#5 UNI Tops #9 McNeese State, 41-6

Saturday, September 28

Cedar Falls, Iowa

4:00 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

4-0

McNeese State

4-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

McNeese State

UNI

#5 UNI Tops #9 McNeese State, 41-6

9/28/2013 1:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The No. 5 University of Northern Iowa football team defeated No. 9 McNeese State in a top-10 battle in the UNI-Dome, 41-6.

Sophomore Sawyer Kollmorgen finished 16-of-27 passing for a season-high 288 yards and three touchdowns. David Johnson came away with 108 receiving yards and 86 rushing yards on the ground for 194 all-purpose yards. Kevin Vereen also had a standout receiving day with 109 receiving yards on four receptions.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers limited McNeese to only six total points - 43.5 points below its season average coming into the contest. Senior linebacker Jordan Gacke tallied a game-high 10 tackles. Isaac Ales posted a pair of sacks and the Panthers recovered three fumbles in the triumph.

Johnson found his way into the end zone with 3:48 left in the first quarter when Kollmorgen found him open for a 32-yard scoring reception to give UNI a 7-0 lead. Wide receiver Phil Wright provided a key block on the touchdown. The scoring drive went 43 yards in four plays and consumed 1:53 off the clock.

After the Panthers executed a fake field goal, redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Black threw a lob pass to Sam Rohr for an acrobatic catch to put UNI in the red zone. Quarterback Brion Carnes scored on the next play on a 15-yard run to put UNI up 14-0 with 14:21 left in the second quarter.

Kollmorgen found Vereen for a 39-yard pass and catch combo in the second quarter, putting UNI in scoring territory again. After three plays, Tyler Sievertsen knocked in a 23-yard field goal to give UNI a 17-0 lead with 8:06 on the clock. The drive took 4:25 off the clock that went 69 yards in 10 plays.

Chad Owens opened the second half with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Kollmorgen for his second touchdown of the season, putting UNI up 24-0. The Panthers opening drive of the third quarter went 73 yards in four plays and took 1:53 off the clock.

McNeese State jumped on the scoreboard with 8:52 left in the third quarter when Marcus Wiltz notched a six-yard touchdown catch from Cody Stroud. The Cowboys' two-point conversion failed and the Panthers lead stood at 24-6.

With less than 7:00 on the clock in the third quarter, a high snap got away from McNeese's Stroud giving Sam Tim his first fumble recovery of the season to put UNI on the two-yard line. Kollmorgen notched his first rushing touchdown of the season two plays later from a yard out to give UNI a 31-6 lead with 6:20 on the third quarter clock.

Johnson scored his second touchdown of the game with 12:47 left in the fourth quarter when he broke free in the end zone for a five-yard scoring pass from Kollmorgen to give UNI a 38-6 lead.

Sievertsen's second field goal of the game with 5:23 left in the game would be the last points scored in the game, giving UNI a 41-6 win over the No. 9-ranked Cowboys.

Post-Game Notes vs. McNeese State

David Johnson has now scored in 13 consecutive games dating back to the game against Iowa on Sept. 15, 2012. He is now fifth all-time at UNI in career touchdowns with 38.
UNI is the first team this season to hold McNeese State scoreless in the first half. The lowest first half point total they have scored this season prior to today's game was 17 against Weber State on Sept. 21. The Cowboys six points is the lowest point total McNeese State has had this season with McNeese State coming into today's game averaging 49.5 points per game.
UNI has either had a forced fumble or a fumble recovery in three out of the four games this season.
Logan Cunningham notched a career long kickoff return against McNeese State, running the ball back for 33 yards. It also served as the Panthers' season-long kickoff return.
David Johnson has scored two or more touchdowns twice this season (Iowa State, 4 TDs; McNeese State 2 TDs). He now has nine multi-touchdown performances in his career.
UNI now has 70 wins over ranked opponents.
UNI won its seventh consecutive game dating back to the 2012 season.
UNI had two receivers gain 100 or more yards in the same game (Johnson - 108; Vereen - 109) for the first time since D.P. Eyman (197 yds.) and Jarred Herring (129) performed the feat Sept. 12, 2009, vs. South Dakota.