Panthers Post 27-17 Win Over South Dakota State

Saturday, September 16

UNI-Dome

4:05 PM

University of Northern Iowa

2-1

South Dakota State (Family Day)

0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota State

UNI

Panthers Post 27-17 Win Over South Dakota State

9/16/2006 8:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

Sept. 16, 2006

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - A strong second half and 24 unanswered points propelled the University of Northern Iowa football team to a 27-17 win over South Dakota State on Saturday in the UNI-Dome.

The Panthers bounced back from their first loss of the season - and a sluggish start - with three touchdowns and a field goal in the second half to get past the Jackrabbits. Tailback Corey Lewis (St. Paul, Neb./St. Paul) led the way for UNI with 196 rushing yards on 16 attempts - a 12.2 yards per carry average - and scored twice for the Panthers in the second half.

A 43-yard field goal by Brian Wingert (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls) with 13:35 to play in the second quarter answered the Jacks' initial touchdown, but SDSU scored another touchdown and a field goal to stretch its lead to 17-3 by halftime.

The Panthers' offense emerged from the locker room and took command, however, with wide receiver James Lindgren (Odebolt, Iowa/Odebolt-Arthur) snaring an 18-yard pass from quarterback Eric Sanders (Oelwein, Iowa/Oelwein) to cap a seven-play, 68-yard drive and set the tone for the final two quarters.

Lindgren's score, which came at the 12:08 mark in the third quarter, narrowed the Jacks' lead to 17-10, an advantage the Panthers eliminated on their next possession, with Sanders leading the UNI offense on a 60-yard scoring march. Corey Lewis capped the drive with a 12-yard run to the end zone to knot the score at 17.

The Panthers grabbed the lead for the first time on a 35-yard field goal by Wingert with 12:34 to play. Wingert's kick was set up by a 26-yard offensive drive and put the Panthers on top for good.

Lewis added to the UNI advantage with a 2-yard touchdown run at the 10:16 mark of the fourth quarter, pushing the Panthers' lead to 27-17 after Wingert added the extra point.

The Jackrabbits worked their way back into UNI territory late, but the Panthers halted the Jacks' final attempt, with safety Chris Parsons recovering a fumble by quarterback Andy Kardoes at the UNI 20 yard line. The play allowed the Panthers to drive SDSU back into its own territory on a punt by Adam Kos (Kalona, Iowa/Mid-Prairie) and allowed UNI to eventually run out the clock for its second win of the season.

"After a loss like last week's, this team had two roads to take - unity and trust or finger-pointing at others," said UNI head coach Mark Farley. "This team was united today."

Sanders went 9-for-12 but was intercepted twice by the Jacks and held to 79 yards passing, making the work of Corey Lewis and Whitney Lewis (Oxnard, Calif./USC), who added 66 yards on the ground, all the more important.

"Our goal tonight was to win the line of scrimmage - when you do that, the game falls into place," Farley said. "I'm very pleased with Corey Lewis, his second effort and yards after the hit are excellent."

In all, the Panthers racked up 378 yards of offense while holding the Jacks to 277 total yards, including 173 through the air by starting quarterback Cory Koenig. Jordan Lacy (Jefferson City, Mo./Jefferson City), Brannon Carter (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North) and Parsons each tallied seven tackles for the Panthers, who had seven defensive players record at least five stops.

The Panthers improve to 2-1 on the season heading into an off-week, while South Dakota State falls to 0-3. UNI will return to action with a matchup against instate rival Iowa State on Sept. 30 in Ames, Iowa.