Southwest Minnesota State University held the lead at Harms-Eischeid Stadium for exactly 69 seconds. Unfortunately for the Peacock football team and the Upper Iowa University Homecoming crowd, it was the final 69 seconds of the game. The Peacocks raced out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, but the Mustangs outscored their hosts 20-0 over the final two and a half quarters to win 20-14 and move to 2-3 on the year. After the loss, UIU drops to 0-5 on the season.
 
During Upper Iowa's first four possessions, the team built a 14-0 lead fueled by a pair of Marcus Orr to DJ Emsweller touchdown passes. The first four drives consumed a massive share of the possession clock to the tune of a six-minute advantage with the ball.
 
Running back Willy Camacho opened the game with a 22-yard rush and the drive was highlighted by two hook-ups between Orr and Emsweller. The first was an 11-yard pass and catch on third and eight and the second was a 20-yard touchdown between the pair.
 
After the UIU defense forced three-straight, three-and-outs by the Mustangs, the Peacocks took over at their own 20-yard line three minutes into the second quarter. Orr orchestrated a five-play, 80-yard drive that saw Keontae Luckett run for 16 yards before Orr found Emsweller on the sideline. The receiver caught the ball and then avoided two tacklers with a block from Alexander Stevens and raced to the end zone for his second touchdown of the day and fourth in the last two weeks.
 
The Mustangs were able to pull within one score with 17 seconds to play prior to halftime. Southwest Minnesota State capped off a 14-play, 80-yard drive with a touchdown on a three-yard pass play on second and goal. Steven Nava found Nathan Stearns on the touchdown pass for SMSU.
 
Neither team scored in the third quarter as both defenses put up a wall at midfield and didn't allow either offense to cross the 50-yard line except for one Upper Iowa possession. DJ Green Jr. intercepted a pass from the Mustangs and gave the ball to the offense at the SMSU 36-yard line. The Peacocks got behind the chains right away with a holding call, but Luckett picked up the first down with runs of 14 and seven yards and pushed the ball to the 19-yard line. After a sack, UIU found themselves in a long down-and-distance situation again. Two plays later, the Peacocks went for a fourth down conversion from the 16-yard line, but threw an interception in the end zone to close out their threat.
 
SMSU began their ensuing drive just before the fourth quarter opened and carried into the final frame tying the game at 14-14 fueled by a 10-play, 80-yard drive that was highlighted by three big third-down conversions including a 31-yard pass play from Andrew Haidet to Keilan Smith. The big pass play set up a 12-yard touchdown reception by Zeke Robinson from Haidet.
 
Upper Iowa broke into the red zone later in the fourth quarter at the 19-yard line on a second-down run by Luckett, but couldn't convert on third or fourth down and turned the ball over on downs again at the 23-yard line with 2:29 to play in the game.
 
Southwest Minnesota State took the momentum of their defensive stop and turned it into a game-winning drive that covered 77 yards in four plays. SMSU took advantage of back-to-back, big pass plays that included a 22-yard third-down conversion to Albert Lemon and a 51-yard touchdown to Robinson. SMSU lost the snap on the extra point try to take a 20-14 lead with 1:09 showing on the clock.
 
Upper Iowa quickly pushed the ball into Mustang territory as Orr found Stevens on five of his six completions including a fourth down and third down to keep the drive alive. The Peacocks had a first down at the SMSU 22-yard line with 10 seconds to play. But the Mustangs ended the threat and secured the win with an interception thanks to the hands of Ken Truitt.
 
The Peacocks picked up a 339-257 advantage in total offense, but couldn't take advantage of three strip sacks by the defense. UIU made the Mustang quarterbacks put the ball on the ground three times, but couldn't find the recovery that could have swung momentum heavily in their favor. UIU held SMSU to just 8 yards rushing on 27 attempts and recorded six sacks in the game.
 
Kyle Domin led the UIU defense with 9 tackles including 2 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, while Charlie Caruso added 8 tackles including a pair for loss. RJ Knack and Brody Bazile each added 6 tackles and half a tackle for loss.
 
Orr threw for 270 yards on 26 completions with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Stevens pulled in nine catches for 67 yards, while Emsweller caught four balls for 94 yards and two scores. Xavier Saldana also grabbed four catches but was held to 13 yards. Luckett picked up 56 yards on 14 carries, while Camacho added 30 yards on 10 rushes.
 
The Peacocks travel to Sioux Falls, S.D. next Saturday, Oct. 9 for another NSIC South Division battle. Upper Iowa and Augustana University will kick off at 1 p.m.