Rennie Rushes UNI to 42-14 Homecoming Victory Over Illinois State

Saturday, October 23

UNI-Dome (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

4:05 PM

University of Northern Iowa

4-3 , 3-1

Illinois State (Homecoming)

4-4 , 3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Illinois State

UNI

Rennie Rushes UNI to 42-14 Homecoming Victory Over Illinois State

10/23/2010 8:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa Panthers came out on top of the Illinois State Redbirds, 42-14, in front of a Homecoming crowd at the UNI-Dome on Saturday.

Junior quarterback Tirrell Rennie accounted for five touchdowns, including four on the ground, and rushed for 153 yards in helping UNI move into sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference standings. UNI improved to 4-3 on the year and 3-1 in league play. Illinois State fell to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in conference action.

The Panthers took the opening possession of the game and scored a touchdown on an eight-play 55-yard drive capped by a Josh Collins 21-yard scoring pass from Rennie.

UNI upped the lead to 14-0 following a 10-yard rushing score from Rennie with 1:14 left in the first quarter. That score came at the conclusion of an eight-play, 94-yard drive.

Illinois State attempted to get on the board prior to the half, but Henry Obi blocked the 33-yard field goal by Steven Fetzer to keep the Panther lead at 14-0 at the intermission.

The Redbirds eventually struck back with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Matt Brown to Tyrone Walker that trimmed the lead to 14-7 with 7:22 left in the third quarter. But UNI answered back with a 46-yard kickoff return by Jarred Herring to set up a short field. The Panthers took advantage of the short field and moved the lead back to 14 points following an 11-yard touchdown scamper by Rennie on 2nd-and-goal from the 11 with 3:48 left in the third quarter.

The Panther defense then got into the scoring act as Andre Martin caught a tipped pass on a 4th-and-6 and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown. The score gave UNI a 28-7 lead with 1:20 remaining in the third quarter.

UNI increased its lead to 35-7 early in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard run by Rennie. That scoring drive was set up by an interception by the Panthers' Garrett Scott and gave UNI the ball at its own 45-yard line.

Illinois State got its final score of the day on its next offensive play - an 80-yard touchdown pass from Matt Lancaster to Walker, for his second score of the day. The Redbird touchdown came with 13:20 left in the game.

UNI would add one more score - a one yard plunge by Rennie - capped the scoring in the game and put UNI on top, 42-14, with 6:32 left in the game.

James Conley led the Panthers in tackles with 11 stops (four solos) and registered a sack. Will Eilert tallied a team-high two tackles-for-loss.

The Panthers next action is Sat., Oct. 30 at Youngstown State. The game is set to kickoff at noon (central) in Youngstown, Ohio, at Stambaugh Stadium.

Notes: Billy Hallgren tied the all-time scoring record at UNI with his extra point in the fourth quarter, following UNI's sixth touchdown of the game ... Hallgren and Brian Wingert have each scored 331 points in their Panther careers ... Saturday's attendance was 15,730 - the largest home crowd of the season for the Panthers ... UNI forced four turnovers on the day and only turned the ball over once.