UNI Rolls Western Illinois in Home Opener, 38-10

Saturday, September 24

Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI Dome)

4 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

2-1 , 1-0

Western Illinois (Family Weekend)

1-3 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Western Illinois

UNI

UNI Rolls Western Illinois in Home Opener, 38-10

9/24/2011 1:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

The University of Northern Iowa football team rolled to a victory in its home opener on Saturday evening in the UNI-Dome, topping the Western Illinois Leathernecks, 38-10.

The Panthers racked up 275 yards rushing in the game. Redshirt freshman running back David Johnson led the way with a career-high 132 yards on 21 carries. Senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie carried 12 times for 106 yards and was 10-of-14 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Johnson was UNI's leading receiver as well, making three receptions for 46 yards and one score.

Senior linebacker L.J. Fort posted 12 tackles to lead the Panther defense. Senior August Hadenfeldt recorded 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles-for-loss.

With the win, UNI head coach Mark Farley is now tied atop the Missouri Valley Football Conference all-time win list with 54 victories as a head coach.

UNI (2-1, 1-0 MVFC) scored first, capitalizing on a blocked punt by junior Terrell Sinkfield after the Panther defense forced a three-and-out on the opening possession of the game. Rennie rushed in from two yards out to give UNI a 7-0 lead with 12:00 left in the first quarter.

With 5:49 remaining in the first quarter, Rennie found the endzone on a 12-yard run to stretch the Panther margin to 14-0.

Western Illinois (1-3, 0-1 MVFC) scored on a Pat Smith 20-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but UNI added two more touchdowns before halftime. Rennie found Johnson for a 30-yard scoring strike and then posted another rushing touchdown -- this time from 35 yards out -- to give the Panthers a 28-3 halftime lead.

At the 8:19 mark of the third quarter, Rennie connected with sophomore tight end Darion Howard on a four-yard touchdown pass, giving Howard his first career Panther touchdown.

Sophomore kicker Tyler Sievertsen added a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to put the Panthers up 38-3. WIU running back Caulton Ray notched a one-yard touchdown run with 2:49 remaining in the contest to set the final margin at 38-10.

UNI outgained the Leathernecks 417-312 in total offense. Rennie tied a career-high by accounting for five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing). He rushed for four touchdowns and added one passing score in last season's 42-14 victory over Illinois State.

UNI will travel to Springfield, Mo., for a showdown with Missouri State on Sat., Oct. 1. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

NOTES: Senior linebacker Jordan Smith recorded the Panthers' ninth takeaway of the season with a first quarter interception, maintaining the turnover margin at a plus-seven mark for the year ... L.J. Fort has recorded at least 12 tackles in each of UNI's three games ... Rennie posted his ninth performance of 100-plus rushing yards in 15 career games as a Panther ... David Johnson now owns five touchdowns after the first three games of his career ... attendance for the home opener was 16,059.