THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL… Upper Iowa is back at Harms-Eischeid this weekend as they host Southwest Baptist University on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Peacocks come into this weekend with a 2-5 (0-3 GLVC) record, while the Bearcats have a 2-5 (1-2 GLVC) mark on the season.
LIVE OPTIONS… Fans unable to make it to Fayette on Saturday have several options for following the action. The game will be streamed on the GLVC Network at https://glvcsn.com/uiu/ with pay-per-view access. Live stats (free) can be found through the link attached with this story. Both options can be found every game day at UIUPeacocks.com/Live.
RECAP OF LAST WEEKEND… McKendree University came into Harms-Eischeid Stadium last Saturday and overcame a double-digit deficit while executing clutch plays to defeat the Peacocks 41-34. Upper Iowa was in need of one stop to seal the game as they led 34-27 with three seconds remaining in regulation. As the clock was winding down to zero, McKendree's quarterback launched a 21-yard pass to the deep right corner of the endzone which was met by his receiver for a Bearcat touchdown. The extra point was made to send the game into overtime.
The Bearcats started off with the ball at the 25-yard line in the extra period, stringing together three rushing plays to gain them a first down at the 11-yard line. A short three-yard carry up the middle set them up eight yards shy of UIU territory. The Bearcats' quarterback threw a touchdown pass into the left corner of the endzone on the next play to give them the 41-34 advantage.
The Peacocks were unable to get a first down in their overtime possession. They threw two incomplete passes before gaining their only forward momentum in extra time. An eight-yard pass to
Eddie Burgess put Upper Iowa at the MCK 18 on 4th and 3, but the final play of the game was an incomplete pass into the endzone, giving the Bearcats their first win of the season.
SCOUTING SOUTHWEST BAPTIST… The Bearcats have acquired one conference win on the season against McKendree, defeating them 24-17. Their other victory this year was against Oklahoma Panhandle State as they claimed a 65-7 decision in their first matchup of the season. The Bearcats fell 45-19 in their most recent contest against Missouri S&T. Individually, Carter Abel is second in the conference in rushing yards with 83.4 per game, while Logan Turner has had a record-breaking season for SBU as he leads the conference in field goals with 14 makes out of 16, his longest being 52 yards.
GO LONG… Upper Iowa tops the conference in the passing game with an average of 262.7 yards per contest, executing 157/238 attempts (66%). The Peacocks have accumulated 16 touchdowns on the season, second in the GLVC behind Quincy with 18. The most efficient targets for quarterbacks
Marcus Orr and
Darryl Overstreet Jr. have been
Mante Morrow (82.29 yds/game),
Eddie Burgess (56.43 yds/game) and
Willy Camacho (40.14 yds/game).
YOUTH DAY… Peacock Athletics is hosting Youth Day in Fayette on Saturday, Oct. 21. ALL KIDS ages 18 and under will get FREE admission to the Upper Iowa versus Southwest Baptist football game at 1 p.m. Beck's Hybrids is the sponsor of Youth Day. All adult tickets for the game are $10
(cash at the gate only).
PEACOCK NOTABLES…
- Mante Morrow is second in reception yards an average of 82.3 per game
- John Butsch is third in the GLVC for total tackles with 50, averaging 7.1 per game
- Tyler Owen leads the conference (three-way tie) in interceptions with three this season
- Jayden Mitchell is eighth in total rushing yards with 345, an average of 49.3 per game
ON THE HORIZON… The Peacocks travel to Indianapolis next weekend to take on the undefeated Greyhounds at Key Stadium/Kiesel Field. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m.
