UNI Downs The No. 1 Bison, 23-3

Saturday, November 8

Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome)

4:00 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

6-4 , 4-2

North Dakota State

9-1 , 5-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

North Dakota State

UNI

UNI Downs The No. 1 Bison, 23-3

11/8/2014 1:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: UNI Athletics Communications

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa football team downed the No. 1 North Dakota State Bison, 23-3, ending their 33-game winning streak. The Panthers improved to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the MVFC for its second consecutive win over a top-10 opponent.

The UNI defense held the Bison to just 43 yards on the ground after they were averaging 244.4 on the season. The Bison finished the game with only 175 yards of total offense in its first loss since 2012.

Brion Carnes finished the game 7-19-0 for 93 yards, including 43 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. David Johnson led the team in rushing yards with 133, breaking the 1,000-yard mark on the season for the third time in his career.

On defense, the Panthers were led by two players that were injured in the North Dakota State game just one year ago. Jake Farley finished with a team-high nine tackles while Tim Kilfoy grabbed his third pick in two games, swinging the momentum in UNI's favor in the second quarter.

The defensive line play by the Panthers was exceptional, finishing with a combined 29 tackles out of the 63 total. Xavier Williams and Brett McMakin both finished with seven each, while Mac O'Brien and Isaac Ales added six a piece, with all four players getting a hand in on at least one sack.

The Bison and Panthers played a scoreless first quarter, with North Dakota State only averaging 2.9 yards per rush. UNI kept the Bison at bay, now allowing a single third-down conversion in the quarter.

UNI was able to take a 7-0 lead late in the second quarter to open up scoring in the game after Carnes found the end zone on a six-yard rush. The touchdown ended a four-play, 37-yard drive that took 1:43 off the clock.

Michael Schmadeke gave UNI a 10-point advantage with 13:41 left to play in the third quarter after he converted on a 43-yard field goal. The drive was set up by a fumble recovery by Makinton Dorleant after Isaac Ales knocked the ball loose from Bison running back Darius Anderson.

NDSU escaped with just a field goal with 2:27 on the clock in the third quarter after UNI's defense put up a strong goalline stand on a third-and-one situation. Adam Keller knocked in a 21-yarder to cut UNI's lead to 10-3, ending a four-play, nine-yard drive. The Bison were set up for a short field after C.J. Smith returned a punt 30 yards to the 12-yard line.

Schmadeke answered with his second field goal of the game, booting in a 36-yarder just five seconds into the fourth quarter to give UNI a 13-3 lead. The drive burned 2:32 off the clock that went for six plays and 25 yards.

The Waterloo, Iowa native Schmadeke added to his stat line with 9:25 left in the game, hitting a 42-yard field goal to make the score 16-3. The drive lasted 2:37 for seven plays and 35 yards.

Darrian Miller scored the Panthers' second touchdown of the game after he dashed 30 yards up the middle for a score with 5:04 to play in the fourth quarter. The drive started after another strong defensive stand from UNI, ending after 2:30 for five plays and 46 yards to give UNI a 23-3 lead.

Miller's touchdown was the last score of the game, sealing UNI's 23-3 victory over the three-time defending FCS champions.

UNI will return to action Sat., Nov. 15, when they travel to Carbondale, Ill., to take on the Southern Illinois Salukis. The game is set to kick at 2 p.m.

Post-Game Notes vs. North Dakota State

- Captains against NDSU: #44 Mac O'Brien, #37 Max Busher, #98 Xavier Williams and #66 Jack Rummells

- The Panthers ended NDSU's 33-game winning streak Saturday in front of 14,777 in the UNI-Dome. It was NDSU's first loss since 2012 when they were defeated by the Indiana State Sycamores. It was also NDSU's first road loss since the 2010 season when the Bison lost at Eastern Washington in the FCS playoffs.

- UNI now has three wins over No. 1 ranked opponents. UNI also beat No. 1 New Hampshire 24-21 in 2005 and No. 1 Youngstown State 35-32 in 1997.

- The Panthers' 23-3 win over the North Dakota State Bison was its second consecutive win over a top-10 ranked opponent and 73^rd win over a top-25 opponent.

- UNI is the first team this season to keep North Dakota State scoreless in the first half. The Panthers are also one of two FCS teams that have kept NDSU scoreless through the first quarter. South Dakota State also kept the Bison at bay in the first quarter on Nov. 1.

- Tim Kilfoy picked up his third interception in two games against the Bison. His interception against North Dakota State was returned for 45 yards, putting UNI in position for its first scoring drive.

- David Johnson finished the game against NDSU with 133 rushing yards. He now has 1,050 on the season, making him the first player in UNI history to have 1,000+ yards in three individual seasons.

- David Johnson finished with 210 all-purpose yards (133 rush, 36 rcv., 41 KR) against the Bison. It was the fourth consecutive game that the senior has had 200 or more all-purpose yards in a game. It also marks his 21^st career 100-plus rushing yard performance.