Panthers Defense Stops No. 6 SDSU; Secures 10-7 Win

Saturday, October 24

Brookings, S.D.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

3-4 , 1-3

South Dakota State

5-2 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UNI

South Dakota State

Panthers Defense Stops No. 6 SDSU; Secures 10-7 Win

10/24/2015 5:54:00 PM | Football

Box Score

BOX SCORE

BROOKINGS, S.D. – The University of Northern Iowa football program secured a 10-7 win over No. 6 ranked South Dakota State on the road today, improving their overall record to 3-4 overall.

South Dakota State had the ball on the UNI 11-yard-line with 1:31 remaining in the game, but the Panther defense came up with the biggest stop of the game on fourth-and-one, forcing the Jackrabbits to turn the ball over on downs. The Panthers ran out the remaining time on the clock and clinched its 19^th win over a top-10 opponent since 2001.

Aaron Bailey finished the game 8-17-0 for 113 yards while also rushing for a career-high 169 yards and one touchdown. Daurice Fountain had two catches for 40 yards while Tyvis Smith added 12 carries and 54 rushing yards to the UNI stat sheet.

On defense, Brett McMakin had a team-high 10 tackles, including two for loss of yards. Karter Schult finished the game with six tackles, three sacks and four TFL to give UNI a total of 12 tackles for loss, tying for fifth all-time at UNI.

After both teams went scoreless through the first 27 minutes of the game, the Panthers jumped on the scoreboard with 2:43 on the clock in the second quarter. Michael Schmadeke converted on a 24-yard field goal to put UNI up 3-0, ending an 11-play, 92-yard drive that burned 5:00 off the clock.

The field goal would be the only points of the first half. The Panthers and Jackrabbits battled defensively in the first two quarters, with UNI holding SDSU to just 71 offensive yards (40 rushing, 31 passing).

South Dakota State opened the second half with a six-yard receiving touchdown from Taryn Christion to Connor Landberg to give the Jackrabbits a 7-3 lead with 8:22 on the clock. The drive lasted 2:42 for six plays and 60 yards.

UNI reclaimed the lead after Bailey juked and jumped his way into the end zone, wrapping up a 35-yard rush. His fifth rushing touchdown of the season put UNI up 10-7 with 6:04 left in the third quarter, putting an end to a five-play, 79 yard drive that took 2:12 off the clock.

The Panthers came up with perhaps their biggest defensive stop of the afternoon as SDSU was driving down the field late in the fourth quarter. On fourth and one with 1:31 remaining, Tim Kilfoy stopped SDSU running back Kyle Paris behind the line for a one yard loss to give UNI the ball for the remainder of the contest.

UNI will return to action on Oct. 31 when they host the South Dakota Coyotes in the UNI-Dome. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. CT.

Post-Game Notes vs. South Dakota State

Captains against South Dakota State: Tim Kilfoy, Robert Rathje, Deiondre' Hall and Braden Lehman.
The Panther defense held South Dakota State to just 71 total offensive yards in the first half. It is the lowest amount of offensive yards allowed in the first half this season. UNI also held North Dakota State to 138 yards in the first half on Oct. 10.
De'Angelo Jennings finished the game with nine tackles. His previous career-best was eight against Iowa State (9/5).
Aaron Bailey notched his third 100-plus rushing yard performance against SDSU, finishing the game with 23 carries for 169 yards and a touchdown. It was also the first time that a UNI quarterback has rushed and passed for 100-plus yards since Tirrell Rennie in 2011 (142 pass, 106 rush vs. Western Illinois), finishing with 113 yards through the air.
Deiondre' Hall and Makinton Dorleant, two of UNI's defensive starters, both took snaps at wide receiver against SDSU, with Hall coming up with a huge 25-yard reception over the middle in the second quarter.
The Panthers racked up 12 tackles for loss against the Jackrabbits, ranking third all-time at UNI. UNI had 12 tackles for loss against Illinois State (10/3), tying for third all-time at UNI. The school record for TFL in a game is 16, set against Northern Arizona in 2005.