University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
7-2 , 5-1
Western Illinois
5-3 , 3-2
Fourth-ranked Panthers win 30-6 at 12th-ranked Western Illinois
11/1/2008 8:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 1, 2008
Macomb, Ill. - Freshman quarterback Zach Davis completed 13-of-21 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown to lead the fourth-ranked University of Northern Iowa football team to a 30-6 win over 12th-ranked Western Illinois this afternoon at Hanson Field.
UNI had 174 yards rushing in its balanced offensive attack. Corey Lewis had 87 yards on the ground and one touchdown, while Derrick Law added 70 yards and a score. Sophomore kicker Billy Hallgren tied a career-high with three field goals for the Panthers. For the game, UNI outgained Western Illinois 365 yards to 213, including holding the Leathernecks to just 48 yards passing. WIU completed just 5-of-17 passes and was intercepted twice.
After stopping Western Illinois on its opening drive, UNI took a 3-0 lead on a 24-yard field goal from Hallgren. The Panthers drove 52 yards in 12 plays, getting a pair of third-down pass completions from Davis, in getting on the board first.
The Panthers extended their lead to 10-0 late in the first quarter. After nearly being sacked, Davis escaped a heavy WIU pass rush and completed a 47-yard pass to Lewis down to the Leathernecks' 10 yard line. Three plays later, Lewis finished the scoring drive with a five-yard touchdown run.
Western Illinois got on the scoreboard midway through the second quarter. WIU drove the ball down inside the Panthers 20-yard line, but UNI linebacker De'Veon Harris sacked WIU quarterback Matt Barr on third and seven, forcing a Leatherneck field goal attempt. Taylor Rowan connected from 30 yards out to pull Western Illinois within 10-3 with 5:35 left in the first half.
Perhaps the game's most critical sequence happened near the end of the first half. On fourth and six from the Western Illinois' 33-yard line, UNI chose to go for it, and it paid off. Davis hit Schuylar Oordt in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, putting the Panthers up 17-3 with 2:29 left in the second quarter.
Western Illinois fumbled the ensuing kickoff and UNI took advantage. The Panthers drove down inside WIU's five-yard line, and Hallgren connected on a 20-yard field goal to give UNI a 20-3 lead heading into halftime.
The Leathernecks struck first in the second half. Western Illinois' Mike McEachern blocked a Brook Black punt and WIU took over on the Panthers' 30-yard line. Western Illinois capitalized as Rowan kicked a 21-yard field goal to pull the Leathernecks within 20-6 with 4:26 left in the third quarter.
UNI responded right away, as Davis led a nine-play drive that ended in Hallgren's third field goal of the game. Hallgren missed on his first try, but he was roughed on the play and was afforded a second opportunity. This time, he connected from 34 yards out to push UNI's lead to 23-6 at the end of the third quarter. Derrick Law added a 27-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to end the scoring and give the Panthers the 30-6 victory.
With the win, UNI improved to 7-2, 5-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, while Western Illinois fell to 5-3, 3-2 in the MVFC. The Panthers return home to play host to Missouri State next Saturday (Nov. 8). Kickoff from the UNI-Dome is set for 4:05 pm.
Team Stats
UNI 3, WIU 0
UNI - Hallgren, Billy 24 yd field goal 12 plays, 52 yards, TOP 5:26
UNI 10, WIU 0
UNI - Lewis, Corey 5 yd run (Hallgren, Billy kick), 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:11
UNI 10, WIU 3
WIU - Taylor Rowan 30 yd field goal 9 plays, 63 yards, TOP 4:32
UNI 17, WIU 3
UNI - Oordt, Schuylar 33 yd pass from Davis, Zach (Hallgren, Billy kick) 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:12
UNI 20, WIU 3
UNI - Hallgren, Billy 20 yd field goal 8 plays, 39 yards, TOP 2:18
UNI 20, WIU 6
WIU - Taylor Rowan 21 yd field goal 6 plays, 21 yards, TOP 2:26
UNI 23, WIU 6
UNI - Hallgren, Billy 34 yd field goal 9 plays, 41 yards, TOP 4:15
UNI 30, WIU 6
UNI - Law, Derrick 27 yd run (Hallgren, Billy kick), 5 plays, 50 yards, TOP 3:07