Saturday, November 21
Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome)
4 p.m.
University of Northern Iowa
vs
Southern Illinois
Panthers Set To Host Southern Illinois Saturday
11/16/2015 1:45:00 PM | Football
Game Notes in PDF Format
Game 11 vs. Southern Illinois
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Place: Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome)
TV: ESPN3
Radio: 1540 KXEL, TuneIn.com
The Basics: The University of Northern Iowa football program will host its regular season finale on Saturday, Nov. 21 against Southern Illinois. The game will kick off at 4 p.m., honoring the 23 seniors pregame.
About Southern Illinois: Southern Illinois will enter the game against UNI 3-7 overall and 2-5 in conference play. The Salukis have endured a tough schedule, even picking up a win over then ranked No. 10 Liberty during non-conference season. They are led by quarterback Mark Iannotti who leads the Salukis in rushing and passing.
Panther Quick Hits:
• UNI enters the week ranked No. 15 in the STATS and No. 15 in the FCS Coaches top-25 polls.
• Junior quarterback Aaron Bailey has earned MVFC Newcomer of the Week in back-to-back weeks, leading all of Division I football in rushing TDs.
• The Panthers have 77 wins over top-25 opponents and 19 over top-10 opponents since 2001.
• UNI made its 17th FCS playoff appearance in 2014, defeating Stephen F. Austin in the first round.
• Head Coach Mark Farley is in his 15th season at the helm with an overall record of 126-60 and 77-34 in conference play, making him the all-time coaching wins leader in the MVFC.
• The 2015 season marks the 40th year in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers are 199-51-1 all-time inside the historic facility.
• Finished the year in the top-25 in 11 of the last 14 seasons after ending 2014 ranked No. 10 in both polls.
• Has had 41 first-team All-MVFC selections since 2007, the most in the league.
Tickets: Fans looking to buy UNI football season tickets can call 319-273-4TIX (4849) or visit www.UNITIX.uni.edu.
How to Tune in: Fans can tune into The Panther Sports Network (1540 KXEL-Flagship) with Gary Rima and Scott Peterson calling the action or to TuneIn.com. The game will also be aired live on ESPN3.
Follow the Panthers Online: UNI fans can get all their Panther news and notes on UNIPanthers.com. Fans can also follow UNI on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/UNIAthletics and Twitter at @UNIAthletics. The UNI Football program also has individual accounts on Facebook (UNI Football) and on Twitter (@UNIFootball/@CoachMarkFarley).
Join us at Pepper's: UNI will host a weekly press luncheon at Pepper's in Cedar Falls on Mondays at noon. All of the in-season head coaches will address the media with a weekly recap/preview of their team and then will be open to questions. All media and fans are welcome to attend.
The Series: UNI is currently 16-16 all-time against the Salukis, winning 40-21 on the road last season. The Panthers are 5-2 against Southern Illinois at home during the Mark Farley era.
Last Time against the Salukis: UNI picked up a 40-21 win over Southern Illinois last season on the road, snapping a two-game losing streak against the Salukis in the series. Brion Carnes threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns while David Johnson racked up 93 yards on the ground, adding two rushing scores. Jake Farley led both teams in tackles with 15.
Week 11 Awards: Quarterback Aaron Bailey was named MVFC Co-Newcomer of the Week for his performance against Missouri State (11/14). The junior earned the honor in back-to-back weeks.
Zeros: UNI picked up a decisive 41-0 win over Missouri State (11/14), its first shutout of the season. The last time UNI kept a team scoreless was in 2012 when they defeated Central State, 59-0. The last time UNI picked up a shutout during conference play was in 2009, beating Western Illinois 34-0.
Running Down Hill: Tyvis Smith's 56-yard rushing touchdown to start the game against the Bears (11/14) was UNI's longest rushing play from a running back this season and his career-long. The longest rushing play this season is 83 yards from Aaron Bailey against North Dakota State.
Return Yards: Deiondre' Hall picked up his sixth interception of the season against Missouri State (11/14), returning it for 20 yards and ultimately setting up UNI's third scoring drive. His 20-yard return gives him 243 career-interception return yards, tying him for fourth all-time at UNI.
400-Plus: UNI rushed for over 300 yards in just the first half (309) against Missouri State (11/14), finishing the game with 439 total. The last time UNI had 400 or more yards on the ground was against Indiana State in 2009 when they racked up 406. UNI is ranked No. 22 in the FCS and No. 3 in the MVFC in rushing offense.
Pushing the Ball: Aaron Bailey (176 Yds, 4 TD) and Tyvis Smith (146 Yds, 1 TD) both notched 100-plus rushing yard performances against Missouri State (11/14), marking the second time this season that UNI has had two 100-yard rushers in the same game. Prior to UNI's game against Eastern Washington (9/12), the last time the Panthers had two 100-yard rushers was against Western Illinois in 2011.
Back-to-Back: Aaron Bailey rushed for four touchdowns in back-to-back games (Indiana State, Nov. 7 | Missouri State, Nov. 14). Both games tie the school record for rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns in a game. He is now ranked No. 4 in the FCS in rushing touchdowns, with his eight in two weeks being the most in Division I football (FCS & FBS).
Good Hands: Deiondre' Hall's interception against Missouri State (11/14) gives him six on the season and 13 total in his career. His 13 interceptions ranks him fifth all-time at UNI in career picks. He ranks No. 4 in the FCS in interceptions per game and leads the Valley in the statistic.
Taming the Rush: UNI's defense has held its last four opponents to 100 or less rushing yards each game. The Panthers held Missouri State (11/14) to just 43 yards on the ground, the second-lowest total this season. UNI is now ranked No. 15 in the FCS and No. 1 in the MVFC in rushing defense, allowing 112.6 yards per game.
Opposing Team Rushing (100 yards or less)
High Rankings: The Panthers have seven players ranked in the top-25 in the FCS in their individual statistics through three games this season.
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Week 10 Awards: Junior quarterback Aaron Bailey was named MVFC Newcomer of the Week and was selected as a College Sporting News All-Star of the Week for his performance in UNI's 59-13 rout of Indiana State (11/7). It is the second time this season that the Bolingbrook, Ill. native has earned the recognition. Sophomore Bryce Sweeney also earned MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
Off the Field: UNI had three student-athletes named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District teams. Jacob Rathmacher (biology, biochemistry), Isaac Ales (physical education) and Karter Schult (exercise science, family services) were all named to the All-District first team.
Watch List Updates: UNI landed four student-athletes on the College Football Performance Awards Watch Lists. Deiondre' Hall was named to the Defensive Back of the Year Award Watch List while Brett McMakin was named to the Linebacker of the Year Award Watch List. UNI had two linemen earn nods, with both Isaac Ales and Karter Schult being named to the Defensive Lineman of the Year Award Watch List.
Good Neighbor: Senior Jordan Webb was selected as one of 10 student-athletes to receive the MVC Good Neighbor Award. To be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be in good academic standing, must demonstrate good citizenship through good sportsmanship and significant community service, and must participate in a sport, during the season of recognition.
Quality Schedule: UNI has played against six top-25 teams so far this season, gaining a 5-2 record against them. UNI's only two losses against top-25 ranked teams this season were against No. 4 Illinois State (Oct. 3) and No. 2 North Dakota State (Oct. 10).
UNI against Top-25 (2015)
For Four: Aaron Bailey scored four rushing touchdowns against Indiana State (11/7), tying the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game and total touchdowns in a game. It was the first time a Panther has rushed for four touchdowns since Tirrell Rennie accomplished the feat against Illinois State in 2010.
Tying for Records: Tim Kilfoy's pick-six in the first quarter against Indiana State (11/7) was his third-career interception return for a touchdown, tying him for second all-time at UNI with Ray Mitchell (2013-14).
High Scoring: The last time UNI scored 50 or more points was in 2014 when they defeated Tennessee Tech, 50-7. The last time UNI scored 50 or more points in a conference game was against Indiana State in 2009, beating the Sycamores 62-7 in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers dominated Indiana State on Nov. 7, 2015, 59-13.
Mr. November: UNI head coach Mark Farley is known for his winning prowess in the month of November. Since taking over as head coach in 2001, Farley has posted a mark of 45-8 in the month of November.
Top Wins: The Panthers currently have 77 wins over top-25 ranked opponents. In the past two seasons, six of those 76 victories were against top-10 ranked foes with wins over No. 9 McNeese State (9/28/13), No. 9 Youngstown State (11/9/13), No. 6 Illinois State (11/1/14, No. 1 North Dakota State (11/8/14), No. 7 Eastern Washington (9/12/15) and No. 6 South Dakota State (10/24/15).
Numbers Speak: UNI is 91-7 in the Mark Farley era (2001-present) when holding the opposition to 20 points or less. The Panthers are 80-6 in the Farley years when scoring 30 or more points in a game. UNI had won 15 consecutive games when holding the opposition to 20 points or less prior to the game against Illinois State in 2013.
Career Highs: Sam Kuhter had his best punt of the season in the fourth quarter against South Dakota (10/31) booming a 68-yarder to pin the Coyotes on their own three-yardline. With his 52.4 punting average against the Coyotes, he set a new school record for punting average in a game. The previous record was 52.0 by Derrick Frost against Western Kentucky in 2002.
Going the Distance: Michael Schmadeke knocked in a career-long 50-yard field goal to put UNI up 20-7 in the third quarter against South Dakota (10/31). The last time UNI kicked a 50-yard or longer field goal was in 2013 when Tyler Sievertsen knocked one in against North Dakota State. Schmadeke's previous career-best was 49 yards against Western Illinois last season.
Deep Threat: Aaron Bailey finished with a career-high 231 passing yards against South Dakota (10/31), going 16-27-0 along with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Braden Lehman. It was Bailey's sixth passing touchdown this season and his second to Lehman.
Week 8 Awards: Junior defensive lineman Karter Schult was named the College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week and MVFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in UNI's 10-7 win over No. 6 South Dakota State (10/24).
Bringing the Heat: Karter Schult finished the game against South Dakota State (10/24) with eight total tackles, including 4.5 TFL and 3.0 sacks, including getting his hand in on the fourth down stop that secured UNI's 10-7 win. His three sacks ties him for fourth all-time at UNI in sacks in a game and ties the single-game high sacks in the league this season. He currently leads the MVFC in sacks and tackles for loss in 2015.
100 Plus Performance: Aaron Bailey notched his third 100-plus rushing yard performance against SDSU (10/24), 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.
Double Trouble: Deiondre' Hall and Makinton Dorleant, two of UNI's defensive starters, both took snaps at wide receiver against SDSU (10/24), with Hall coming up with a huge 25-yard reception over the middle in the second quarter.
Behind the Line: The Panthers racked up 12 tackles for loss against the Jackrabbits (10/24), ranking third all-time at UNI. UNI had 12 tackles for loss against Illinois State earlier in the month (10/3), tying for third all-time at UNI as well. The school record for TFL in a game is 16, set against Northern Arizona in 2005.
Forcing Turnovers: Brett McMakin leads the MVFC this season and is ranked No. 2 in the FCS in forced fumbles. He recorded two against South Dakota State (10/24), giving him five this season to tie him for fifth all-time at UNI in forced fumbles in a season. It also ranks him second in FCS active career leaders in the category along with him being first in career forced fumbles per game.
Top-10 Wins: UNI has 19 wins over top-10 ranked teams since 2001, including six in the last two seasons.
UNI vs. Top-10 Ranked Teams Since 2001
2001 UNI vs. #2 Youngstown St. (Sept. 29) W, 30-11
2001 UNI vs. #6 Western Ky. (Nov. 10) W, 24-23
2001 UNI vs. #3 Eastern Illinois (Dec. 1) W, 49-43
2003 UNI vs. #7 Western Illinois (Oct. 25) W, 38-30
2003 UNI vs. #2 Southern Illinois (Nov. 15) W, 43-40
2005 UNI vs. #6 Western Ky. (Nov. 5) W, 23-20
2005 UNI vs. #4 Southern Illinois (Nov. 12) W, 25-24
2005 UNI vs. #1 New Hampshire (Dec. 3) W, 24-21
2005 UNI vs. #5 Texas State (Dec. 9) W, 40-37
2006 UNI vs. #5 Youngstown State (Oct. 21) W, 31-23
2006 UNI vs. #6 Illinois State (Nov. 18) W, 38-27
2007 UNI vs. #6 Southern Illinois (Oct. 13) W, 30-24
2008 UNI vs. #10 New Hampshire (Dec. 6) W, 36-34
2013 UNI vs. #9 McNeese State (Sept. 28) W, 41-6
2013 UNI vs. #9 Youngstown State (Nov. 9) W, 22-20
2014 UNI vs. #6 Illinois State (Nov. 1) W, 42-28
2014 UNI vs. #1 N. Dakota State (Nov. 8) W, 23-3
2015 UNI vs. #7 Eastern Washington (Sept. 12) W, 38-35
2015 UNI at #6 South Dakota State (Oct. 24) W, 10-7
Performer of the Year: Aaron Bailey has been added to the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Watch List. Bailey is one of 32 athletes that have been named to the list. Â
Pick-Six Record: Senior corner back Deiondre' Hall broke the school record for interception returns for touchdowns against Western Illinois (10/17). In the third quarter against the Fighting Leathernecks, Hall picked off Trenton Norvell and returned it for 32 yards to the end zone. He now has four-career pick-sixes, passing Ray Mitchell (Free Safety, 2013-14), who had three in his career at UNI. His four career pick-sixes also ranks him No. 2 in all of Division I football out of active career leaders.
Good Company: Deiondre' Hall is one of 24 defensive student-athletes that have been named to the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Award Watch List and is one of four athletes representing the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
40 Great Years: The 2015 season marks the 40th year of the UNI-Dome. With the Panthers currently holding a 199-51-1 record inside the UNI-Dome, just three shy of the 200-win mark, it is safe to say that tradition has thrived in the building that was constructed in 1976. UNI has gone undefeated at home in a season eight times since 1990, including four seasons under the direction of Mark Farley. The Panthers are also 79-14 in home Missouri Valley Football Conference games.
Conference Play: UNI currently holds a 149-56 overall record in the MVFC and 77-34 record during the Farley era. Farley's 77 league wins is the most by a head coach in Missouri Valley Football Conference history.
Week 5 Awards: Brett McMakin was named MVFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season for his performance against North Dakota State (10/10) and also earned STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Week honors. He racked up a game-high 13 tackles, forced two fumbles and came away with a key interception during an NDSU redzone attack.
Finding a Weakness: Heading into the weekend of Oct. 10, North Dakota State was ranked No. 1 in the FCS in rushing defense, had only allowed a total of 163 yards on the ground through four games and was only allowing an average of 40 yards rushing per game. Against the Bison, UNI racked up a season-high 277 rushing yards, averaging 7.3 yards per rush. The Panthers scored three rushing touchdowns (Malloy, 1-yd TD, Miller, 7-yd TD, Bailey (83-yd TD) with NDSU only allowing two rushing touchdowns prior to Saturday's game.
Mistakes Happen: North Dakota State was one of five schools heading into last weekend that hadn't thrown an interception. In UNI's game against the NDSU Bison (10/10), the Panthers forced Carson Wentz to throw two interception after going for 143 consecutive passing attempts untouched. Tim Kilfoy (returned 60 yards to set up TD) and Brett McMakin (interception UNI 9-yard-line to stop redzone attack) both notched turnovers against North Dakota State.
Five For Five: Karter Schult scored a career-high 10 tackles against Illinois State, including a staggering five tackles for a loss of 18 yards. His 5.0 TFL was just 0.5 shy of tying the school record for tackles for loss in a game. John Hermann holds the record at 5.5 against Northern Arizona in 2005.
Week 3 Awards: UNI secured both the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week selections for the second consecutive week. Aaron Bailey was named Newcomer of the Week while Brett McMakin earned defensive honors for their performances against Cal Poly (9/19).
He's Got the Smart: Senior defensive lineman Isaac Ales was named a semifinalist for the 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy. The award is given to the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the country. He is one of 135 student-athletes still in the running for the award.
UNI William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalists
James Lindgren, 2006
Chad Rinehart, 2007
Josh Mahoney, 2009
Ben Boothby, 2011
Kyle Bernard, 2012
David Johnson, 2014
Back To Back: UNI posted back-to-back wins against non-conference top-25 teams for the first time since the 2008 playoffs (Maine, New Hampshire). UNI won its home opener against No. 7 Eastern Washington (9/12) and then defeated No. 17 Cal Poly (9/19) on the road.
Receiving Praise: Daurice Fountain finished the game against Cal Poly (9/19) with a career-high 123 receiving yards on eight catches. The last time UNI had a 100-yard receiver in a game prior to Cal Poly was Oct. 19, 2013 when Chad Owens had 107 yards through the air.
UNI in Non-Conference: UNI has the most victories among league members over top-25 non-conference opponents with 33 since 1985.
Week 2 Awards: Senior Deiondre' Hall was named the College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week and the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Eastern Washington (9/12). Junior quarterback Aaron Bailey was also selected as the MVFC Newcomer of the Week.
Dual Threat: Aaron Bailey finished the game with 134 rushing yards against Eastern Washington (9/12). The last time UNI had a 100-yard rushing quarterback performance prior to Eastern Washington was on Nov. 19, 2011 when Tirrell Rennie rushed for 100 yards on 17 carries in UNI's win over Illinois State.
Dynamic Duo: Aaron Bailey (134 rushing yards) and Darrian Miller (112 rushing yards) combined for 246 of UNI's 266 rushing yards against the Eagles (9/12). The last time UNI had two 100+ yard rushers in a game was on Sept. 24, 2011 against Western Illinois
Two for Seven: Michael Malloy and Logan Cunningham both scored their first-career touchdowns against the Eagles (9/12), two of five touchdowns scored in the high scoring game.
Back At It: Senior wide receiver Rod Hall played in his first football game since 2011 when the Panthers faced off against Iowa State (Sept. 5). For the past four years, Hall has been the starting point guard for the Clemson Tigers, but with one last year of eligibility left, he decided to go back to the gridiron for one last season of football.
High Rank: Since 1985, UNI has been the only MVFC teams ranked in a pre-season or regular-season poll every season. The Panthers finished last season 9-5 overall and ranked No. 10 in both the Coaches and Sports Network poll.
Key Numbers: Out of UNI's 11 opponents this season, five finished the 2014 season ranked in the top-25 with five more receiving votes. Seven of UNI's 10 FCS opponents this season are also either ranked in the polls or receiving votes.
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Familiar Past: Panther fans will get to see a familiar number running on the defensive side of the ball this fall, with Jared Farley making the switch from 35 to 46. With the newest number change, Jared is now the third member of the Farley family to wear the coveted 46.
Winning Tradition: Mark Farley currently holds an overall record of 126-60 at the helm, just three wins shy of tying Stan Sheriff's, UNI's all-time winningest coach record of 129-101-4.
UNI Football is Family: Family has always been important to the Panthers and this year's roster shows the bond between father and son and siblings. There are currently five student-athletes that have followed in their father's footsteps to become a Panther and four sets of siblings on the 2015 roster.
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Game 11 vs. Southern Illinois
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Place: Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome)
TV: ESPN3
Radio: 1540 KXEL, TuneIn.com
The Basics: The University of Northern Iowa football program will host its regular season finale on Saturday, Nov. 21 against Southern Illinois. The game will kick off at 4 p.m., honoring the 23 seniors pregame.
About Southern Illinois: Southern Illinois will enter the game against UNI 3-7 overall and 2-5 in conference play. The Salukis have endured a tough schedule, even picking up a win over then ranked No. 10 Liberty during non-conference season. They are led by quarterback Mark Iannotti who leads the Salukis in rushing and passing.
Panther Quick Hits:
• UNI enters the week ranked No. 15 in the STATS and No. 15 in the FCS Coaches top-25 polls.
• Junior quarterback Aaron Bailey has earned MVFC Newcomer of the Week in back-to-back weeks, leading all of Division I football in rushing TDs.
• The Panthers have 77 wins over top-25 opponents and 19 over top-10 opponents since 2001.
• UNI made its 17th FCS playoff appearance in 2014, defeating Stephen F. Austin in the first round.
• Head Coach Mark Farley is in his 15th season at the helm with an overall record of 126-60 and 77-34 in conference play, making him the all-time coaching wins leader in the MVFC.
• The 2015 season marks the 40th year in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers are 199-51-1 all-time inside the historic facility.
• Finished the year in the top-25 in 11 of the last 14 seasons after ending 2014 ranked No. 10 in both polls.
• Has had 41 first-team All-MVFC selections since 2007, the most in the league.
Tickets: Fans looking to buy UNI football season tickets can call 319-273-4TIX (4849) or visit www.UNITIX.uni.edu.
How to Tune in: Fans can tune into The Panther Sports Network (1540 KXEL-Flagship) with Gary Rima and Scott Peterson calling the action or to TuneIn.com. The game will also be aired live on ESPN3.
Follow the Panthers Online: UNI fans can get all their Panther news and notes on UNIPanthers.com. Fans can also follow UNI on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/UNIAthletics and Twitter at @UNIAthletics. The UNI Football program also has individual accounts on Facebook (UNI Football) and on Twitter (@UNIFootball/@CoachMarkFarley).
Join us at Pepper's: UNI will host a weekly press luncheon at Pepper's in Cedar Falls on Mondays at noon. All of the in-season head coaches will address the media with a weekly recap/preview of their team and then will be open to questions. All media and fans are welcome to attend.
The Series: UNI is currently 16-16 all-time against the Salukis, winning 40-21 on the road last season. The Panthers are 5-2 against Southern Illinois at home during the Mark Farley era.
Last Time against the Salukis: UNI picked up a 40-21 win over Southern Illinois last season on the road, snapping a two-game losing streak against the Salukis in the series. Brion Carnes threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns while David Johnson racked up 93 yards on the ground, adding two rushing scores. Jake Farley led both teams in tackles with 15.
Week 11 Awards: Quarterback Aaron Bailey was named MVFC Co-Newcomer of the Week for his performance against Missouri State (11/14). The junior earned the honor in back-to-back weeks.
Zeros: UNI picked up a decisive 41-0 win over Missouri State (11/14), its first shutout of the season. The last time UNI kept a team scoreless was in 2012 when they defeated Central State, 59-0. The last time UNI picked up a shutout during conference play was in 2009, beating Western Illinois 34-0.
Running Down Hill: Tyvis Smith's 56-yard rushing touchdown to start the game against the Bears (11/14) was UNI's longest rushing play from a running back this season and his career-long. The longest rushing play this season is 83 yards from Aaron Bailey against North Dakota State.
Return Yards: Deiondre' Hall picked up his sixth interception of the season against Missouri State (11/14), returning it for 20 yards and ultimately setting up UNI's third scoring drive. His 20-yard return gives him 243 career-interception return yards, tying him for fourth all-time at UNI.
400-Plus: UNI rushed for over 300 yards in just the first half (309) against Missouri State (11/14), finishing the game with 439 total. The last time UNI had 400 or more yards on the ground was against Indiana State in 2009 when they racked up 406. UNI is ranked No. 22 in the FCS and No. 3 in the MVFC in rushing offense.
Pushing the Ball: Aaron Bailey (176 Yds, 4 TD) and Tyvis Smith (146 Yds, 1 TD) both notched 100-plus rushing yard performances against Missouri State (11/14), marking the second time this season that UNI has had two 100-yard rushers in the same game. Prior to UNI's game against Eastern Washington (9/12), the last time the Panthers had two 100-yard rushers was against Western Illinois in 2011.
Back-to-Back: Aaron Bailey rushed for four touchdowns in back-to-back games (Indiana State, Nov. 7 | Missouri State, Nov. 14). Both games tie the school record for rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns in a game. He is now ranked No. 4 in the FCS in rushing touchdowns, with his eight in two weeks being the most in Division I football (FCS & FBS).
Good Hands: Deiondre' Hall's interception against Missouri State (11/14) gives him six on the season and 13 total in his career. His 13 interceptions ranks him fifth all-time at UNI in career picks. He ranks No. 4 in the FCS in interceptions per game and leads the Valley in the statistic.
Taming the Rush: UNI's defense has held its last four opponents to 100 or less rushing yards each game. The Panthers held Missouri State (11/14) to just 43 yards on the ground, the second-lowest total this season. UNI is now ranked No. 15 in the FCS and No. 1 in the MVFC in rushing defense, allowing 112.6 yards per game.
Opposing Team Rushing (100 yards or less)
| 9/5 | at Iowa State | 77 rush yards |
| 9/12 | Eastern Washington | 26 rush yards |
| 10/24 | at South Dakota State | 95 rush yards |
| 10/31 | South Dakota | 54 rush yards |
| 11/7 | Indiana State | 46 rush yards |
| 11/14 | at Missouri State | 43 rush yards |
High Rankings: The Panthers have seven players ranked in the top-25 in the FCS in their individual statistics through three games this season.
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| Player | Stat | Rank |
| Brett McMakin | Forced Fumbles | 2 |
| Isaac Ales | Forced Fumbles | 15 |
| Makinton Dorleant | Fumbles Recovered | 2 |
| Isaac Ales | Fumbles Recovered | 18 |
| Deiondre' Hall | Interceptions Per Game | 4 |
| Aaron Bailey | Passing Yds Per Comp. | 11 |
| Makinton Dorleant | Punt Returns | 11 |
| Sam Kuhter | Punting | 11 |
| Aaron Bailey | Rushing Touchdowns | 4 |
| Aaron Bailey | Rushing Yards | 25 |
| Karter Schult | Sacks | 5 |
| Isaac Ales | Sacks | 17 |
| Aaron Bailey | Scoring | 15 |
| Brett McMakin | Solo Tackles | 13 |
| Karter Schult | Tackles for Loss | 7 |
| Isaac Ales | Tackles for Loss | 19 |
Week 10 Awards: Junior quarterback Aaron Bailey was named MVFC Newcomer of the Week and was selected as a College Sporting News All-Star of the Week for his performance in UNI's 59-13 rout of Indiana State (11/7). It is the second time this season that the Bolingbrook, Ill. native has earned the recognition. Sophomore Bryce Sweeney also earned MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
Off the Field: UNI had three student-athletes named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District teams. Jacob Rathmacher (biology, biochemistry), Isaac Ales (physical education) and Karter Schult (exercise science, family services) were all named to the All-District first team.
Watch List Updates: UNI landed four student-athletes on the College Football Performance Awards Watch Lists. Deiondre' Hall was named to the Defensive Back of the Year Award Watch List while Brett McMakin was named to the Linebacker of the Year Award Watch List. UNI had two linemen earn nods, with both Isaac Ales and Karter Schult being named to the Defensive Lineman of the Year Award Watch List.
Good Neighbor: Senior Jordan Webb was selected as one of 10 student-athletes to receive the MVC Good Neighbor Award. To be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be in good academic standing, must demonstrate good citizenship through good sportsmanship and significant community service, and must participate in a sport, during the season of recognition.
Quality Schedule: UNI has played against six top-25 teams so far this season, gaining a 5-2 record against them. UNI's only two losses against top-25 ranked teams this season were against No. 4 Illinois State (Oct. 3) and No. 2 North Dakota State (Oct. 10).
UNI against Top-25 (2015)
| 9/12 | #7 Eastern Washington | W, 38-35 |
| 9/19 | at #17 Cal Poly | W, 34-20 |
| 10/3 | at #4 Illinois State | L, 21-13 |
| 10/10 | at #2 North Dakota State | L, 31-28 |
| 10/24 | at #6 South Dakota State | W, 10-7 |
| 11/7 | #23 Indiana State | W, 59-13 |
For Four: Aaron Bailey scored four rushing touchdowns against Indiana State (11/7), tying the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game and total touchdowns in a game. It was the first time a Panther has rushed for four touchdowns since Tirrell Rennie accomplished the feat against Illinois State in 2010.
Tying for Records: Tim Kilfoy's pick-six in the first quarter against Indiana State (11/7) was his third-career interception return for a touchdown, tying him for second all-time at UNI with Ray Mitchell (2013-14).
High Scoring: The last time UNI scored 50 or more points was in 2014 when they defeated Tennessee Tech, 50-7. The last time UNI scored 50 or more points in a conference game was against Indiana State in 2009, beating the Sycamores 62-7 in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers dominated Indiana State on Nov. 7, 2015, 59-13.
Mr. November: UNI head coach Mark Farley is known for his winning prowess in the month of November. Since taking over as head coach in 2001, Farley has posted a mark of 45-8 in the month of November.
Top Wins: The Panthers currently have 77 wins over top-25 ranked opponents. In the past two seasons, six of those 76 victories were against top-10 ranked foes with wins over No. 9 McNeese State (9/28/13), No. 9 Youngstown State (11/9/13), No. 6 Illinois State (11/1/14, No. 1 North Dakota State (11/8/14), No. 7 Eastern Washington (9/12/15) and No. 6 South Dakota State (10/24/15).
Numbers Speak: UNI is 91-7 in the Mark Farley era (2001-present) when holding the opposition to 20 points or less. The Panthers are 80-6 in the Farley years when scoring 30 or more points in a game. UNI had won 15 consecutive games when holding the opposition to 20 points or less prior to the game against Illinois State in 2013.
Career Highs: Sam Kuhter had his best punt of the season in the fourth quarter against South Dakota (10/31) booming a 68-yarder to pin the Coyotes on their own three-yardline. With his 52.4 punting average against the Coyotes, he set a new school record for punting average in a game. The previous record was 52.0 by Derrick Frost against Western Kentucky in 2002.
Going the Distance: Michael Schmadeke knocked in a career-long 50-yard field goal to put UNI up 20-7 in the third quarter against South Dakota (10/31). The last time UNI kicked a 50-yard or longer field goal was in 2013 when Tyler Sievertsen knocked one in against North Dakota State. Schmadeke's previous career-best was 49 yards against Western Illinois last season.
Deep Threat: Aaron Bailey finished with a career-high 231 passing yards against South Dakota (10/31), going 16-27-0 along with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Braden Lehman. It was Bailey's sixth passing touchdown this season and his second to Lehman.
Week 8 Awards: Junior defensive lineman Karter Schult was named the College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week and MVFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in UNI's 10-7 win over No. 6 South Dakota State (10/24).
Bringing the Heat: Karter Schult finished the game against South Dakota State (10/24) with eight total tackles, including 4.5 TFL and 3.0 sacks, including getting his hand in on the fourth down stop that secured UNI's 10-7 win. His three sacks ties him for fourth all-time at UNI in sacks in a game and ties the single-game high sacks in the league this season. He currently leads the MVFC in sacks and tackles for loss in 2015.
100 Plus Performance: Aaron Bailey notched his third 100-plus rushing yard performance against SDSU (10/24), 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.
Double Trouble: Deiondre' Hall and Makinton Dorleant, two of UNI's defensive starters, both took snaps at wide receiver against SDSU (10/24), with Hall coming up with a huge 25-yard reception over the middle in the second quarter.
Behind the Line: The Panthers racked up 12 tackles for loss against the Jackrabbits (10/24), ranking third all-time at UNI. UNI had 12 tackles for loss against Illinois State earlier in the month (10/3), tying for third all-time at UNI as well. The school record for TFL in a game is 16, set against Northern Arizona in 2005.
Forcing Turnovers: Brett McMakin leads the MVFC this season and is ranked No. 2 in the FCS in forced fumbles. He recorded two against South Dakota State (10/24), giving him five this season to tie him for fifth all-time at UNI in forced fumbles in a season. It also ranks him second in FCS active career leaders in the category along with him being first in career forced fumbles per game.
Top-10 Wins: UNI has 19 wins over top-10 ranked teams since 2001, including six in the last two seasons.
UNI vs. Top-10 Ranked Teams Since 2001
2001 UNI vs. #2 Youngstown St. (Sept. 29) W, 30-11
2001 UNI vs. #6 Western Ky. (Nov. 10) W, 24-23
2001 UNI vs. #3 Eastern Illinois (Dec. 1) W, 49-43
2003 UNI vs. #7 Western Illinois (Oct. 25) W, 38-30
2003 UNI vs. #2 Southern Illinois (Nov. 15) W, 43-40
2005 UNI vs. #6 Western Ky. (Nov. 5) W, 23-20
2005 UNI vs. #4 Southern Illinois (Nov. 12) W, 25-24
2005 UNI vs. #1 New Hampshire (Dec. 3) W, 24-21
2005 UNI vs. #5 Texas State (Dec. 9) W, 40-37
2006 UNI vs. #5 Youngstown State (Oct. 21) W, 31-23
2006 UNI vs. #6 Illinois State (Nov. 18) W, 38-27
2007 UNI vs. #6 Southern Illinois (Oct. 13) W, 30-24
2008 UNI vs. #10 New Hampshire (Dec. 6) W, 36-34
2013 UNI vs. #9 McNeese State (Sept. 28) W, 41-6
2013 UNI vs. #9 Youngstown State (Nov. 9) W, 22-20
2014 UNI vs. #6 Illinois State (Nov. 1) W, 42-28
2014 UNI vs. #1 N. Dakota State (Nov. 8) W, 23-3
2015 UNI vs. #7 Eastern Washington (Sept. 12) W, 38-35
2015 UNI at #6 South Dakota State (Oct. 24) W, 10-7
Performer of the Year: Aaron Bailey has been added to the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Watch List. Bailey is one of 32 athletes that have been named to the list. Â
Pick-Six Record: Senior corner back Deiondre' Hall broke the school record for interception returns for touchdowns against Western Illinois (10/17). In the third quarter against the Fighting Leathernecks, Hall picked off Trenton Norvell and returned it for 32 yards to the end zone. He now has four-career pick-sixes, passing Ray Mitchell (Free Safety, 2013-14), who had three in his career at UNI. His four career pick-sixes also ranks him No. 2 in all of Division I football out of active career leaders.
Good Company: Deiondre' Hall is one of 24 defensive student-athletes that have been named to the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Award Watch List and is one of four athletes representing the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
40 Great Years: The 2015 season marks the 40th year of the UNI-Dome. With the Panthers currently holding a 199-51-1 record inside the UNI-Dome, just three shy of the 200-win mark, it is safe to say that tradition has thrived in the building that was constructed in 1976. UNI has gone undefeated at home in a season eight times since 1990, including four seasons under the direction of Mark Farley. The Panthers are also 79-14 in home Missouri Valley Football Conference games.
Conference Play: UNI currently holds a 149-56 overall record in the MVFC and 77-34 record during the Farley era. Farley's 77 league wins is the most by a head coach in Missouri Valley Football Conference history.
Week 5 Awards: Brett McMakin was named MVFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season for his performance against North Dakota State (10/10) and also earned STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Week honors. He racked up a game-high 13 tackles, forced two fumbles and came away with a key interception during an NDSU redzone attack.
Finding a Weakness: Heading into the weekend of Oct. 10, North Dakota State was ranked No. 1 in the FCS in rushing defense, had only allowed a total of 163 yards on the ground through four games and was only allowing an average of 40 yards rushing per game. Against the Bison, UNI racked up a season-high 277 rushing yards, averaging 7.3 yards per rush. The Panthers scored three rushing touchdowns (Malloy, 1-yd TD, Miller, 7-yd TD, Bailey (83-yd TD) with NDSU only allowing two rushing touchdowns prior to Saturday's game.
Mistakes Happen: North Dakota State was one of five schools heading into last weekend that hadn't thrown an interception. In UNI's game against the NDSU Bison (10/10), the Panthers forced Carson Wentz to throw two interception after going for 143 consecutive passing attempts untouched. Tim Kilfoy (returned 60 yards to set up TD) and Brett McMakin (interception UNI 9-yard-line to stop redzone attack) both notched turnovers against North Dakota State.
Five For Five: Karter Schult scored a career-high 10 tackles against Illinois State, including a staggering five tackles for a loss of 18 yards. His 5.0 TFL was just 0.5 shy of tying the school record for tackles for loss in a game. John Hermann holds the record at 5.5 against Northern Arizona in 2005.
Week 3 Awards: UNI secured both the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week selections for the second consecutive week. Aaron Bailey was named Newcomer of the Week while Brett McMakin earned defensive honors for their performances against Cal Poly (9/19).
He's Got the Smart: Senior defensive lineman Isaac Ales was named a semifinalist for the 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy. The award is given to the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the country. He is one of 135 student-athletes still in the running for the award.
UNI William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalists
James Lindgren, 2006
Chad Rinehart, 2007
Josh Mahoney, 2009
Ben Boothby, 2011
Kyle Bernard, 2012
David Johnson, 2014
Back To Back: UNI posted back-to-back wins against non-conference top-25 teams for the first time since the 2008 playoffs (Maine, New Hampshire). UNI won its home opener against No. 7 Eastern Washington (9/12) and then defeated No. 17 Cal Poly (9/19) on the road.
Receiving Praise: Daurice Fountain finished the game against Cal Poly (9/19) with a career-high 123 receiving yards on eight catches. The last time UNI had a 100-yard receiver in a game prior to Cal Poly was Oct. 19, 2013 when Chad Owens had 107 yards through the air.
UNI in Non-Conference: UNI has the most victories among league members over top-25 non-conference opponents with 33 since 1985.
Week 2 Awards: Senior Deiondre' Hall was named the College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week and the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Eastern Washington (9/12). Junior quarterback Aaron Bailey was also selected as the MVFC Newcomer of the Week.
Dual Threat: Aaron Bailey finished the game with 134 rushing yards against Eastern Washington (9/12). The last time UNI had a 100-yard rushing quarterback performance prior to Eastern Washington was on Nov. 19, 2011 when Tirrell Rennie rushed for 100 yards on 17 carries in UNI's win over Illinois State.
Dynamic Duo: Aaron Bailey (134 rushing yards) and Darrian Miller (112 rushing yards) combined for 246 of UNI's 266 rushing yards against the Eagles (9/12). The last time UNI had two 100+ yard rushers in a game was on Sept. 24, 2011 against Western Illinois
Two for Seven: Michael Malloy and Logan Cunningham both scored their first-career touchdowns against the Eagles (9/12), two of five touchdowns scored in the high scoring game.
Back At It: Senior wide receiver Rod Hall played in his first football game since 2011 when the Panthers faced off against Iowa State (Sept. 5). For the past four years, Hall has been the starting point guard for the Clemson Tigers, but with one last year of eligibility left, he decided to go back to the gridiron for one last season of football.
High Rank: Since 1985, UNI has been the only MVFC teams ranked in a pre-season or regular-season poll every season. The Panthers finished last season 9-5 overall and ranked No. 10 in both the Coaches and Sports Network poll.
Key Numbers: Out of UNI's 11 opponents this season, five finished the 2014 season ranked in the top-25 with five more receiving votes. Seven of UNI's 10 FCS opponents this season are also either ranked in the polls or receiving votes.
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| Team | STATS/Coaches Poll |
| North Dakota State | 2/3 |
| South Dakota State | 5/5 |
| Illinois State | 6/6 |
| Eastern Washington | 18/19 |
| Western Illinois | RV/RV |
| South Dakota | None/RV |
| Cal Poly | None/RV |
Familiar Past: Panther fans will get to see a familiar number running on the defensive side of the ball this fall, with Jared Farley making the switch from 35 to 46. With the newest number change, Jared is now the third member of the Farley family to wear the coveted 46.
Winning Tradition: Mark Farley currently holds an overall record of 126-60 at the helm, just three wins shy of tying Stan Sheriff's, UNI's all-time winningest coach record of 129-101-4.
UNI Football is Family: Family has always been important to the Panthers and this year's roster shows the bond between father and son and siblings. There are currently five student-athletes that have followed in their father's footsteps to become a Panther and four sets of siblings on the 2015 roster.
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| Father | Years at UNI | Son (Current Athlete) |
| Mark Farley | 1982-86 | Jared Farley (LB, So.) |
| Andre Allen | 1991-94 | A.J. Allen (LB, R-Fr.) |
| Trevor Allen (RB, Fr.) | ||
| Willie Beamon | 1989-92 | Willie Beamon (DB, R-Fr.) |
| John Hill | 1984-87 | Barkley Hill (LB, Jr.) |
| Older Brother | Younger Brother | |
| A.J. Allen (R-Fr., LB) | Trevor Allen (Fr., RB) | |
| Dalton Ferch (Jr., WR) | Duncan Ferch (R-Fr., LB) | |
| Xavier James (So., WR) | Jaylin James (Fr., WR) | |
| Justin Putney (Jr., OL) | Tyler Putney (R-Fr., OL) |
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Players Mentioned
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