University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Indiana State
Panthers Top Sycamores, 31-10
10/15/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 15, 2005
PANTHERS TOP SYCAMORES, 31-10
Cedar Falls, IA--The near-13, 000 fans that packed the UNI-Dome for homecoming weekend left happy as the University of Northern Iowa ran over the Indiana State Sycamores 31-10. The game was especially sweet for Dexter Hill, UNI's transfer quarterback, who led the Panthers for his first collegiate victory in the absence of Eric Sanders.
The contest began with a stifled Indiana State opening drive, a trend that would persist throughout the tenure of the game. After three plays and zero yards, the Sycamores punted to the Panthers and braced for a 6-play 34-yard march to pay dirt by the hosts. Terrence Freeney highlighted the drive with four carries and 26 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown lunge.
With the score at 7-0 in favor of UNI, the Sycamores and Panthers went back and forth throughout the rest of the first quarter. Both defenses bent but neither broke as the first quarter ended with the hosts up 7-0.
Indiana State needed 14 plays to march 74 yards and punch a 16-yard field goal through the uprights to put their first points on the board.
With the score at 7-3, David Horne put the Panthers on his back and carried them to seven more points. Horne carried three times for 68 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown sprint, during UNI's 5-play, 78-yard drive to an 11-point lead.
The half ended with the score at 14-3 after Brannon Carter interceped Sycamore quarterback Blayne Baggett's pass to end the ISU threat.
The Panthers opened the third quarter with a healthy heaping of Horne, handing him the ball eight times in their 10-play drive that culminated with a Brian Wingert field goal and a 14-point lead.
Indiana State cut the Panther lead to one score when Baggett connected with Ben Schmidt for a 20-yard touchdown strike. But UNI answered when Hill scampered seven yards to pay dirt and a 24-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Freeney carried three times for 50 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown, early in the fourth quarter. Horne and Freeney traded carries to eat the clock from then on to put the game away, 31-10.
Freeney and Horne led the way for the UNI offense with the former carring 27 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns, and the latter rushing for 129 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
"Our goal was to win the line of scrimmage today," head coach Mark Farley said. "We felt we had to become a power football team and we did that today. I feel very good that we were able to do that offensively."
Hill managed the offense effectively, completing 9-14 attempts for 159 yards, and leading the team in his first collegiate victory.
"We knew we were going to struggle a little bit on offense until we found out what Dexter (Hill) could handle" Farley continued. "It's good to get his feet under him, he did a great job running the offense."
Patrick Hunter led the receiving corps with two catches for 55 yards.
Defensively, Darin Heideman led the team with nine tackles, including six solo efforts. Mark Huygens tallied 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles.
The Panthers head to Normal, IL to take on Illinois State next Saturday
