Panthers Cut Down Sycamores, 41-3

Saturday, November 18

UNI-Dome

4 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

7-4 , 6-2

Indiana State (Senior Day)

0-11 , 0-8

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Indiana State

UNI

Panthers Cut Down Sycamores, 41-3

11/18/2017 8:29:00 PM | Football

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa. – No. 24 Northern Iowa blew past Indiana State on Saturday, as the Panthers dominated the Sycamores in impressive fashion to earn a 41-3 victory on Senior Day.

With the win, UNI closed out the regular season with a 7-4 record overall and 6-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. ISU ended the season winless, going 0-11 and 0-8 in league play. The Panthers won five out of their last six games down the stretch, as UNI officially finished second in the MVFC.

Junior Colton Howell made the start in place of an injured Eli Dunne at quarterback, as Howell finished with a career-high 216 yards passing on 17-of-26 throwing the ball, two scores and an interception. Senior Daurice Fountain was Howell's favorite target, catching five passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Marcus Weymiller earned his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, as the running back racked up 109 yards and found the end zone twice.

Defensively, the Panthers were just as dominating as UNI picked off the Sycamores three times, while holding the Sycamores to 247 total yards and just three points. The three points allowed were the lowest total score against a UNI defense since shutting out Missouri State on Nov. 4, 2015.

The Sycamores struck first in the game, but their success would be short-lived as the Panthers reeled off 41 unanswered. The first Panther touchdown came through the air as Howell found Fountain for a four-yard score to cap a 10-play, 68-yard drive.

The Panther special teams spoiled the next Sycamore scoring attempt, after UNI's Seth Thomas blocked a 39-yard field goal. UNI capitalized with three points of its own, after a Sam Drysdale 24-yarder put the Panthers up 10-3. Xavior Williams' third pick in the last three games set up the next Panther score as Weymiller punched in a 22-yard touchdown to bring the lead to 17-3 late in the first quarter.

UNI stretched its lead to 24-3 after scoring 10 more points in the second quarter, with a 23-yard field goal by Drysdale followed by another Howell-Fountain connection – this time for 23 yards.

Out of the break, UNI continued to pound the ball as the Panthers ate up 9:12 on the clock to open the half. UNI ran the ball 14 times, to stretch out the 17-play, 75-yard drive that Weymiller closed out with a five-yard touchdown on the ground. The Panther dominance spilled over in to the fourth quarter as senior J'Veyon Browning scored his first rushing touchdown on the ground in almost a year as he up UNI up by the final margin of 41-3.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will now await their fate for the FCS Playoffs, with the selection broadcast beginning at 10 a.m. CT, Sunday on ESPNU. Fans can also follow "@UNIFootball" on Twitter for behind-the-scenes coverage of the team during the selection show.

TICKETS
Fans can purchase season and single-game tickets to UNI football home games through UNITIX. Call 319-273-4849 or visit www.UNITIX.uni.edu.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the UNI football program, follow the Panthers on Twitter at "@UNIFootball" and on Facebook at "UNI Panther Football."

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI improved to 27-5 overall against Indiana State.
The Panthers have won the last three meetings in the series.
Under head coach Mark Farley, the Panthers are 13-2 against the Sycamores.
Mark Farley is now 52-9 in the month of November at UNI.
The Panthers won five out of their last six games to close out the regular season.
The three points allowed by the Panthers is the lowest total by a UNI defense since shutting out Missouri State on Nov. 4, 2015.
With his two touchdown receptions on Saturday, senior Daurice Fountain now has 20 for his career as a Panther.
Fountain is tied for seventh all-time at UNI for touchdown receptions with Tim Mosley (1990-93).
Fountain's eight touchdown grabs this season are the most by any Panther wide receiver this decade.
Fountain's 776 total yards receiving this season is also the most by any Panther wide receiver this decade.
Junior Marcus Weymiller earned his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season. Weymiller is the first Panther to rush over the century mark in four times in as season since Aaron Bailey and Tyvis Smith achieved the feat in 2015.
Freshman Xavior Williams has record an interception in three-straight games, becoming the first Panther to do so since Malcolm Washington earned three picks in three games last season.
Sophomore Nikholi Jaghai recorded his first-career interception as a Panther.
Senior J'Veyon Browning's rushing touchdown was his first since scoring against South Dakota State on Nov. 19, 2016.
Colton Howell threw for a career-high 216 yards on Saturday.
Junior Rickey Neal now has 10.5 sacks for the season.
Senior Reggie Schulte earned his first-career snap at quarterback.
Attendance for Saturday's game was 8.232.