University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Eastern Washington
Panthers Outlast Eagles, 41-38
11/27/2005 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 27, 2005
PANTHERS OUTLAST EAGLES, 41-38
Cedar Falls, IA--With a dramatic 31-yard kick with just 51 seconds remaining in the game, kicker Brian Wingert gave the University of Northern Iowa football team a 41-38 victory over the Eastern Washington Eagles and sent the Panthers to the 1-AA quarterfinals. UNI scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to overcome a 14-point deficit and clinch the victory.
Defense was an afterthought for both squads during the bulk of the game. The offenses combined for 79 points and nearly 1,000 yards of offense, with over 700 through the air. The Panther defense peaked when it mattered, however, stopping the Eagle offense on its final three drives to allow Eric Sanders and company to charge back into the game and take the victory.
Eastern Washington set the tone on its opening drive, marching 73 yards to pay dirt in 10 plays to take an early 7-0 lead. UNI tied the game and later took the lead with a pair of one-yard touchdown lunges by David Horne. The Panthers took a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.
The Eagles rebounded early in the second frame with a 13-yard touchdown connection between quarterback Erik Meyer and receiver Raul Vijil. The Panthers drove 64 yards in 11 plays to set up a 37-yard field goal by Wingert and a 17-14 advantage. EWU countered with an 11-play, 80-yard drive, culminating in a 24-yard touchdown scamper by Meyer and a 21-17 Eagle lead. A four-yard touchdown strike from Sanders into the arms of Justin Surrency gave the Panthers a 24-21 advantage heading into the locker room.
The Eagles owned the third quarter, scoring 10 points and stifling the UNI offense five times to take a 31-24 lead into the fourth quarter.
Meyer's second touchdown hookup with Vijil gave the Eagles a 38-24 lead with less than 11 minutes remaining in the contest. Sanders found James Lindgren for an eight-yard touchdown to halve the lead and put the Panthers within striking distance.
The defense stuffed the ensuing EWU drive while the offense put together a 9-play 61-yard scoring march highlighted by a spectacular 36-yard diving catch by Curt Bradley and a four-yard touchdown rush by Horne.
John Hermann, fresh off a record-setting performance against Northern Arizona, sacked Meyer on second and nine to put the Eagles in a third and 22 hole. After Meyer's third down pass fell incomplete, EWU punted to the Panthers with just 3:43 remaining.
The Panthers drove 55 yards with help from a 28-yard sprint by Horne to set up the game-winning field goal with just 51 seconds left on the clock.
Michael Matthes swatted Meyer's fourth down pass to the turf to seal the 41-38 victory for the Panthers.
"We said throughout this whole week that we had to be relentless through four quarters," head coach Mark Farley said. "When we hit the fourth quarter that's our quarter. That's our rallying call."
Sanders completed 31 of 40 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore found nine different Panther receivers on the night, including Jason Breeland and Horne eight times each.
"Our offense was a force all day," Farley continued. "When we gave one up, they always came up with an answer. That's a credit to some great catches and a team effort from top to bottom."
Horne shouldered the bulk of the rushing load with 141 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries.
Darin Heideman lead the Panther defense with 11 tackles including two for a loss and a sack. The squad sacked Meyer seven times, including two from Hermann.
The Panthers travel to New Hampshire to face top-seeded UNH next Saturday.
