Panthers Topple Iowa State, 24-13

Saturday, September 8

Ames, Iowa

6:00 PM

University of Northern Iowa

2-0

Iowa State

0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UNI

Iowa State

Panthers Topple Iowa State, 24-13

9/8/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

Sept. 8, 2007

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery

Ames, Iowa - An Iowa State record crowd of 56,795 packed Jack Trice Stadium Saturday night. In the end, it was the fans wearing Purple and Old Gold that left happy, as the University of Northern Iowa football team posted a 24-13 win over Iowa State Saturday night. It was UNI's third-ever win over Iowa State and first since 1994.

The attendance of 56,795 was the fourth largest crowd UNI has ever played in front of. The previous Jack Trice Stadium record was 55,518 last year, also when the Cyclones faced the Panthers. Iowa State won that game, 28-27.

The Panthers, ranked #7 in the FCS Coaches Poll, racked up 327 yards of total offense, including 147 yards on the ground. UNI also did not turn the ball over, and forced four Iowa State turnovers - two fumbles and two interceptions.

UNI senior quarterback Eric Sanders (Oelwein, Iowa) completed 23-of-29 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for one score. Junior tailback Corey Lewis (St. Paul, Neb.) rushed 19 times for 130 yards. Johnny Gray (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) and Whitney Lewis (Oxnard, Calif.) each had seven catches for the Panthers.

The Panthers took advantage of an early Iowa State turnover, and capitalized with the first score of the game. On the opening drive of the game, UNI's Brannon Carter (St. Charles, Mo.) picked off a Bret Meyer pass and returned it 31 yards to the Iowa State 43. Sanders then led the Panthers deep into Iowa State territory, and Billy Hallgren (Coal Valley, Ill.) connected on a 31-yard field goal to make the score 3-0 with 7:12 left in the first quarter.

After UNI kicked off, Meyer responded, leading the Cyclones on a 14-play, 75-yard drive to give Iowa State a 6-3 lead. Iowa State converted a fourth and two on the UNI six yard line to keep the drive going, and Meyer finished off the drive with a one yard TD plunge. The extra point was no good.

The Panthers special teams came up with a big play at the end of the first quarter. ISU's Zac Sandvig was tackled hard by Sean McMoore (Minneapolis, Minn.), forcing a fumble, and UNI's Curtis Meier (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) recovered at the Cyclone 15 yard line. On third and five from the Iowa State 10, Sanders connected with Gray in the back of the end zone for the score to put the Panthers back in front, 10-6.

After Iowa State's Bret Culbertson missed a 49 yard field goal, UNI embarked on an impressive 18-play, 69-yard drive that took 8:38. The Panthers converted on third down four times during the drive, and finally on fourth and two from the ISU five yard line, Sanders hit Victor Williams (Clewiston, Fla.) on a slant in the end zone to extend UNI's lead to 17-6 heading into halftime.

After each team punted on their first possession of the second half, Sanders led the Panthers on another scoring drive midway through the third quarter. Starting at the UNI 23, the senior took UNI 77 yards in seven plays. Sanders completed all four of his passes on the drive, accounting for 62 yards, and also scored the touchdown on an eight-yard keeper, making the score 24-6.

Iowa State went on a 13-play, 76-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter. J.J. Bass went in from one yard out to pull the Cyclones within 24-13, but UNI's defense held the rest of the way. The Panthers forced ISU to turn the ball over on downs once, and intercepted Meyer for the second time, this time by Darrell Lloyd (O'Fallon, Mo.), to seal the win.

With the win, UNI improves to 2-0 on the season, while Iowa State falls to 0-2. The Panthers travel to face South Dakota State next Saturday night (Sept. 15), with kickoff from Brookings, S.D., at 7 pm