the air and 140 yards on the ground.

BACKING 'EM UP... The Peacock defense has been working hard to back opposing offenses up all season. Upper Iowa has registered the third most tackles for loss in the Northern Sun Conference and 30^th most in the nation with 32 through the first four games. Erik Hansen (6), Mitchel Siech (5.5) and Laith Smith (5) lead UIU in tackles behind the line of scrimmage, but 13 other Peacocks have recorded at least a half tackle for loss this season. The losses have added up to 104 yards against the opponents so far. Hansen has racked up 4.5 sacks from his defensive line position, which ranks third in the Northern Sun.
 
KEEPING IT CLEAN… The Wolves and Peacocks have kept the field clear of laundry through their first four games. Northern State ranks 13^th nationally and 2^nd in the conference, while Upper Iowa is 16^th in the country and 3^rd in the NSIC in penalties per game. Both teams are being penalized less than 5 times per game so far this season.
 
POSSESSION DOWN… Third down will prove to be a pivotal moment this Saturday each time the Peacocks are forced into the possession down. Upper Iowa is converting 34.9% of their third downs this season, which ranks 11^th in the NSIC. Northern State's defense is one of the stingiest in the conference on third down allowing just 27.1% (19^th NCAA, 3^rd NSIC) of their opponents' attempts to gain a first down. Early downs will be key to managing the distance needed for UIU when third downs do come up in the game.
 
RETURN TO SENDER… The kicking game could play a big part in how Saturday's game plays out. Coming into week five of the season, the Wolves are averaging the 3^rd most return yards in the NSIC at 23.33 per kick return and they coverage unit is equally as strong allowing opponents the 4^th least amount of return yards at 16 per return. On the flip side, UIU's kick return average is 15 yards per return (14^th NSIC) and they are allowing 21.88 yards per return (13^th NSIC). Fans can play close attention to these plays as they directly result in the starting field position for both teams.
 
QUICK HITS… UIU's junior wide receiver Alexander Stevens has hauled in 5 touchdown passes this season, which is the top mark among all Northern Sun receivers and ranks 10^th in the nation… NSU's quarterback Hunter Trautman is enjoying a great start to the 2019 campaign; he has thrown for the most yards in the NSIC with 882 completing 19.25 passes per game, which ranks second in the conference.