University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Drake
Panthers Tame Bulldogs, 52-17
9/1/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 1, 2005
PANTHERS TAME BULLDOGS 52-17
Cedar Falls, IA- The 10,000 plus fans that came to see the University of Northern Iowa football team's opening game saw a 52 point offensive showcase headlined by sophomore field general Eric Sanders. Number 12 threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns while completing 14-17 attempts to lead the Panthers to victory over Drake, 52-17.
A shaky start from the Panther defense left UNI in a 7-0 hole early in the first quarter. After regaining possession the Panthers orchestrated a 10 play, 74 yard march to pay dirt, capped off by a one-yard touchdown dive by tailback David Horne. The senior accounted for 34 yards of the 74 yard drive, including a 23 yard scamper to the Drake 2 yard line.
After stifling the Bulldog attack, UNI took a lead it would not relinquish with a 34 yard pass from Sanders that found senior Justin Surrency in the end zone. Brian Wingert's kick made the score 14-7 after the first quarter.
Drake chipped at the Panther lead with a 26 yard field goal to put the score at 14-10 with less than two minutes gone from the second quarter. Sanders and James Lindgren touchdown and a 21-10 Panther lead.
After recovering a Drake fumble at the Bulldog 21 yard line, the Panthers dished out four straight Terrance Freeney dives, culminating in a one yard touchdown lunge and a 28-10 UNI advantage with 10 minutes to go in the half.
Drake punted to the UNI five yard line, but was greeted by a 46 yard return from freshman Johnny Gray. Sanders needed just two more plays to find Jamie Goodwin for a 36 yard touchdown strike to strengthen the Panther lead to 35-10.
A Bulldog punt put UNI on its own 12 yard line with 3:26 left in the half. Sanders took control from there, leading the Panthers on a 6 play, 88 yard drive and finishing the march with a 30 yard touchdown to Curt Bradley. Wingert's kick brought the score to 42-10 at the end of the first half.
UNI kicked off to start the second half, but a Kevin Stensrud sack on third and long ended a short Bulldog drive and forced them to punt. The Panthers drove 72 yards to set up a 21 yard field goal for Wingert to put the score at 45-10.
After eating the rest of the third quarter clock, UNI found pay dirt early in the fourth quarter when freshman quarterback and Cedar Falls native Nick Nelsen found Matt Garvin for a 15 yard score and a 52-10 Panther advantage.
The Panthers surrendered a score late in the fourth quarter before pounding the ball between the tackles to eat the rest of the clock and secure the 52-17 victory.
Sanders was in mid-season form, completing 14-17 attempts while throwing for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Nelson was efficient in his collegiate debut, completing 2-3 while throwing for 27 yards and a touchdown.
Eight Panthers carried the ball for a total of 225 yards, with Corey Lewis' 53 leading the way. Horne gained 44 yards on nine carries and added a touchdown, while Freeney rushed for 36 and a score.
Horne led all receivers with 3 catches for 68 yards, but Surrency nipped at his heels with 3 grabs for 64 yards and score.
Defensively, John Hermann led the way with 3.5 tackles as well as 1.5 sacks. The squad held Drake to 99 yards rushing and 153 yards passing.
"Offensively we did extremely well," head coach Mark Farley said. "We threw the short ball, we ran the football, we threw the long ball, and we went underneath and made some things happen. It was pleasing to see the offense perform tonight."
528 yards of total offense and 52 points on the board, as well as a perfect 5-5 red zone scoring mark helped the Panther offense earn its praise. In addition, seven different Purple and Gold players found the end zone, a trend Coach Farley says is purely intentional.
"That's the number one thing that we've been trying to do for four years," he said. "We want to bring in enough players to run some different personnel in different formations and make things harder to defend. You need a quarterback to distribute the ball in a balanced type of way. He didn't just pick a guy out there; he distributed the ball like we hoped he would."
The Panthers host Minnesota-Deluth at 7:05 next Saturday in the UNI-Dome.
