Upper Iowa University Athletics

LEBANON, Ill. - Peacock football (5-4, 4-2 GLVC) blocked a punt for a touchdown and had a pick-six in Saturday's 31-28 victory against McKendree (Ill.) (3-6, 3-4 GLVC). This marked the seventh game this season decided by three points or less for the cardiac Peacocks. 

Senior quarterback Zamar Wise completed 11 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown in the win. He also ran for 100 yards on 15 carries, marking his third 100-yard rushing game this season. 

Wise helped the Peacocks strike first in the scoring department, finding tight end Logan Rosauer on a wheel route for a six-yard touchdown pass. It capped off a 13-play, 86-yard drive with Wise gaining 42 yards on the ground. 

McKendree immediately responded on the next drive with a 34-yard touchdown from Kendrick Lyons to tight end Kamren Schumacher. After a Peacock three-and-out, McKendree drove the ball into UIU territory. 

Defensive back Aaron King halted that momentum, jumping a short hitch route for a 57-yard pick-six to put UIU up 14-7. A 15-yard sack by Daniel Robinson and Demontay Mack on the next McKendree drive set up the Pecock offense with 6:05 left in the half. 

Wise capped off a five-play, 40-yard drive with a 27-yard rushing touchdown to put UIU up 21-7. The Bearcats responded with a one-play scoring drive on a 75-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Aiden Jones. After that, a 28-yard rush by Jayden Gordon helped set up a Nathan Behne 32-yard field goal to put Upper Iowa up 24-14 at halftime.

The Peacocks outscored the Bearcats 17-7 in the second quarter. UIU is now outscoring its opponents 111-39 in the second quarter this season.

After Upper Iowa was stopped in the red zone to start the second half, McKendree used an 11-play, 92-yard drive to cut the lead to three. Lyons found Schumacher for their second touchdown connection of the game. 

Later in the quarter on a 4th-and-7 at the McKendree 13-yard line, sophomore linebacker Jackson Wacha blocked Luke Herzic's punt. Yashua Pettis-Taylor recovered the ball in the end zone for the score, putting the Peacocks back up by 10 with 1:08 left in the third quarter. It was the first punt block for the Peacocks since 2023 against Quincy (Ill.) by Tade Parsons, who also scored a touchdown on that play. 

The Peacock defense forced another punt in the fourth quarter, and later stopped the Bearcats on downs at midfield. McKendree threatened with a late touchdown pass to Kendric Johnson with 3:27 left in the game. 

The Upper Iowa offense was able to run out the rest of the clock, aided by a few Bearcat penalties and a 24-yard rush by Ronald Wilson Jr. UIU was outgained 132-43 in the final period, but got enough going to hold on to the win. 

Gordon added 13 carries for 89 yards on the ground while Wilson Jr. had nine carries for 70 yards. Freshman receiver LJ Nyenow Jr. had two catches for 43 yards. Rosauer had two catches for 41 yards, Camden Hungerholt had two catches for 33 yards and Merv Amazan had two catches for 22 yards.

Michael Mulherin, Robinson and Evan Dorn each had nine tackles, while Mack had eight tackles. Mack and Mulherin each had a team-high three solo tackles. Dominic Salibi had UIU's lone pass breakup.

The Peacocks ran for a season-high 253 yards on the ground, one yard more than the Southwest Baptist (Mo.) win two weeks ago. Upper Iowa held a 253-120 rushing advantage, while McKendree held a 325-164 passing advantage. The Bearcats outgained the Peacocks 445-417. This was UIU's second time this season gaining 400 or more yards on offense. 

McKendree hurt itself on penalties with 16 for 111 yards while UIU had seven for 60 yards. The Bearcats held a slight 30:21-29:39 time-of-possession advantage. The Peacocks finished the game 2-for-4 in the red zone.

Lyons was 18-of-34 for 325 yards, four touchdowns and an interception for McKendree in the loss. Johnson was his top receiver with seven catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. Jerry Richardson added 93 yards on 20 carries on the ground. Nick Bova was the game's leader in tackles with 12.

The Peacocks remain tied for third in the GLVC standings after William Jewell (Mo.) (6-2, 5-1) defeated Missouri S&T (1-8, 1-6 GLVC) and Truman State (Mo.) (5-4, 5-1 GLVC) defeated Lincoln (Mo.) (2-6, 1-5 GLVC). UIndy won 73-34 over Quincy (Ill.) (3-6, 2-4 GLVC) to remain tied with UIU. 

Upper Iowa has its last road game of the regular season next weekend against Quincy. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at QU Stadium.