University of Northern Iowa
5-0 , 1-0
Illinois State
2-3 , 0-1
UNI Edges Illinois State With Strong Fourth Quarter Effort, 23-13
9/29/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 29, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. - The No. 3-ranked University of Northern Iowa football team used 10 points over the final 5:17 of the fourth quarter to take a 23-13 victory over No. 16-ranked Illinois State University in the Gateway opener for both schools. UNI improved to 16-7 in Gateway openers.
Illinois State dented the scoreboard first on a 50-yard touchdown run by Geno Blow at the 2:13 mark of the first quarter. Blow broke out of three Panther tackles and was able to elude a final attempt by Chris Parsons at the 15-yard line to finish off the scoring run. The drive started following a fumble by UNI quarterback Eric Sanders inside Redbird territory.
Junior Everette Pedescleaux recovered a fumbled exchange on a pitch from Illinois State quarterback Luke Drone to Blow. Pedescleaux's recovery gave the ball to the Panthers at the Illinois State 29-yard line early in the second quarter. Redshirt freshman placekicker Billy Hallgren banked in a 19-yard field goal off the left upright at the 9:02 mark of the second quarter to trim the Redbirds' lead to 7-3.
Senior Brannon Carter intercepted a Drone pass on the ensuing possession and returned it 29 yards to the 12-yard line to set up the Panther offense with a short field. Illinois State was also flagged on the play for a late hit on Carter after he went out of bounds to move the drive start to the 6-yard line. But the Panthers could not punch it in the endzone and had to settle for another short field goal, a 25-yarder, from Hallgren. Hallgren's three-pointer pulled UNI to within one, 7-6, at the 6:52 mark of the second quarter.
A Sanders-to-Victor Williams six-yard touchdown pass with 47 seconds left in the first half capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive and gave UNI a 13-7 advantage. UNI converted on two third-and-long situations on the drive with a pair of passing plays from Sanders to Johnny Gray to keep the drive alive.
Two UNI turnovers in the third quarter stymied any opportunity to expand the lead. Illinois State was able to knot the score in the third quarter on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Drone to Jake Rourke. However, Redbird kicker Tyler Funk missed the extra point to leave the score deadlocked at 13-13.
UNI regained the lead at the 5:17 mark of the fourth quarter on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Sanders to Terrell Allen. The score capped a 12-play, 61-yard drive and took 4:00 off the clock. The touchdown grab by Allen was his first score of the season.
Senior Clifford Waters intercepted a Drone pass and returned it to the Redbird 24-yard line at the 4:24 mark of the fourth quarter. The Panthers were able to turn the mistake into points when Hallgren connected on his third field goal of the day - a career-best 43-yard field goal - with 2:48 left in the game.
The win marked the 10th time in senior quarterback Eric Sanders' career that he has guided the Panthers to a win in the fourth quarter or overtime.
UNI improved to 5-0 on the season, while Illinois State dropped to 2-3 overall.
The Panthers will not play next weekend, but will be back in action at home in the UNI-Dome to celebrate Homecoming against Southern Illinois at 4 p.m. on Oct. 13.
Team Stats
UNI 0, ILS 7
ILS - Blow,Geno 50 yd run (Funk,Tyler kick), 4 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:57
UNI 3, ILS 7
UNI - Hallgren, Billy 19 yd field goal 6 plays, 27 yards, TOP 2:26
UNI 6, ILS 7
UNI - Hallgren, Billy 25 yd field goal 4 plays, 4 yards, TOP 1:54
UNI 13, ILS 7
UNI - Williams,Victor 6 yd pass from Sanders, Eric (Hallgren, Billy kick) 11 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:21
UNI 13, ILS 13
ILS - Rourke,Jake 27 yd pass from Drone,Luke (Funk,Tyler kickfailed) 10 plays, 52 yards, TOP 5:25
UNI 20, ILS 13
UNI - Allen, Terrell 5 yd pass from Sanders, Eric (Hallgren, Billy kick) 12 plays, 61 yards, TOP 4:00
UNI 23, ILS 13
UNI - Hallgren, Billy 43 yd field goal 4 plays, -1 yards, TOP 1:36