No. 4 Ranked Panthers Dominate Bears 42-0

Saturday, November 8

UNI-Dome (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

4:05 PM

University of Northern Iowa

8-2 , 6-1

Missouri State

3-6 , 2-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Missouri State

UNI

No. 4 Ranked Panthers Dominate Bears 42-0

11/8/2008 7:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

Nov. 8, 2008

Final Stats | Quotes | UNI-Missouri State Football

The No. 4 ranked University of Northern Iowa football team held the Missouri State offense to just 81 yards of total offense while the Panthers racked up 504 total yards in the 42-0 rout. Senior running back Corey Lewis led the way for the Panthers, chewing up 188 yards on the ground to go along with a pair of touchdown runs.

After the Panther defense forced two three-and-outs on the Bears, the Panthers got the ball on the their own 22 and drove 78 yards in 12 plays finishing with a one-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Pat Grace. The drive was highlighted by 17-yard pass from Grace to junior D.J. Hord. A bad snap on the extra point left the Panthers with a 6-0 lead.

The Panthers forced another three-and-out for the Bears and took over on their own 35-yard line. Grace opened the drive with a 15-yard pass to sophomore tight end Schuylar Oordt to move the Panthers to midfield. Two plays later Grace connected with junior wideout D.P Eyman for a 19-yard pass that put the Panthers inside the Missouri State 30-yard line. Lewis marched 15 yards to set up a first and goal on the Bears 8-yard line. Junior running back Derrick Law then scored from eight yards out for the Panthers' second score of the game.

After trading punts, the Panthers got the ball on their own 31-yard line. Grace connected with redshirt freshman Josh Collins on 11-yard and 23-yard pass plays to set up a four-yard score for Grace extending the Panther lead to 19-0.

After the Panthers forced yet another three-and-out on the Bears opening drive of the second half, UNI drove 57 yards in nine plays to take a commanding 26-0 lead. The bulk of the yardage was on the back of Lewis and Grace on the ground, but it was Lewis who dove into the endzone from a yard out.

Lewis added 41 yards on the ground for the Panthers on UNI's ensuing possession, breaking free for 35 yards to set up first and goal from the Bears 6-yard line. Lewis scored his second touchdown of the day, this time from three yards out. Billy Hallgren added the extra point and the Panthers went up 33-0.

UNI added a safety after the Bears' John Mayberry snapped the ball over punter Jordan Chiles head and it went out of the end zone. The score put UNI on top, 35-0.

The Panthers final score of the game came when Craig James intercepted a Cody Kirby pass and returned it 75 yards for a score. Hallgren added the extra point as the Panthers went up 42-0.

Besides holding the Bears to just 81 total yards of offense, the Panthers allowed Missouri State just six first downs in comparison to the Panthers' 25. The Bears were 0-for-11 on third down conversions. UNI also dominated time of possession, taking up 39:39 minutes while the Bears were allowed just 20:21.

UNI (8-2, 6-1 MVFC) will travel to Indiana State next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. (Central)

NOTES:

The Panthers' 504 yards of total offense is a season-high, the last time the Panthers topped the 500-yard mark was in the 2007 season against New Hampshire. The Panthers racked up 570 yards against the Wildcats.

The last time UNI shutout an opponent was on Sept. 11, 2004 against Minnesota State, Mankato when the Panthers tallied a 40-0 victory.

Mark Farley is 22-4 as the Panther head coach in the month of November.

This season marks the second straight season the Panthers have had an undefeated regular season in the Dome. The Panthers are 6-0 this season in the confines of the UNI-Dome.