University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
New Hampshire
UNI Advances With Thrilling Quarterfinal Win at No. 1-Ranked New Hampshire, 24-21
12/3/2005 7:00:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.H. - The University of Northern Iowa hung on for a thrilling, 24-21, victory over No. 1-ranked New Hampshire on Saturday in the NCAA I-AA quarterfinals.
"This was probably the biggest win in the history of UNI football, because it came in the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs and we had to do it on the road," UNI head coach Mark Farley said. "What makes it even more special was that (New Hampshire) was an elite football team. I give credit to both football teams. It was a matter of inches whether it would be UNH or UNI."
UNI advances to the semifinals for the first time since 2001. UNI has reached the semifinals five times (1985, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2001) and will be looking for its first trip to the national title games next Saturday. UNI will play the winner of Cal Poly-Texas State, which is being played in San Marcos, Texas, on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. (central) kickoff. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.
The Panthers (10-3) jumped out to a commanding 21-0 lead only 23 minutes into the game, but needed a fourth quarter field goal from junior Brian Wingert to earn the win.
Senior running back David Horne rushed for career-high 144 yards on 28 carries. Horne also scored the first two touchdowns of the game, including a 40-yard run on the opening series of the contest. Horne then caught a 32-yard middle screen from sophomore quarterback Eric Sanders to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead with 9:36 to go in the second quarter.
Senior running back Terrance Freeney finished off the first half scoring for the Panthers on a 1-yard run with 7:03 left in the second quarter. The Panther touchdown was set up by a blocked punt by sophomore free safety Chris Parons.
New Hampshire's powerful offense seemed to come alive down 21-0. Led by Walter Payton Award finalist sophomore quarterback Ricky Santos, the Wildcats cut into the Panthers' lead with two touchdown passes in the final two minutes of the half.
Santos hooked up with junior wide receiver David Ball for an 8-yard score with 1:49 left in the second quarter. The tandem then hooked up again for a 29-yard score.with only 40 seconds left in the half.
New Hampshire was able to knot the game at 21-21 with 1:39 to go on Santos' third touchdown pass of the game to Ball. The scoring play was a 29-yard strike and it came on a nine-play, 83-yard drive.
But the Panthers responded with a dominating defensive effort in the fourth quarter and an important 22-yard field goal from Wingert.
After forcing two fumbles in the third quarter, the Panthers tossed a shutout in the fourth quarter to protect the three-point advantage.
UNH drove to the UNI 27-yard line and faced a 4th-and-2 with just over eight minutes to go. UNH went for it, but the pass was knocked down by senior John Hermann and the Panthers took possession of the football.
UNH then committed its biggest turnover of the game after a UNI punt. On another 4th-and-2 with three minutes to go, UNH's Keith LeVan took a handoff from Santos and appeared to have the first down in sight, but he fumbled the ball and the Panthers' Hermann fell on the ball to clinch the victory. UNI recovered three fumbles on the day and committed only one turnover.
"Turnovers and fourth down conversions were the difference today," UNH head coach Sean McDonnell said. "UNI created a lot of turnovers and they did a great job trying to strip the ball. You can't lose the turnover battle like we did today.
UNH dominated the total offense numbers in the game with 631 yards of offense to only 351 for the Panthers. UNH also tallied 30 first downs to only 16 for UNI.
Sanders passed for 185 yards on 15-of-25 passing. Sanders had one touchdown and one interception on the day. Sanders was sacked twice by the UNH defense.
"We find a way to fight through the adversity and we win football games," Sanders said. "It starts in two-a-days but this is what you work for all year long."
Horne led the rushing attack with his career-best 144 yards and a touchdown. Senior Justin Surrency led the Panthers' wideouts with four catches for 45 yards.
Senior linebacker Darin Heideman racked up a game-high 17 tackles. Senior linebacker Brett Koebcke tallied 16 total stops in the game.
Santos passed for 345 yards on 27-of-42 passing. Santos had three touchdowns and did not throw and interception. Santos also rushed for 106 yards on 21 carries.
We said all year that we were the only team that could stop us," Santos said. "We shot ourselves in the foot all day long."
UNH's John McCoy rushed for a game-high 157 yards on 26 carries. Ball also caught a game-high 10 balls for 188 yards and three touchdowns.
