The Peacock football team got the start they wanted on Saturday at Harms-Eischeid Stadium in Fayette. Upper Iowa took a 14-0 lead scoring touchdowns on two of their first three possessions, but Minnesota State University Moorhead took advantage of two massive plays and added two more scoring drives in the second quarter to take a 24-14 lead into the locker room at halftime. UIU was the only team to put points on the scoreboard in the second half, but the Peacocks came up three points shy as a game-tying, 34-yard field goal try sailed wide left with 19 seconds to play. The 24-21 decision moved the Dragons to 1-1 on the year, while Upper Iowa drops to 0-2.
 
The teams battled through tough conditions as rain fell throughout the 60 minutes of action. Upper Iowa outgained their guests 299 to 271 in total yards including a 213 to 180 advantage in passing yards. The Peacock offense ran 75 plays including 45 rushes. The running game was fueled by Desean Phillips' 70 yards and a score and Willy Camacho's 34 yards.
 
Marcus Orr threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in his second start of the season. Orr found Camacho four times for 52 yards, but connected with Cole Ewald seven times for 93 yards and a touchdown on a beautiful post route into the endzone from 33 yards out to bring the home team within three points early in the fourth quarter. Richard Kamara had three catches for 49 yards and Jahani Wright pulled in two grabs for 22 yards and a score when he settled into a hole in the Dragons' zone.
 
Upper Iowa's defense was paced by RJ Knaack, who posted 10 tackles including two for loss and a sack. Rhett Smith registered six stops and Zacarius Murray and Trevor Thompson each notched five tackles. Tyler Owen forced a big fumble that Collin Jones dove on, and Baxter Bohr recorded a sack deep in Dragon territory. The Peacock defense really hit their stride as the game went; MSUM's offense only gained 73 total yards in the second half and only ran 10 plays for minus-six yards on their final four possessions as UIU tried to rally from behind.
 
The Peacocks were feeling good on both offense and defense after posting two quick scores to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. 

MSU Moorhead scratched the scoreboard for the first time near the end of the first quarter when Tommy Falk found Gage Florence running free in the Peacock secondary. Florence caught the pass just over midfield and then raced to the pylon for the Dragons' first touchdown. 

The Dragons tied the game thanks to their special teams a few possessions later. The visitors took advantage of a bouncing snap on an Upper Iowa punt attempt. Kolby Vander Wal scooped up the ball at the 12-yard line and scampered into the endzone to tie the game at 14-all.

Ryan Riedel hit a 27-yard field goal to push the Dragons ahead by three and MSUM grew their advantage to 10 points prior to halftime with a touchdown pass from Falk to Carter Birrenkott from the eight-yard line.

After Ewald's touchdown slimmed the margin to three points, 24-21, the Peacocks needed a play to swing the momentum back in their favor. With six minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Peacocks got the ball back at their own 44-yard line after Owen's forced fumble and Jones' subsequent recovery. UIU's offense didn't move the ball, but a roughing the kicker personal foul on a Peacock punt gave the home team a second chance for one final scoring drive.
 
On fourth and 12, Orr found Wright over the middle for 17 yards and a first down to the Dragons' 27-yard line. After a pair of short runs, Orr hit Camacho for 10 yards and another first down at the 14-yard line. The Peacocks took two shots into the endzone, but with 19 seconds on the clock turned to their field goal unit and Kyle Seefeldt to tie the game from 34 yards out.
 
The Dragons used two of their three second-half timeouts before the teams lined up for the big field goal attempt. The kick sailed just to the left of the upright and MSU Moorhead took a knee to leave Fayette with a win.
 
Next Saturday, Upper Iowa will head north to the University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Sept. 17. The Peacocks and Bulldogs are slated for a 6 p.m. kickoff next week in north east Minnesota.