University of Northern Iowa
4-2 , 2-1
Illinois State (Homecoming)
2-3 , 1-1
Grace Leads Panthers to 31-17 Win over Illinois State
10/11/2008 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 11, 2008
Cedar Falls, Iowa - The No. 8-ranked University of Northern Iowa football team knocked off Illinois State, the only previously-undefeated team in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, 31-17 in front of 16,100 fans during the Panthers' homecoming. UNI now owns a share of the lead in conference play as it improves to 2-1 in MVFC play and 4-2 overall. The Redbirds fall to 1-1 in league play and 2-3 overall.
Junior quarterback Pat Grace continued his torrid play in the UNI-Dome, rushing for two scores and throwing for a pair of touchdowns. The junior signal-caller has accounted for 13 touchdowns in UNI's four home games this year. Grace completed 13-of-18 passes for 238 yards and rushed the ball 13 times for 99 yards.
The Panthers landed a punch into the Redbirds' gullet on their opening drive, with a five-yard touchdown reception by tight end Ryan Mahaffey from Grace to take a 7-0 lead with 10:52 remaining in the opening quarter. The Panthers were nearly flawless on the 11-play, 72-yard drive which took 4:08.
Following a quick Redbirds three-and-out, the Panthers put together another scoring drive after sophomore kicker Billy Hallgren connected on a 33-yard field goal, capping off a nine-play 75-yard drive with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter. On the drive, Grace did the bulk of the work, chewing up 56 yards on the ground on only four rushing attempts. He also completed a 12-yard pass to Mahaffey.
Illinois State responded with a field goal of its own on its ensuing possession, with kicker Steven Fetzer drilling a 22-yard field goal. The Redbirds reached the UNI six-yard line but a false start penalty and a four-yard loss by running back Parrish Fisher prevented the Redbirds from punching it into the end zone. The Redbirds' did chew up 9:50 off the game clock on its 20-play drive.
Wasting no time, Grace quickly went back to work, engineering a third consecutive Panther scoring drive to start the game. Grace hit a streaking senior Victor Williams on a 50-yard touchdown pass lifting the Panther lead to 17-3 with 8:10 remaining in the second quarter. The five-play 67-yard drive lasted only 2:31. Williams finished the night with a season-high 93 yards on five catches.
Redbird quarterback Kevin Brockway's one yard touchdown run with only nine seconds remaining before halftime trimmed the Panther lead to 17-10. The Redbirds once again chipped away at the Panther defense, putting together a 16-play 86-yard drive which lasted 4:48.
On UNI's opening possession of the second half, Grace rumbled in from eight yards out to put the Panthers ahead, 24-10. The 13-play, 82-yard drive was kept alive after receiver Schuylar Oordt caught a 22-yard tipped ball on third down.
The Redbirds were poised to respond with a touchdown drive of their own following the Grace score, but Panther senior cornerback Terrell McMoore picked off Brockway's pass in the end zone to stop the drive.
Facing a fourth down and one, Grace took the shotgun snap right up the middle for the Panthers final touchdown from three yards out with 9:19 remaining in the game. Grace has a team best seven rushing touchdowns on the year.
Illinois State put one final touchdown on the board as Fisher scampered in from 8-yards out. Fisher finished the evening rushing for 75 yards on 17 attempts.
The Panthers will welcome North Dakota State to the UNI-Dome next weekend with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. on Oct. 18.
Notes: UNI is 57-23-7 all-time in Homecoming games, with the Panthers winning its last four Homecomings...The Panthers are 4-0 at home this year...UNI has won 10 of its last 12 games against Illinois State in the UNI-Dome...Junior linebacker Josh Mahoney racked up a career high 16 tackles...Sophomore linebacker Jamar Thompson intercepted a pass for the second straight week.
Team Stats
ILS 0, UNI 7
UNI - Mahaffey, Ryan 5 yd pass from Grace, Pat (Hallgren, Billy kick) 11 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:08
ILS 0, UNI 10
UNI - Hallgren, Billy 33 yd field goal 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:15
ILS 3, UNI 10
ILS - Fetzer,Steven 27 yd field goal 20 plays, 69 yards, TOP 9:50
ILS 3, UNI 17
UNI - Williams,Victor 50 yd pass from Grace, Pat (Hallgren, Billy kick) 5 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:31
ILS 10, UNI 17
ILS - Brockway,Kevin 1 yd run (Fetzer,Steven kick), 16 plays, 86 yards, TOP 4:48
ILS 10, UNI 24
UNI - Grace, Pat 8 yd run (Hallgren, Billy kick), 13 plays, 82 yards, TOP 6:35
ILS 10, UNI 31
UNI - Grace, Pat 3 yd run (Hallgren, Billy kick), 4 plays, 84 yards, TOP 1:39
ILS 17, UNI 31
ILS - Fisher,Parrish 8 yd run (Fetzer,Steven kick), 14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:38