THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa will suit up for their final game of the 2021 season on Saturday, Nov. 13 in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Peacocks will take on the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls at Bob Young Field. The Peacocks come into the NSIC South Division battle with a 1-9 mark overall, while the Cougars have enjoyed a solid season with their 7-3 mark. UIU is coming off a 40-12 loss at Winona State University, while USF defeated Wayne State College at home 38-17. Two weeks ago, the Cougars fell 14-10 at home to Winona State, but the Cougars bounced back with wins over Minnesota State University, Mankato, 45-35, and Wayne State. Sioux Falls averages over 31 points per game, while Upper Iowa is scoring 17 per contest. The Cougars offense is balanced with 2,151 rushing yards and 2,031 passing yards this season. USF has converted on 43% of their third downs opportunities this season, while UIU has moved the chains just 29% of the time.

LIVE OPTIONS... This week's season finale can be streamed 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 and a webcast are all available online at UIUPeacocks.com/Live. 

THE SERIES... Sioux Falls holds a 7-1 lead in the series, which began just nine years ago. In 2018 and 2019, the Cougars rode explosive first halves to a 34-7 win in Sioux Falls, S.D and a 47-10 win in Fayette two years ago. In 2017, the No. 13 Cougars came to Harms-Eischeid Stadium for Senior Day and the two teams locked up in a defensive battle. The teams went to the halftime break tied at 7-7, but a pair of Cougar field goals and a touchdown were the only marks to scratch into the scoreboard in the second half as USF came away with a 19-7 win. The close decision in 2017 snapped a streak of three straight dominant performances by the Cougars, who had posted a 51-7 win in 2016, 69-20 win in 2015 and a 45-21 win in 2014. During the 2013 contest in Fayette, Chris Smith set the single-season mark for rushing yards in a season (1,706); and more importantly, his 258 yards and three touchdowns fueled UIU to victory, 30- 28, over the Cougars. In 2012's wild shootout in South Dakota, which was the first-ever meeting between Upper Iowa and Sioux Falls, the nationally-ranked Cougars jumped all over the Peacocks early taking a 37-0 lead. However, UIU quarterback Cole Jaeschke put the team on his right arm and rallied the Peacocks with the greatest passing performance in Upper Iowa history. He threw for 606 yards on 43 completions on 78 attempts; all three totals set Peacock and NSIC records. Sioux Falls held on for a 54-41 win in the series opener.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET… The Cougars, who were receiving votes in the AFCA Top 25 poll, used a high-scoring second quarter and a powerful rushing attack to post a 47-10 win over the Peacocks at Harms-Eischeid Stadium. After the Cougars scored the game's first touchdown midway through the first quarter, the Peacocks answered with a 12-play, 64-yard drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal. The drive was highlighted by a go-route between Zach Reader and Lane Canny that connected for 35 yards on a third and seven from midfield. Sioux Falls erupted in the second quarter with 21 points thanks to 184 yards of total offense and a pair of interceptions on defense. The Cougars scored their three touchdowns on Walters' second scoring pass, this one for 30 yards to Nate Johnson, a 16-yard interception return by Tucker Stout and a 58-yard run by Thuro Reisdorfer with a minute to play before halftime. When the game ended, the Cougars posted large advantages in several categories including first downs (29-14), rushing yards (331-87), total offense yards (454-261) and takeaways (2-1). Sioux Falls kept possession of the ball for 20:05 of the possible 30 minutes in the second half. Upper Iowa did record four sacks and eight tackles for loss in the game including two by Laith Smith and 1.5 from Erik Hansen.
 
GET YOUR HANDS UP... The Peacock special teams has posted six blocked kicks this season, which ranks eighth in the nation and leads the NSIC. None were bigger than Kyle Domin's block of an extra point try in overtime against Wayne State that secured the team's only win of the year. Domin now has three blocks on the season, which ranks as the top mark in all of NCAA Division II. Ben Houselog, Isaac Pope, and DJ Green Jr. have all gotten their hands on opponents kicks as well. Of note, Sioux Falls is one of 22 teams in the nation to not allow a blocked kick this season.
 
DEFENSIVE LEADERS… The Peacock defense is led up front by Erik Hansen, Laith Smith, Zach Wegmann, Kyle Domin, Samson Tufui and Myles McHaney IV. The group of defensive linemen have created havoc for many offensive lines this year combining for 45.5 tackles for loss including 21.5 sacks. Hansen leads the way in the six-pack of rushers with 20 tackles for loss (89 yards) and 8.5 sacks (63 yards). Hansen's tackles for loss rank as the fourth best total in the nation, while his sack tally is 23rd in the country. Both totals are the highest among defensive players in the Northern Sun. While the defensive line has been living in enemy territory, the linebackers and secondary have been racking up the tackles. Safety Joey Rattin and corner back DJ Green Jr. lead the team with 65 and 58 tackles, respectively, while linebacker Brody Bazile has registered 51 tackles including 5.5 for loss. Hansen is fourth on the team in tackles with 45 and linebacker Charlie Caruso rounds out the top five with 38 stops. Two Peacocks have a pair of interceptions including Green and Terrell Powell, while Green, Powell and McHaney each have two forced fumbles as well.
 
OFFENSIVE LEADERS... DJ Emsweller, UIU's standout wide receiver this season, has put together his best season in 2021. The Tampa, Fla. native has 655 yards and nine touchdowns on 36 catches.  The UIU record for touchdown receptions in a season is 16, but with two more, Emsweller would be tied for the third-most in a season in Peacock football history. Marcus Orr has risen to the top of the depth chart at quarterback this season. He is averaging 226.8 yards per game in six appearances (five starts) and is completing 61.4% of his passes with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. Three rushers have paced the ground attack for UIU this season. Willy Camacho has run for 593 yards with a score, while Keontae Luckett has picked up 406 yards and four touchdowns and Deseasn Phillips has come on to run for 177 yards and two scores.