Panthers Top Stephen F. Austin, 34-23

Saturday, September 10

Nacogdoches, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

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Stephen F. Austin

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2nd

3rd

4th

UNI

Stephen F. Austin

Panthers Top Stephen F. Austin, 34-23

9/10/2011 1:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The No. 3 ranked University of Northern Iowa football team used three second-half touchdowns to defeat No. 12 Stephen F. Austin at Homer Bryce Stadium on Saturday night, 34-23.

Redshirt freshman running back David Johnson and senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie each rushed for two touchdowns in the contest. Johnson carried a career-high 31 times for 87 yards, while Rennie notched his eighth career game with over 100 rushing yards at 126 yards on 19 carries.

The Panthers posted 211 yards rushing and limited Stephen F. Austin's vaunted passing attack to 281 yards en route to the victory.

UNI was outgained 407-362 in total yards but used a plus-4 turnover margin to come out on top. Each of UNI's three starting linebackers created a turnover, with Jordan Smith and James Conley snaring interceptions and L.J. Fort forcing and recovering a fumble.

The Lumberjacks opened the scoring, taking their first possession of the game on a nine-play, 68-yard scoring drive that ended with a three-yard pass from Brady Attaway to Gralyn Crawford.

After going three-and-out on the ensuing possession, the Panthers created their first turnover of the game when senior linebacker Jordan Smith intercepted an Attaway pass in UNI territory. UNI drove the ball far enough to get a 43-yard field goal from Tyler Sievertsen, cutting the SFA lead to 7-3 with 3:11 left in the first quarter.

James Conley intercepted another Attaway pass in the second quarter, returning it from the UNI 35-yard line to the SFA 46-yard line and setting up the Panthers' next score. Sievertsen converted his second field goal try of the game with 5:10 left before halftime to make the score 7-6.

SFA used a 46-yard kickoff return by Crawford to set up the following drive, which ended with a 35-yard field goal by Jordan Wiggs. With 1:51 remaining in the second quarter, the Lumberjacks led the Panthers, 10-6.

The Panthers responded with a 10-play, 82-yard drive in 1:27 to take the lead on a one-yard David Johnson run before halftime. A key 32-yard pass completion from Rennie to Jarred Herring moved the ball to the SFA 10-yard line before Johnson carried twice to find the endzone.

A 36-yard field goal by SFA's Wiggs tied the contest at 13-13 with 11:50 left in the third quarter. UNI responded once again, this time with a 75-yard drive capped by a 20-yard touchdown run by Rennie to take the lead at 20-13 with 7:50 remaining in the third quarter.

Another Wiggs field goal cut the Panther lead to 20-16, but UNI answered after L.J. Fort forced and recovered a fumble to give UNI possession at the SFA 22-yard line late in the third quarter. David Johnson scored on a one-yard run on the opening play of the fourth quarter to extend the UNI margin to 27-16.

Fred Ford ran in from six yards out for a Lumberjack touchdown at the 8:40 mark of the fourth quarter, cutting the Panther lead to 27-23. The Panthers responded one more time, reeling off a 12-play, 65-yard drive that Rennie capped with a nine-yard touchdown run to give UNI a 34-23 lead with 3:10 remaining.

Junior cornerback J.J. Swain got the Panthers' third interception of Attaway with 1:38 left in the contest to seal the victory.

Rennie completed 9-of-25 passes for 151 yards on the night. Senior Jarred Herring led the UNI receiving corps with two catches for 60 yards.

Smith led the Panther defense with 16 tackles. Fort and Varmah Sonie each added 12 stops.

UNI will return to action on Sept. 24 in its home opener against Western Illinois. Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m.