UNI Moves To Semifinals With 36-34 Win Over New Hampshire

Saturday, December 6

UNI-Dome (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

6:00 PM

University of Northern Iowa

12-2

New Hampshire

10-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

New Hampshire

UNI

UNI Moves To Semifinals With 36-34 Win Over New Hampshire

12/6/2008 7:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

Box Score | Quotes

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa held on for a thrilling 36-34 victory over New Hampshire in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs Saturday evening. The Panthers held the Wildcats to just 76 rushing yards and racked up 382 yards of total offense in the win.

The Panthers struck first after Josh Mahoney intercepted an R.J. Toman pass on the New Hampshire 23-yard line and returned it nine yards to the UNH 14-yard line. Quarterback Pat Grace put the Panthers on the board with a nine yard scamper. Billy Hallgren added the extra-point and UNI took an early 7-0 lead.

The Wildcats responded on the next drive, driving 74 yards in eight plays ending with a 17-yard rush by Chad Kackert. The drive was highlighted by a 26-yard pass from Toman to Scott Sicko to put the Wildcats on the UNI 48-yard line.

Following a three-and-out by the Panthers, Brook Black booted a 50-yard punt to pin the Wildcats on their own 19-yard line. Jeremy Robertson pushed the Wildcats back further, sacking Toman for a loss of 12 yards. On fourth-and-18 from the Panther 11-yard line, Jordan Smith blocked a punt and it sailed back through the end zone to give the Panthers a 9-7 lead.

UNI struck again, this time on a 45-yard field goal from Hallgren. The seven-play, 32-yard drive took 3:39 off the clock. Corey Lewis was the primary ball carrier for the Panthers on the drive, carrying the ball three times for a total of 21 yards and gave UNI the 12-7 lead.

Mahoney picked off his second Toman pass of the day, intercepting the ball on the UNI 22-yard line and returning it 25 yards to the UNI 47. Grace completed a nine-yard pass to Jarred Herring and then gained nine yards on the ground to set up first and 10 from the UNI 35 yard line. A false start penalty on the Panthers pushed them back to the Wildcat 40. Grace completed an 8-yard strike to Lewis but the Panthers were unable to convert on third down, setting up a 51-yard field goal for Hallgren. The attempt sailed wide right, but the Panthers held on to the 9-7 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Toman found Terrance Fox for a 67-yard flea flicker pass, a failed PAT gave the Wildcats the slight 13-12 lead with 11:40 left in the second quarter.

A fumble by the Panthers gave UNH the ball at the UNI 36. The Wildcats turned the Panther miscue into six points when Toman scored on a nine-yard rush, Tom Bishop added the extra-point and the Wildcats went up 20-12 with 9:54 left in the first half.

The Panthers responded on the following possession when Lewis found the end zone on a one-yard run. The drive was highlighted by a 44-yard pass from Grace to receiver Josh Collins that put UNI on the Wildcat one-yard line.

Mark Huygens ended the Wildcats next drive, recovering a fumble on the UNI 49-yard line. Grace completed an 18-yard pass to Herring followed by a 26-yard strike to Maurice Turner to put the ball on the UNH one-yard line. After a loss of four on first-and-goal, Grace found the end zone again, this time on a five-yard scamper. Hallgren added the PAT and the Panthers took the lead again at 26-20.

A fumbled kickoff return gave UNI the ball back at the Wildcat 36. After driving 35 yards to the UNH one-yard line, Grace was stripped of the ball and the Wildcats took over on their own six-yard line.

The Panther defense forced another three-and-out and Grace connected again with Turner on a 36-yard pass play and then an 11-yard pass to put the Panthers on the UNI two-yard line. John Clements intercepted Grace's pass in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, giving New Hampshire the 27-26 lead at the break.

UNI took a 29-27 lead after driving 39 yards in five plays on a 35-yard field goal by Hallgren. A 36-yard pass from Grace to tight end Schuylar Oordt put UNI in field goal range at the UNI 20-yard line.

The Panther defense held strong on the Wildcats ensuing possession, forcing a Bishop punt from the UNI 34-yard line. Pinned on their own six-yard line, the Panthers drove to the UNI 35-yard line before the Wildcats halted the drive by dropping Derrick Law for a loss of two on a fourth-and-one play.

Terrell McMoore gave the Panthers the lead for good, scoring off a Toman intercept. McMoore returned the interception 36 yards and Hallgren knocked the PAT through the uprights giving UNI the 36-27 lead with 2:26 left in the third quarter.

New Hampshire closed the gap to 36-34 at the 12:20 mark of the fourth quarter on a one-yard rush by Robert Simpson. The drive was highlighted by a 34-yard pass from Toman to Boyle putting the Wildcats on the UNI one-yard line.

After the Wildcats forced a punt by the Panthers, the Wildcats began their next drive at their own 14-yard line. De'Veon Harris halted the Wildcats comeback attempt by intercepting Toman's pass at the UNI 44-yard line and returned it to midfield.

The Wildcat defense forced a three-and-out, and UNH got the ball back with 3:25 left in the fourth quarter. A sack by James Ruffin set up a fourth-and-nine for the Wildcats on the UNH 38-yard line, but Toman's pass sailed behind receiver T.J. right and the Panthers held on for the 36-34 win.

UNI (12-2) moves on to play Richmond in the FCS semifinals next weekend. The date and kickoff time will be determined Sunday. The game with either be played on Friday at 7 p.m. (Central) or Saturday at 3 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2.

NOTES: Corey Lewis became the third player in UNI history to eclipse 5,000 all-purpose yards (Lewis has 5,011 all-purpose yards) ... Terrell McMoore had his team-leading five interception on the season ... UNI forced six turnovers and gave up only three turnovers - UNI is now +21 on the season in turnover margin ... UNI is 3-0 all-time vs. New Hampshire with a total margin of victory of eight points (3, 3, 2) ... this is the third semifinal for head coach Mark Farley - the Panthers reached the semifinals in 2001 and 2005 ... UNI has won 10 straight games for the second consecutive season.