Upper Iowa University Athletics

FAYETTE, Iowa - Peacock football (4-4, 3-2 GLVC) had a nine-game home winning streak snapped on Saturday as William Jewell (5-2, 4-1 GLVC) used a fourth-quarter comeback to win 19-18. The Cardinals scored 16 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes to knock the Peacocks out of first place in the GLVC. 

With UIU leading 18-16 and 1:35 left, William Jewell's Raesean Eaton blocked a punt by Nathan Behne, returning it to the Upper Iowa 18-yard line. After the UIU defense forced a three-and-out, Cardinal kicker Bleu Renfrow hit a game-winning 30-yard field goal with 23 seconds left. Zyaryen Hall intercepted a tipped deep pass from Zamar Wise on the final possession to seal the win.

Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter, Behne bombed a 62-yard punt that was downed at the William Jewell one-yard line. Senior defensive end Demontay Mack capitalized by tackling WJC running back Hunter Bailey in the end zone for the safety. This was the first safety for the Peacocks since last season's McKendree game on Nov. 1, 2025. 

A few drives later, a 21-yard rush from Wise, along with a 10-yard penalty by the Cardinals, set the Peacocks up in scoring position. After an acrobatic catch by Logan Rosauer, Jayden Gordon punched in a touchdown with 3:13 left in the half for the 8-3 lead. 

On the next Cardinal possession, senior Brycen Hendrix intercepted a pass, setting up the UIU offense in WJC territory. A one-handed grab by freshman receiver LJ Nyenow Jr. put the Peacocks at the one-yard line, and Gordon was able to rush another touchdown in for a score. 

The Peacocks led 15-3 at the half, with all the points scored in the second quarter. Upper Iowa is outscoring opponents 94-32 in the second quarter this season. 

Early in the third quarter, a 15-yard rush by Ronald Wilson Jr. and a 22-yard rush by Saxson Va'a set up a 34-yard field goal by Behne, putting the Peacocks up 18-3. 

William Jewell responded with a critical 18-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up 8:22 of game time. The Cardinals converted three third downs and a fourth down on the drive, and running back Isaiah Julien punched in a one-yard touchdown on third-and-goal to start the fourth quarter. WJC then trailed by a score, 18-10.

A few drives later, a Peacock three-and-out and an 18-yard punt set the Cardinals up at the UIU 40-yard line. A 32-yard rushing touchdown by William Jewell's Hunter Bailey brought the Peacock lead down to two. Braylon Kammrad broke up a pass on the two-point conversion to keep UIU in the lead with 7:40 left. 

The Peacocks used up 6:14 of game time on the next possession, including a key third-and-10 conversion to Nyenow Jr. that set UIU up at the William Jewell 28-yard line. A false start and a holding penalty backed the Peacocks up to a third-and-17. An incomplete pass to Nyenow Jr., which was challenged by the Peacocks, almost put UIU in field goal range, but instead the team was forced to punt with 1:35 left.

Wise finished the contest 11-of-19 for 186 yards with an interception. Nyenow Jr. had three catches for 69 yards, and Camden Hungerholt had four catches for 68 yards. Wise also added 14 carries for a team-high 41 yards rushing.

RJ Wells totaled 10 carries for 40 yards. Wilson Jr. had seven carries for 24 yards, and Gordon had seven carries for 21 yards and two touchdowns. 

On defense, Evan Dorn led UIU with 10 tackles (two solo). Mack posted eight tackles with three tackles-for-loss, half a sack and a quarterback hurry. Michael Mulherin had eight tackles with half a sack and Daniel Robinson posted a solo sack. 

Upper Iowa outgained William Jewell 334-255, and held the Cardinals to just 92 passing yards. This was the third time the Peacocks have held a team to under 100 passing yards this season. WJC outrushed UIU 163-148.

The Cardinals were 5-of-13 on third downs while the Peacocks were 1-of-9. Upper Iowa committed 11 penalties for 70 yards while William Jewell committed five for 45 yards. 

Ronnie Thomas Jr. led the Cardinals with 16 carries for 94 yards on the ground. Bailey had 11 carries for 52 yards. Quarterback Charlie Loose finished the game 9-of-19 with 92 yards and an interception.

UIU finished the game losing the turnover margin, 2-1. This is the first time the Peacocks have lost the turnover margin in a game this season.

The Peacocks have lost their four games this season by a combined total of six points. That marks the team's sixth game this season decided by two points or less.

With the win, William Jewell moved into a tie for first place in the GLVC with Truman State (Mo.) (4-4, 4-1 GLVC), which beat Southwest Baptist (Mo.) (4-5, 3-3 GLVC) 41-17 on Saturday. Upper Iowa was knocked down to a tie for third place with UIndy (4-4, 3-2 GLVC). Truman State and William Jewell face each other next week.

Upper Iowa travels to Lebanon, Illinois, to face McKendree (Ill.) (3-5, 3-3 GLVC) for Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. The Bearcats picked up a 30-20 win over Lincoln (Mo.) (2-5, 1-4 GLVC) on Saturday.