Panthers Score 23-9 Homecoming Victory over Indiana State

Saturday, October 8

Cedar Falls, Iowa

4 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

4-1 , 3-0

Indiana State (Homecoming)

4-2 , 2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Indiana State

UNI

Panthers Score 23-9 Homecoming Victory over Indiana State

10/8/2011 1:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

The No. 2-ranked University of Northern Iowa football team outscored the No. 17-ranked Indiana State Sycamores 13-0 in the second half on its way to a 23-9 Homecoming victory on Saturday evening in the UNI-Dome.

A sellout crowd of 16,890 -- the third-largest in UNI-Dome history -- saw the Panthers hold their third consecutive Missouri Valley Football conference opponent to 10 points or less. UNI (4-1, 3-0 MVFC) took over sole possession of first place in the Valley with the victory.

UNI was led on defense by its two candidates for the Buck Buchanan Award, senior linebacker L.J. Fort and senior defensive lineman Ben Boothby. Fort posted 12 tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss, while Boothby notched seven tackles, three tackles-for-loss and two sacks. Fort has now recorded at least 12 tackles in all five of the Panthers' games this season.

Jordan Smith recorded 10 tackles to go along with his third interception of the season. Senior safety Tre'Darrius Canady added his second interception of the year.

"Special teams and turnovers are always crucial in these games," said UNI head football coach Mark Farley. "Their two missed kicks were critical, and getting the intercepts was big for us."

Senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie was 10-of-14 passing for 142 yards and one touchdown. Rennie also led the Panthers' rushing attack with 93 yards on 17 carries. Redshirt freshman running back David Johnson added 92 yards on 20 carries.

Junior Terrell Sinkfield led UNI in receiving with three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Shakir Bell, Indiana State's Walter Payton Award candidate, rushed for 145 yards on 14 carries in the first half before leaving the game with an injury.

"Our kids battled, but now in the locker room, we're devastated," said Indiana State head coach Trent Miles. "We don't just expect to compete. We expect to win. We didn't take care of the football, and you can't do that against the No. 2 team at their home in a Homecoming game."

Indiana State (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) took the opening kickoff and drove 54 yards on 10 plays to claim the early lead on a 44-yard field goal by Cory Little with 10:38 left in the first quarter. UNI responded by putting together a 13-play, 49-yard drive that resulted in a career-long 48-yard field goal by Tyler Sievertsen, tying the game at 3-all at the 3:12 mark of the first quarter.

Panther linebacker Jordan Smith put a stop to the ensuing Sycamore drive with an interception at the UNI 37-yard line, returning it 20 yards to set up a scoring drive. At the 13:58 mark of the second quarter, Johnson found the endzone from five yards out to give the Panthers a 10-3 lead they would not relinquish.

Indiana State took advantage of a fumble by Johnson deep in Panther territory 54 seconds before halftime. Two plays later, Sycamore quarterback Ronnie Fouch hit Justin Hilton in the end zone to cut the margin to one, but a missed extra point by Cory Little gave the Panthers a 10-9 halftime lead.

UNI drove 60 yards in 10 plays to open the second half before Tyler Sievertsen made a 37-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 13-9.

Indiana State threatened to take the lead mid-way through the fourth quarter, but Fort put a stop to the Sycamores' 13-play, 77-yard drive with his fifth forced fumble of the season, and James Conley recovered it at the UNI 21-yard line.

The Panthers iced the game with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Rennie to Sinkfield with 4:13 left in the game and a 21-yard field goal by Sievertsen with 2:49 remaining.

UNI outgained Indiana State 352-294 in the contest.

UNI will travel to Brookings, S.D., on Oct. 15 for a matchup with South Dakota State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

NOTES: The crowd of 16,890 was the third-largest in UNI-Dome history and the 12th sellout in UNI-Dome history ... UNI has now won 19 of its last 23 Homecoming contests ... the Panthers now hold a 24-4 lead in the all-time series with Indiana State, including 20 wins in the last 21 meetings ... UNI now owns a 66-41 all-time record against ranked FCS opponents.