THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa returns to Harms-Eischeid Stadium for the Hall of Fame Game this Saturday and welcomes the No. 24 Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato for a 12 p.m. kick off. The Peacocks enter the weekend with an 0-6 record and 0-2 mark in the NSIC South, while No. 24 Minnesota State comes to Fayette with a 4-2 record overall and an 0-1 mark against the NSIC South. Last week, UIU lost a 37-20 decision at No. 25 Augustana, while MSU lost a home game to Wayne State College 35-24. The Mavericks are averaging the second-highest per game scoring average in the NSIC at 40.8 points on 469 yards of total offense per game. At halftime, the Peacock Athletics Department will recognize the newest Athletics Hall of Fame inductees; Max Edmond Jr., Travis Eggers and Mitch Norton, as well as all Hall of Famers in attendance on the field.
 
LIVE OPTIONS... The game will be broadcasted live on AM 950 KOEL and will begin airing on KCRG 9.2 at approximately 7 p.m. The game can be streamed live through most mobile devices at NSICNetwork.com/UIUPeacocks or through the NSIC Network app on Roku and Amazon Fire devices, as well as Apple and Android televisions. Live stats, live audio and more are all available online at UIUPeacocks.com/Live.
 
DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAM… Upper Iowa will not be printing gameday programs this season. Fans can access the interactive and digital gameday program at any time at UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. The digital programs are available to fans both at our games and those at home listening to or watching the action. QR Codes will also be located around the stadium to scan with your cell phone's camera that will link you directly to that game's specific digital gameday program.
 
THE SERIES... The Mavericks have won all 14 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. In 2014, the Peacocks held a 14-7 lead after the first quarter, but dropped a 45-14 decision. Six years 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. In 2018, 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. In their last get-together, Minnesota State's offense was unstoppable putting together a 73-21 victory in Fayette.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET... The nationally-ranked and undefeated (11-0) Mavericks took advantage of first half miscues by the Peacocks to claim a 31-14 at halftime in Fayette two seasons ago. MSU dominated the second half holding the ball for nearly 18 and a half minutes and outscoring their hosts 32-7 in the final two quarters. Minnesota State opened the game with an interception return for a touchdown, but Upper Iowa answered on their next possession when Zach Reader found DJ Emsweller streaking down the sideline for a 46-yard score. In the second quarter, Reader capped off a 12-play, 45-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Alexander Stevens on a slant to the goal line. After halftime, the Mavericks scored a touchdown on all six possessions except their final one when they lined up in the victory formation. In total, eight different Minnesota State players found the end zone for a score. Shane Zylstra and Justin Taormina each scored a pair of touchdowns. UIU's final points of the 2019 season came with under two minutes to play. Reader found senior Brandyn Tulloch for a 5-yard touchdown that ended an 8-play, 75-yard drive to set the final score at 73-21.Minnesota State accumulated 612 yards of total offense while holding Upper Iowa to 254 including 63 rushing yards. 

BLOCK PARTY... The Peacock special teams has posted four blocked kicks this season, which ranks fifth in the nation and leads the NSIC. Ben Houselog, Isaac Pope, DJ Green Jr. and Kyle Domin all have gotten their hands on opponents kicks.
 
GROUNDED… The Peacock defense has been tough against opponents ground games this season. Upper Iowa is ranked eighth in the nation and second in the Northern Sun in rushing defense allowing 69.8 yards per game. Brody Bazile leads the defense in tackles with 40 including 21 solo stops. Erik Hansen is second on the squad with 32 tackles, while DJ Green Jr. and Joey Rattin each have registered 31 tackles. Hansen has been a menace in opponents' back fields with 15.5 tackles for loss, which ranks as the top mark in all of NCAA Division II, including 5.5 sacks, which ranks 15^th nationally and leads the NSIC, through the first six games. Kyle Domin has notched 6 tackles for loss, while Bazile has 5.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. UIU will need to play big against the run of Minnesota State; the Mavericks average nearly 250 rushing yards per game.
 
NEXT MAN UP… Quarterback Zach Reader started last week's game at Augustana after an injury kept Marcus Orr from suiting up. Reader completed 25 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns including a pair to DJ Emsweller and one to Alexander Stevens. The passing yardage was a season-high for Upper Iowa as were the three touchdown passes.
 
GOOD HANDS TEAM… The Peacock receiving corps features five ball-catchers that have pulled in double-figure passes. Stevens leads the way with 32 receptions, which is the seventh-best total in the NSIC, for 372 yards and one score, while Emsweller has caught 20 passes for 364 yards and seven touchdowns, which ranks as the sixth-highest total in the NSIC. Xavier Saldana has snared 22 passes for 161 yards and a score. Lane Canny has 10 receptions for 144 yards, and Willy Camacho has secured 14 catches for 117 yards and a score.
 
LOOKING AHEAD... Upper Iowa will head north next weekend to play at Minot State University in Minot, N.D. The Peacocks will line up against the Beavers at 11 a.m. on Oct. 23 for the fifth and final Northern Sun cross-divisional game. UIU will be back in Fayette for Youth Day on Oct. 30 when they celebrate their seniors and take on the Wildcats of Wayne State College at 12 p.m.