University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Appalachian State
Panthers Edged Late by Appalachian State in Championship Game, 21-16
12/16/2005 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 16, 2005
Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Northern Iowa football team's 2005 journey has been filled with last second heroics and nail- biting finishes. Friday night's NCAA I-AA national championship game was no different.
The Panthers would not have it any other way. Unfortunately in UNI's first national title game appearance, the Appalachian State University Mountaineers scored a 21-16 victory. It was the first national title for the Mountaineers and head coach Jerry Moore.
"It's disappointing of course, but at the same time we've had a great season with a great group of players," UNI head coach Mark Farley said. "Appalachian State has a great football team. It's a game of inches and in this one we didn't have the inches fall in our decision.
"This season has been one that will be remembered. It was outstanding to see the number of UNI people that this brought together. It put a little hop in their step because of the pride."
The game was played at Max Finley Stadium/Davenport Field in front of 20,236 fans. It was the largest crowd for the NCAA I-AA national championship game since moving to Chattanooga and the largest crowd since 1996. The game was also broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
UNI broke into the scoring column first on a career-best 50-yard field goal from junior Brian Wingert (Cedar Falls, Iowa). The Panthers took the opening drive of the game and moved the ball 41 yards in nine plays but the drive stalled and Wingert drilled the three-pointer.
The Panthers forced the first turnover of the game on the ensuing kickoff. UNI redshirt freshman Corey Lewis (St. Paul, Minn.) recovered the loose ball to set up the Panthers at the Appalachian State 24-yard line. UNI was unable to punch it in the end zone was able to tack on three more points via Wingert's foot. Wingert split the uprights from 24 yards out to give UNI a 6-0 lead with 9:45 to go in the first quarter.
The Mountaineers took their first lead of the game early in the second quarter on a five-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back Kevin Richardson. Richardson's score gave Appalachian State a 7-6 lead at the 13:18 mark of the quarter.
UNI senior safety Tanner Varner (Ottumwa, Iowa) turned the tables on the Mountaineers with an interception midway through the second quarter. Varner stepped in front of a Trey Elder pass to put the Panthers in position to retake the lead.
Senior running back David Horne (Omaha, Neb.) did just that when he scored from two yards out with 8:20 left in the second quarter. The score put UNI up 13-7. For Horne it was his 17th rushing touchdown of the season and broke the UNI single-season rushing touchdown record.
The Panther defense came up big again late in the second quarter. Senior linebacker Darin Heideman (Council Bluffs, Iowa) forced a fumble and junior safety Matt Tharp jumped on the ball to give the Panthers another short field.
The UNI offense threatened to add another touchdown before the half the Appalachian State defense held and forced a Wingert field goal. Wingert drilled his third three-pointer of the game from 31 yards to put UNI on top 16-7 with 1:09 remaining in the half.
"Of course you always want to try to get seven points, but this is a very good defensive football team," Farley said. "We knew the two defensive ends were good and the secondary was good. This was a defensive football game. This wasn't going to be a shootout. I wish we had gotten one touchdown out of it, but it was 16-14 going intot he fourth quarter. We were right where we wanted to be."
Appalachian State broke through in the second half with a one-yard touchdown run by Richardson to trim the UNI lead to 16-14 with 6:05 to go in the third quarter.
The majority of the third and fourth quarters were dominated by both defenses and then the Mountaineer defense made a game-changing play.
Appalachian State's Jason Hunter scooped up a fumble by UNI sophomore quarterback Eric Sanders and took it 15 yards for a touchdown to give the Mountaineers a 21-16 lead with 9:14 left in the game.
"I dropped back to pass, I stepped up and when I was ready to throw it I had it and then the next second I didn't have it," Sanders said. "I really don't know what happened. One moment I had it and the next moment I didn't have it."
