University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
9-5 , 6-2
Illinois State University
11-1 , 7-1
UNI Falls 41-21 to Illinois State
12/6/2014 1:00:00 AM | Football
NORMAL, Ill. – The University of Northern Iowa football team scored 21 second half points to rally against the Illinois State Redbirds, but unfortunately couldn't close the gap, falling 41-21. The Panthers finished the 2014 season with an overall record of 9-5.
UNI scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to cut the Illinois State lead to 13 points, but Illinois State was able to score off a 36-yard pass with 2:04 left in the game to seal the Redbird win.
Sawyer Kollmorgen finished the game 18-31-1 for 234 yards and a touchdown. UNI had eight different players record catches against the Redbirds, with senior Brett LeMaster leading the way with 55 yards and a scoring play.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior Jake Farley led with 13 tackles and two forced fumbles. Â Xavier Williams added nine tackles and Ray Mitchell finished with eight.
Illinois State was able to score three unanswered touchdowns and a field goal in the first half to take a 24-0 lead heading into halftime. Redbird quarterback Tre Roberson put ILS on the board at the 11:28 mark with a six-yard pass to Camero Meredith for the first touchdown of the game to take a 7-0 lead.
Marshaun Coprich gave the Redbirds their second touchdown of the game, finding the end zone off a one-yard rush, followed by Meredith's second touchdown of the game with 14:13 left in the second quarter to put Illinois State up 21-0. The Redbirds finished the half with a 45-yard field goal from Nick Aussieker to give them a first half point total of 24.
UNI started the second half with good offensive rhythm, jumping on the scoreboard with 9:50 left in the third quarter. UNI quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen took hold of the reins in the quarter, rushing for a one-yard touchdown to cut the Illinois State lead to 24-7. The drive lasted 5:10 for 13 plays and 75 yards.
Unfortunately, Illinois State continued to put pressure on the UNI defense, scoring 10 more points in the third quarter off of a 39-yard field goal and a 26-yard pass to Redbird tight end James O'Shaughnessy to put Illinois State up 34-7.
The Panthers continued to fight in the fourth quarter, with David Johnson scoring his 20th touchdown of the season at the 11:57 mark. He finished with a two-yard rushing touchdown to make the score 34-14, ending a 2:35 drive for eight plays and 84 yards.
UNI didn't waste much time getting another score after Jake Farley forced a fumble off the kickoff to give UNI the ball back on the ILS 20-yard-line. Kollmorgen found LeMaster open in the end zone for a 20-yard passing score to cut the Redbird lead to 34-21 with 11:23 to play in the fourth. The drive only lasted 25 seconds for three plays and 20 yards.
Illinois State scored their final touchdown of the game at the 2:04 mark to seal the playoff win.
Post-Game Notes vs. Illinois State
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Captains against Illinois State: #46 Jake Farley, #37 Max Busher, #66 Jack Rummells and #98 Xavier Williams.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Johnson broke the UNI record for single-season rushing yards against Illinois State after his 48-yard outing. He now has 1,553 on the season, passing Corey Lewis who had 1,513 in 2007.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Xavier Williams was credited with a blocked field goal during the second quarter, giving him seven career blocked kicks. The number ties him for first all-time at UNI in career blocked kicks with Brent Browner (1998-2001).
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tate Omli's blocked punt during the second quarter was his second of the season. The Panthers now have six on the season.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â With his rushing touchdown against Illinois State, David Johnson is now tied for first all-time at UNI in rushing touchdowns in a season with 17 (tied with David Horne, 2005). He also took the sole lead in total touchdowns in a season with his 20, passing Horne who had 19 in 2005.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sawyer Kollmorgen finished the game with 234 yards, his 26th career game with 100 or more passing yards.
Team Stats
UNI 0, ILS 7
ILS - MEREDITH,Camero 6 yd pass from ROBERSON,Tre (AUSSIEKER,Nick kick) 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:32
UNI 0, ILS 14
ILS - COPRICH,Marshau 1 yd run (AUSSIEKER,Nick kick), 5 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:21
UNI 0, ILS 21
ILS - MEREDITH,Camero 2 yd pass from ROBERSON,Tre (AUSSIEKER,Nick kick) 15 plays, 87 yards, TOP 7:59
UNI 0, ILS 24
ILS - AUSSIEKER,Nick 45 yd field goal 6 plays, 44 yards, TOP 1:07
UNI 7, ILS 24
UNI - Kollmorgen, S. 3 yd run (Schmadeke, M. kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:10
UNI 7, ILS 27
ILS - AUSSIEKER,Nick 39 yd field goal 7 plays, 46 yards, TOP 2:36
UNI 7, ILS 34
ILS - O'SHAUGHNESSY,J 26 yd pass from ROBERSON,Tre (AUSSIEKER,Nick kick) 4 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:52
UNI 14, ILS 34
UNI - Johnson, David 2 yd run (Schmadeke, M. kick), 8 plays, 84 yards, TOP 2:44
UNI 21, ILS 34
UNI - LeMaster, Brett 20 yd pass from Kollmorgen, S. (Schmadeke, M. kick) 3 plays, 20 yards, TOP 0:25
UNI 21, ILS 41
ILS - O'SHAUGHNESSY,J 36 yd pass from ROBERSON,Tre (AUSSIEKER,Nick kick) 3 plays, 37 yards, TOP 0:54
