Upper Iowa lost a Northern Sun Conference South Division game at Winona State University on Saturday, 40-12. The Peacocks fell to 1-9 on the season, while the Warriors improved to 6-4. Winona State used a 128-29 advantage in rushing yards and a defensive score to grab the victory in Winona.
The Peacocks scratched the scoreboard first as the first quarter drew to a close. A muffed punt by Winona State gave Upper Iowa the ball at the 19-yard line. UIU didn't waste any time converting the Warrior miscue into points. Quarterback
Marcus Orr hit tight end
Isaiah Gray for a 16-yard gain setting up first and goal from the three-yard line. Orr found running back
Desean Phillips on the next play for a touchdown. The extra point was blocked giving UIU a 6-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
On their ensuing possession, the home team answered their guest's score with a five-play, 66-yard drive and added the extra point to take a 7-6 lead. Midway through the second quarter, Orr threw an interception that Richard Azunna grabbed and returned for a 64-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead for the Warriors. After a three-and-out, WSU got great field position and used six plays to cover 35 yards and a third touchdown in the frame to take a 20-7 lead into halftime.
Kyle Domin blocked the extra point notching his third blocked kick of the year. In the second quarter, Upper Iowa had 15 offensive snaps, but only gained 38 yards in over eight minutes of possession.
In the second half, each team only had four possessions apiece. Winona State scored on their first three possessions and then were able to run out the clock with their last possession. The Warriors opened the scoring in the third quarter with a field goal and added a touchdown in the third and one more in the fourth quarter. Upper Iowa scored a touchdown on their second possession of the third quarter, but turned the ball over on downs at the Warrior 26 and 35-yard lines on their first and third possessions of the half.
Upper Iowa's scoring drive in the third quarter covered 71 yards in eight plays. The drive was highlighted by four completions from Orr with two going to
Xavier Saldana; both of which provided first downs for the Peacocks. After a 23-yard pass to Saldana, Orr hit Gray for a 16-yard touchdown. Beulke's extra point was blocked for a second time and Winona State's Brian Corbins Jr. scooped up the ball and returned it 79 yards for a defensive two-point conversion setting the score at 25-12.
Orr threw for 238 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on 33 attempts (20 completions). The Peacocks struggled on the ground with Phillips leading the way after 38 yards on 11 carries. In the end, UIU rushed for just 29 yards as a team. Saldana caught three passes for 52 yards, while
DJ Emsweller caught four passes for 47 yards. Gray hauled in three balls for 47 yards and a score, while
Cole Ewald snared three for 34 yards.
DJ Green Jr. recorded a team-high eight tackles, while
Joey Rattin and
Charlie Caruso each registered 5 stops.
Erik Hansen posted 1.5 tackles for loss including a half sack, while
Samson Tufui had a tackle for loss and shared the sack with Hansen.
The Peacocks will close out their 2021 season in Sioux Falls, S.D. next Saturday, Nov. 13. Upper Iowa will line up against the University of Sioux Falls for a 1 p.m. kick off.
