FAYETTE, Iowa - Peacock football started the 2026 season by winning its first opening game since 2017 and its first season-opening home game since 2015 on Saturday with a 30-13 victory over Jamestown (N.D.).
Quarterback Zamar Wise had an impressive debut for UIU, rushing a team-high 119 yards on the ground with two touchdowns while adding 160 yds through the air with two passing scores. Freshman LJ Nyenow Jr. also had a strong start to his young career, catching a team-high six passes for 91 yards.
The Peacocks started the game by scoring on their second drive, with Wise scoring on a 4th-and-2 from 31 yards out on the ground. Jamestown responded by using no huddle to go down and punch in a two-yard touchdown from running back Mason Whitley. A mixed extra point kept the score, 7-6.
A few drives later, Nyenow Jr. had a spectacular catch down the sideline on 3rd-and-6 for a 32-yard gain. That led to a Wise 3rd-and-1 nine-yard rushing touchdown to lead, 14-6, after the end of the first quarter.
The Peacock defense then forced a three-and-out, and the UIU offense complemented it with a seven-play, 88-yard touchdown drive. Wise got them out of their own end with a 43-yard run and a 25-yard completion to tight end Logan Rosauer. The senior quarterback then found his top freshman receiver, Nyenow Jr., once again for an eight-yard touchdown pass to lead, 21-6.
UIU started the third quarter with another scoring drive, this time with Nathan Behne hitting a 39-yard field goal. Jamestown responded with a second touchdown by Whitley from 22 yards out on 4th-and-2, cutting the lead to 24-13.
From that point on, the Peacock defense had the clamps on. UIU held the Jimmie offense to 23 total yards and forced a turnover on Jamestown's last drive of the game with an interception by Dominic Salibi.
The Peacock offense also added another touchdown in the fourth quarter as Wise found Merv Amazan in the endzone for the touchdown on the Sacred Heart (Mass.) transfer's first career catch.
UIU outrushed JU 223-142 and had a 160-73 advantage through the air for a 383-215 total offense advantage. The Peacock defense held the Jamestown offense to 3-of-15 on third downs.
Jayden Gordon added 45 yards on the ground and freshman Ronald Wilson Jr. totaled 37 yards. Rosauer had two catches for 38 yards and gained a first down with three rushing yards on a sneak.
Defensively, Michael Mulherin returned after spending 2025 out due to injury with a team-high eight tackles. Defensive end Daniel Robinson added seven tackles, and Evan Dorn had six tackles. Aaron King had three tackles and two pass breakups. Central Arkansas transfer safety Jalen Hodo added five tackles and a sack in his Peacock debut.
UIU starts the September road stretch next Saturday at 6 p.m. in Joplin, Missouri, against Missouri Southern. The Peacocks will return to Harms-Eischeid Stadium on Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.
