THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL… Upper Iowa returns to Harms-Eischeid Stadium in Fayette for this Saturday's showdown with the Beavers of Bemidji State University at 3 p.m. The Peacocks enter the weekend still hunting for their first victory of the season, while the Beavers snapped an 0-2 start with a win last Saturday. The game on Saturday is sponsored by Fayette County Farm Bureau and their Farm Strong initiative. Peacock football alumni in attendance will be recognized on the field at halftime.
 
LIVE OPTIONS... Fans that can't be in Fayette for this year's FarmStrong Game have several options to follow along in real time. Live stats and a webcast are available through links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live. In addition, the game 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. The game will also be broadcast live on Eastern Iowa's CW 9.3 along with the broadcast duo of Joe Stasi and Josh McGehee.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS… Upper Iowa has partnered with HomeTown Ticketing for all six of this season's football games at Harms-Eischeid Stadium. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at UIUPeacocks.com/Tickets or by paying cash at the North or South Gate. Upper Iowa students and Peacock faculty and staff have been notified on how to access their free passes to the games and may enter through either the North or South Gates with their scannable pass either printed or on their mobile device. Fans that are claiming a football, cheer or dance guest pass must sign in at the East Gate between Pattison Soccer Field and Harms-Eischeid Stadium. Fans are encouraged to stay ahead of the curve this season with the HomeTown Ticketing Fan App available on all mobile device platforms.
 
DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAM… Digital gameday programs are available to fans in the stadium or at home for Saturday's game. Fans can access the interactive gameday program at any time at UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. 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 Beavers and Peacocks renew their series this Saturday after four years without meeting each other on the field. Bemidji State holds a 6-2 advantage in the matchup, but Upper Iowa has won two of the last three meetings. Bemidji State won the first five games played including two in the HHH Metrodome as part of the NSIC Dome Classic.  Upper Iowa broke the streak in 2014 in Fayette with a 47-30 victory over the Beavers. The Peacocks scored 27 points in the fourth quarter to rally from a ten-point deficit. Chris Smith led UIU with 247 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, while Cole Jaeschke threw for 259 yards, 3 scores and added a rushing touchdown as well.  Shay Gutman recorded 170 receiving yards and two scores in UIU's win. In 2016, the team opened the 2016 campaign in Bemidji, Minn. The Beavers led by twenty at halftime, but Upper Iowa fought back in the third and early fourth quarters to cut the margin to just six points, 30-24.  Turnovers in the fourth quarter slowed the comeback as Upper Iowa dropped the season opener 38-24. In 2018, Upper Iowa rallied from a 24-6 deficit midway through the third quarter to post a 27-24 victory over Bemidji State, who was receiving votes in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll that week, on Homecoming Weekend in Fayette. The rally started with a punt block that was returned for a touchdown by Tyreec Washington and UIU followed with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET… Upper Iowa rallied from a 24-6 deficit midway through the third quarter to post a 27-24 victory over Bemidji State. The Beavers opened the game with 14 points in the first eight minutes of the game, but it was the Peacocks' 21 points in the final 21 minutes of the game that proved to be the difference. Upper Iowa trailed 24-6 with six minutes to play in the third quarter when Tyreec Washington blocked a Bemidji State punt, scooped up the ball and then returned it 31 yards for a touchdown to put the home team down 11 points. In the fourth quarter, Upper Iowa faced a fourth down at the Bemidji State 26-yard line. Ryan Parmely rushed for 5 yards to pick up the first down and keep UIU's drive alive. Two plays later quarterback Brent Lammers found Alexander Stevens down the left sideline for a 20-yard touchdown bringing the Peacocks within striking distance, 24-20. On the Beavers' ensuing possession, Joe Busch got into the backfield and contacted the BSU quarterback forcing a floater over the middle of the field. Tanner Thompson reacted to the ball, intercepted the pass and returned it to midfield. The Peacocks converted the turnover into a touchdown six plays later on a 1-yard dive by Lammers. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 33-yard completion to Stevens to move UIU into the red zone. The score came with six and a half minutes to play. UIU's defense was the difference in the game led by Nic Patterson, who recorded 15 tackles including 10 solo stops and Mitchel Siech added 12 tackles. Jordan Rommes rounded out the linebacking crew with 10 tackles.
 
THREE LEVELS OF DEFENSE… The Peacock defense is getting production at all three levels so far this season led by safety Cejai Parrish, defensive end Baxter Bohr, and lineback RJ Knaack. Parrish leads the Peacocks in tackles with 22 from his safety position. The graduate student has 13 solo tackles and one for loss on the year. Bohr had a big game from his defensive end position at the University of Minnesota Duluth last Saturday recording 10 tackles with 2.5 sacks and one more for loss. The Swisher, Iowa native also forced and recovered a fumble for the Peacocks and has 18 tackles with 4.5 for loss including 3.5 sacks this season. Knaack is tied for second on the team in tackles with 18 including a team-high 16 solo stops. Knaack has one sack and two more tackles for loss to his name this season.
 
POSSESSION IS 9/10 OF THE LAW… Upper Iowa has stuggled on possession downs through the first three games of the season allowing opponents to convert 40% (20-50) of their third downs and 57% (4-7) of their fourth down tries. Offensively, UIU is managing to move the chains on just 26% (13-49) of their third down chances, while converting 50% (3-6) of their fourth down attempts. The Peacocks are a minus-one in the turnover battle this season with 4 takeaways (3 fumbles, 1 interception) and five giveaways (3 fumbles, 2 interceptions).
 
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS… Bemidji State opened the season ranked No. 22 the AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, but close losses to Minnesota State University, Mankato, 37-34, when the Mavericks were receiving votes in the poll and Augustana University, 30-29, when the Vikings were ranked No. 19 dropped the Beavers out of the rankings. Last Saturday, BSU posted a 34-24 win over Winona State University to claim their first win of the season. Junior quarterback Brandon Alt leads all of Division II with 1,122 passing yards this season. He is one of two quarterbacks in DII with over 1,000 passing yards and His 374.0 passing yards per game average also leads the nation. Alt is the lone quarterback in DII to throw for three consecutive 350+ yard games and has thrown for 300+ yards in seven consecutive games dating back to Oct. 30, 2021. Alt set the NSIC and BSU single-season passing touchdown record last season with 46. He also broke program records with 4,245 passing yards and 284 completions. He is a reigning D2CCA All-Super Region 4 Second Team and NSIC North Division All-Conference Second Team selection. Senior Brendan Beaulieu leads the NSIC and is sixth in Division II with 387 receiving yards this season. Beaulieu leads the NSIC in receiving yards per game (129.0) and receiving touchdowns (6). He also ranks sixth in DII in all three statistical categories. Junior Jalen Frye leads the Beavers' rushing attack and has totaled 166 yards on 55 attempts (2.7/a) while junior Sage Booker follows with 128 yards on 39 attempts (3.2/a) and has totaled two touchdowns. Bemidji State is led on defense by linebacker Max Buduris who has totaled 18 tackles including 11 solo tackles. He is followed by defensive lineman Stephan Hoffman with 16 tackles and Colton Herman and Spencer Wehr who have each added 15 tackles.
 
NEXT ON THE DOCKET… Upper Iowa will line up against the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn. next Saturday. The Peacocks and Mustangs will battle in the first Northern Sun Conference South Division game of the season with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. on Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center.