GAME ELEVEN || SATURDAY, NOV. 16, 2019 || 12 PM
FAYETTE, IOWA || HARMS-EISCHEID STADIUM
MSU MAVERICKS AT UIU PEACOCKS

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THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa welcomes the NSIC's best on Saturday in the form of the No. 4 Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato. Minnesota State remains the only unbeaten team in the Northern Sun Conference and claimed the NSIC Overall and South Division Championships with their three-point win at the University of Sioux Falls last Saturday. The Peacocks will honor their seniors prior to the game and then look to pull off the upset in their 2019 finale and post their first win over the Mavericks. 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... The Mavericks have won all thirteen 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. Four 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 rushed for 268 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 192 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air to claim a 47-7 victory in Mankato.
 
HANSON'S LONG LOST BROTHER? UIU's junior defensive end Erik Hansen is having a great year, but he is not a long lost brother of the pop band Hanson. He is delivering hits week in and week out though. Hansen is ranked 4th in the nation and 2nd in the Northern Sun in sacks per game with 1.15 and 13th nationally and 3rd in the conference in tackles for loss per game with 1.8. The Burlington, Illinois native is second on the team in tackles with 46 including 30 solo stops. Hansen has racked up 18 tackles for loss (108 yards) and 11.5 sacks, while adding 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. Senior Michael Sparkman leads the defense with 51 tackles.
 
OFFENSIVE LEADERS… The Peacocks are generating 298.5 yards of total offense per game this season with 125 yards per game coming on the ground and 173 yards through the air. Zach Reader has accounted for 804 yards this season with 697 passing yards and 107 rushing yards, while fellow first-year quarterback Myles Herrera has passed for 604 and run for 65 yards. LeVon Bellemy and Matt McDonald lead the back field with 471 and 449 rushing yards, respectively, while Jon Deprey has added 119 this year. The receivers are led by Alexander Stevens, who has caught 40 passes for 599 yards and 8 scores, while Bralin Simon has grabbed 32 catches for 394 yards and Brandyn Tulloch has snared 26 balls for 252 yards.
 
DEFENSIVE LEADERS... UIU has gotten big games from multiple players this season on defense. After losing their two leaders, Mitchel Siech and Isaac Barrett, the Peacocks stuck together and new leaders emerged. Including Hansen's great numbers, UIU is ranked 27th nationally and 3rd in the NSIC in tackles for loss with 8 per game. After Hansen's 18 tackles for loss this year, sophomore Laith Smith has tallied 9.5 for loss. The Peacocks have also done well against the pass this year. Upper Iowa is ranked 27th in the country and 4th in the conference in passing yards allowed per game with 175.7. Daniel Ruffin Jr. (36 tackles, 4 interceptions) leads UIU's secondary against opponent's pass attack.
 
SENIOR SENDOFF... The Peacocks are saying thank you to 14 seniors on Saturday. The group includes Isaac Barrett, Austin Buck, Kyle Griffin, Denzel Hunter, Sam Jennings, Matt McDonald, Billy O'Neill, Christian Ruff, Daniel Ruffin Jr., Mitchel Siech, Ty Sohn, Michael Sparkman, Brandyn Tulloch and Tyreec Washington.
 
LOOKING CLOSER AT THE #4 MAVERICKS… Minnesota State improved to 10-0 on the season after defeating Sioux Falls 42-39 on the road last weekend. During the last six weeks, the Mavericks have outscored their opponents 350-77. As a team, MSU is averaging 46.4 points and 526.0 yards of offense a game this season. The Mavericks are averaging 306.0 rushing yards a game, while allowing just 65.5 rushing yards a game. Senior Nate Gunn leads the Maverick rushing attack with 1,297 yards and 21 touchdowns, while freshman Kaleb Sleezer has tallied 499 yards and five touchdown carries. Senior Ryan Schlichte has thrown for 1,109 yards and 12 touchdowns, while junior JD Ekowa has thrown for 764 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Shane Zylstra is pacing the Maverick receiving corps with 54 catches for 1,093 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Maverick defense has allowed just 11.6 points and 231.1 yards of offense per game this season. Opposing teams own a 27% conversion rate on third down this season and have reached the red zone just 13 times. As a unit, MSU has notched 37 sacks, while giving up nine. Senior Zach Robertson is leading the MSU defense with 49 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss and 4.0 sacks. Junior Cole Schroedermeier has tallied 43 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions, while junior Jack Leius has tallied 45 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss.