University of Northern Iowa
2-1 , 1-0
South Dakota State (Family Weekend)
2-2 , 2-1
Panthers Topple Jackrabbits, 34-20
9/20/2008 8:00:00 AM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - University of Northern Iowa junior quarterback Pat Grace threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in the Panthers' decisive 34-20 win over South Dakota State to open Missouri Valley Football Conference play in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers improve to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in league play, while the Jackrabbits drop to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Grace amassed 284 yards of total offense on the day. The junior gunslinger completed 12-of-20 passes for 200 yards, while also chewing up 84 yards on 12 carries, averaging seven yards a carry.
South Dakota State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after Peter Reifenrath nailed a 42-yard field goal, capping off an 11-play 43-yard drive on its opening series of the day.
Following an interception on UNI's first offensive possession of the game, Grace redeemed himself by hooking up with senior wideout Johnny Gray on a 18-yard touchdown strike to propel the Panthers ahead 7-3 with 4:01 remaining in the opening quarter. The Panthers never trailed the rest of the way.
Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, but Grace found his way into the end zone on a three-yard scramble with 14 seconds remaining before halftime to lift the Panthers to a 14-3 cushion at the intermission.
Following a Panther three and out on the opening possession of the second half, the Panther defense held the Jackrabbits to another Reifenrath field goal from 21 yards out after SDSU put together a nine-play 65-yard drive.
With 6:58 left in the third quarter, Grace hooked up with sophomore tight end Ryan Mahaffey on a 33-yard fly pattern, pushing the Panther lead to 21-6.
The Jackrabbits responded when quarterback Ryan Berry hit Glen Fox on eight-yard touchdown pass, trimming the Panther lead to 21-13. Berry finished the game 32-of-53 for 375 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
The Panthers wasted no time putting together another touchdown drive as Gray sprinted past the SDSU defense on a 19-yard reverse for a touchdown at the 14:53 mark of the fourth quarter.
Grace added his second touchdown of the night bulldozing his way in a four-yard quarterback draw, extending the Panther lead to 34-13 with 7:05 left in the game.
Jackrabbit running back Kyle Minnett scored the final touchdown of the night on a two-yard run, with 5:00 remaining in the game.
The Panthers will hit the road next as they head to Carbondale, Ill., to face conference rival Southern Illinois (1-1 overall).
Team Stats
SDSU 3, UNI 0
SDSU - PeterReifenrath 42 yd field goal 11 plays, 43 yards, TOP 4:28
SDSU 3, UNI 7
UNI - Gray, Johnny 18 yd pass from Grace, Pat (Hallgren, Billy kick) 8 plays, 56 yards, TOP 4:01
SDSU 3, UNI 14
UNI - Grace, Pat 3 yd run (Hallgren, Billy kick), 5 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:36
SDSU 6, UNI 14
SDSU - PeterReifenrath 21 yd field goal 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 3:28
SDSU 6, UNI 21
UNI - Mahaffey, Ryan 33 yd pass from Grace, Pat (Hallgren, Billy kick) 1 plays, 33 yards, TOP 0:06
SDSU 13, UNI 21
SDSU - Glen Fox 8 yd pass from Ryan Berry (PeterReifenrath kick) 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:04
SDSU 13, UNI 28
UNI - Gray, Johnny 19 yd run (Hallgren, Billy kick), 7 plays, 72 yards, TOP 3:01
SDSU 13, UNI 34
UNI - Grace, Pat 4 yd run (Hallgren, Billy kickfailed), 4 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:08
SDSU 20, UNI 34
SDSU - Kyle Minett 2 yd run (PeterReifenrath kick), 10 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:05