Panthers Fall to Salukis, 27-20

Saturday, October 17

UNI-Dome (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

4:05 PM

University of Northern Iowa

5-2 , 3-1

Southern Illinois (Homecoming)

5-1 , 4-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Southern Illinois

UNI

Panthers Fall to Salukis, 27-20

10/17/2009 8:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

Oct. 17, 2009

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

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The University of Northern Iowa football team failed to capitalize on some key opportunities in a 27-20 homecoming defeat at the hands of the Southern Illinois Salukis. A UNI-Dome record crowd of 17,190 saw the most recent edition of the annual UNI-SIU battle.

Two late turnovers in Panther territory led to a pair of Saluki touchdowns that decided the game. UNI outgained SIU 375-345, but the Panthers went 2-for-10 on third down conversion opportunities. Senior running back Derrick Law carried 20 times for 123 yards to lead the Panther offense. Quarterback Pat Grace finished 13-of-28 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

Deji Karim had 24 carries for 125 yards for Southern Illinois. Chris Dieker was 16-of-29 passing for 174 yards and one touchdown.

Southern Illinois took the lead first with a 45 yard field goal by Kyle Dougherty with 3:17 left in the first quarter. UNI responded early in the second period when Pat Grace found Carlos Anderson for a 1-yard touchdown completion on fourth-and-goal. The touchdown concluded a 69-yard drive and put the Panthers on top 7-3 with 13:08 remaining in the first half.

Each team added a field goal before halftime, with SIU getting a 27-yarder from Dougherty and UNI tacking on a 21-yarder from Billy Hallgren. The first half ended with UNI safety Jamar Thompson chasing down Karim at the 6-yard line on the tail end of a 48-yard gain on a screen pass.

SIU opened the scoring in the second half with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Dieker to Bryce Morris at the 9:19 mark of the third quarter to pull ahead, 13-10. Two clutch third down conversions kept the SIU drive alive, including an 11 yard run by Dieker on 3^rd and 9 at the UNI 30.

On UNI's next possession, Grace found Schuylar Oordt for a 35-yard reception to the SIU 8-yard line, but the drive ended with D.P. Eyman throwing an interception. Eyman took the option pitch from Grace and threw back across the middle of the field where the pass was intercepted by Saluki safety Mike McElroy.

Four plays later, Derrick Law broke off a 32-yard run to the SIU 5-yard line, but the Panthers were unable to get in the endzone with the next three plays. UNI settled for a 19-yard field goal by Hallgren to tie the game at 13-13 with 11:55 left in the fourth quarter.

The UNI defense forced a punt on the ensuing SIU possession, but the ball hit return man Varmah Sonie and SIU's Steven Morse recovered at the UNI seven yard line. From there, Karim had a one-yard plunge on fourth down to put SIU up 20-13 with 5:06 left in the game.

UNI's offense turned the ball over on downs at midfield, but the Panthers forced a three-and-out and another Saluki punt. On the first snap after the punt, Brandon Williams intercepted a Grace pass and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown to stretch the margin to 27-13.

UNI was able to find the endzone with 1:50 remaining in the game as Grace connected with D.J. Hord for a 3-yard score. With the Panthers trailing 27-20, SIU recovered Hallgren's onside kick to seal the game.

The Panthers will take on South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D., at 2 p.m. next Saturday.