UNI Posts 28-13 Victory Over Western Illinois

Saturday, November 23

Cedar Falls, Iowa

4:00 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

7-5 , 3-5

Western Illinois (Senior Day)

4-8 , 2-6

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Western Illinois

UNI

UNI Posts 28-13 Victory Over Western Illinois

11/23/2013 1:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa football team continued its winning streak Saturday afternoon after posting a 28-13 victory over Western Illinois to close out the regular season. UNI is now 7-5 overall and 3-5 in MVFC play.

David Johnson finished with 156 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Tate Omli led both teams in tackles with nine while Ray Mitchell added four tackles and two interception returns for touchdowns.

Western Illinois got on the board first after Nathan Knuffman knocked in a 40-yard field goal. The 13-play, 51-yard drive burned 5:45 off the clock to put WIU up, 3-0.

After a strong catch in coverage by Chad Owens put UNI in the red zone, Johnson got into the end zone on a two-yard rushing touchdown to give UNI a 7-3 lead with 2:59 left in the first quarter. The drive took seven plays and 66 yards taking 2:56 off the clock.

Deiondre' Hall came up with his second interception of the season with 5:11 left in the second quarter to give UNI the ball back on the WIU 31-yard-line. Johnson scored his second rushing touchdown of the game three plays later after putting a spin move on a WIU defensive player, giving UNI a 14-3 lead. The drive took three plays and 31 yards, burning 51 seconds off the clock.

The Panther defense came up big again on the next WIU offensive drive when Mitchell came up with his third interception of the season, running it back 44 yards for his first touchdown as a Panther. The defensive score put UNI up 21-3 with 4:09 left in the first half.

Mitchell scored again with 23 seconds left in the second half when he came up with his second interception of the game, returning it 72 yards to the end zone with great blocking from Sam Tim. The third interception of the game gave UNI a 28-3 lead heading into halftime.

Western Illinois hit another field goal after driving 17 yards downfield, making the score 28-6 with 8:26 left in the third quarter. Knuffman's 37-yard field goal drive took nine plays for 3:27.

WIU linebacker Kevin Kintzel came up with an interception with six seconds left in the third quarter, running it back 30 yards for a touchdown. The WIU interception cut the Panther lead 28-13.

The Panthers and Western Illinois went scoreless in fourth quarter. Xavier Williams notched a huge sack on a WIU fourth-and-one attempt, giving UNI the ball back with 4:35 left in the game. UNI was able to run out the remaining time on the clock to pick up the 28-13 victory.

Post-Game Notes vs. Western Illinois
David Johnson is now sixth all-time at UNI in career rushing touchdowns with 32. He was previously tied with Carl Boyd (1983-87) at 30 rushing touchdowns.
Ray Mitchell intercepted two passes, both returned for touchdowns against Western Illinois. This is the second game this season that a Panther has notched two interceptions after Tate Omli accomplished the feat against Missouri State (11/16). It is the second time this season a Panther has returned an interception for a touchdown after Deiondre' Hall returned an interception for six points against Southern Illinois (10/12).
David Johnson notched his fourth multi-touchdown game of the season and the 11^th time in his career.
Ray Mitchell's 116 interception return yards is a new UNI-Dome record.
David Johnson is now fourth all-time at UNI in career rushing yards with 3,134. He is just the fifth player in UNI history to break the 3,000 yard mark.