UNI Falls 31-28 In Fourth Quarter Shootout At NDSU

Saturday, October 10

Fargo, N.D.

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

2-3 , 0-2

North Dakota State

4-1 , 2-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
UNI	7	7	0	14	28
North Dakota State	3	7	0	21	31

Photo by: Mike Dunlop

UNI Falls 31-28 In Fourth Quarter Shootout At NDSU

10/10/2015 5:25:00 PM | Football

Box Score

FINAL BOX SCORE

FARGO, N.D. – The University of Northern Iowa football program fell in a fourth quarter shootout to the No. 2 ranked North Dakota State Bison, 31-28. UNI is 2-3 overall this season.

UNI headed into the second half with a 14-10 lead, but were outscored 21-14 in the fourth quarter. A late offensive drive by the Bison with 35 seconds left in the game sealed their victory, extending its home winning streak to 26 games.

Sawyer Kollmorgen finished the game 5-12-1 for 103 yards and a touchdown, adding 59 rushing yards. Aaron Bailey took the reins in the second half, notching a career-high 157 yards on the ground and an 83-yard rushing touchdown.

Daurice Fountain scored his second 100-plus yard receiving game, bringing in 110 yards through the air on four catches. On the defensive side of the ball, Brett McMakin led both teams with 13 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss of five yards.

The Panthers kicked things off early in the first half, scoring just over a minute into the first quarter. Kollmorgen found Fountain open down field for 67 yards to put UNI up 7-0 with 13:51 left in the quarter. The drive was worth three plays, 75 yards and 1:09 off the clock.

The UNI defense put up a strong front in the first quarter thanks in part to red zone coverage from Makinton Dorleant. The Bison had to settle on a 43-yard field goal, cutting the UNI lead to 7-3 with 5:01 on the clock. It ended a seven play, 27-yard drive that burned 3:17 off the clock.

UNI continued to hammer away at the Bison defense, extending its lead to 14-3 with 9:20 left in the half. Michael Malloy scored his third touchdown of the season when he leaped over the pile at the goal-line for a one-yard rushing touchdown. It was a 26-yard drive for six plays and 3:01 off the clock after Tim Kilfoy intercepted an NDSU pass and returned it for 60 yards to give UNI the ball.

North Dakota State cut the UNI lead to just four points with 3:53 left to play in the second quarter when they converted on a two-yard pass from Carson Wentz to Jeff Illies, making the score 14-10. It was a lengthy 5:21 drive that lasted 11 plays for 70 yards.

The Panthers and NDSU put up strong defensive stands in the third quarter, with both teams going scoreless in the quarter. The quarterback pressure was also clear in the quarter when the Bison and UNI both throwing interceptions, with McMakin making the turnover for the Panthers second interception of the game.

The Bison stole the lead from the Panthers early in the fourth quarter, driving down field six plays and 58 yards. The drive ended with a two-yard pass from Wentz to Jedre Cyr to end a drive that took 3:09 off the clock, making it 17-14 in their favor.

The Panthers reclaimed the lead just minutes later when Aaron Bailey put UNI in scoring territory thanks to a 30-yard pass to Fountain. Darrian Miller wrapped up the drive with a seven-yard rushing touchdown to give UNI a 21-17 lead with 12:36 on the clock.

NDSU was then able to score on a 33-yard pass from Wentz to Darrius Shepherd to give the Bison a 24-21 lead with 7:49 left to play. The drive lasted 4:40 for 10 plays and 69 yards.

Continuing the fourth quarter shootout, Bailey opened the Panther offensive series with an 83-yard touchdown run, showing his athleticism and speed against a tough Bison defense. The rushing touchdown put UNI up 28-24 at the 7:31 mark in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, the Bison scored the final points of the game with 35 seconds left on the clock to secure its victory. Wentz linked up with Shepherd for his second touchdown of the game (18 yards), making the final score 31-28.

The Panthers will return to action when they host Western Illinois on Oct. 17 for Homecoming. The game will kick off at 4 p.m.

Post-Game Notes vs. North Dakota State

Captains against North Dakota State: Tim Kilfoy, Robert Rathje, Deiondre' Hall and Braden Lehman.
Sawyer Kollmorgen's 67-yard pass to Daurice Fountain in the first quarter was the longest passing play of the season and his second-longest career pass. He threw a 70-yard pass against Iowa in 2014.
Tim Kilfoy picked off NDSU quarterback Carson Wentz in the second quarter, returning it for 60 yards, setting up UNI's second touchdown of the game. It was Wentz's first interception after 143 attempts going untouched.
Brett McMakin finished the game with 13 tackles, marking the second 10 or more tackle game he has had this season. He also notched a career-high 15 against Cal Poly.
With his 67-yard pass to Daurice Fountain in the first half, Sawyer Kollmorgen now holds the No. 5 spot all-time at UNI in career passing touchdowns (49).
Aaron Bailey notched his second 100-plus rushing game of the season, finishing with a career-high 157 yards.