UNI’s Sensational Run Comes to a Close

Saturday, December 2

Brookings, S.D.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

8-5

South Dakota State

10-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northern Iowa

South Dakota State

UNI’s Sensational Run Comes to a Close

12/2/2017 6:36:00 PM | Football

Box Score

FINAL STATS

BROOKINGS, S.D. – No. 20/21 Northern Iowa (8-5) fought tooth and nail against No. 6 South Dakota State (10-2) on Saturday, but the Panthers couldn't overcome the Jackrabbits on the road, falling 37-22.

UNI outscored SDSU 15-11 in the second half, but the first half deficit was too much to overcome for the Panthers as the Jackrabbits advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. SDSU will face New Hampshire next weekend, with the winner moving on to the semifinals on Dec. 15.

Junior Eli Dunne led the Panthers through the air, throwing for 287 yards and a touchdown. Briley Moore was UNI's leading receiver, catching six passes for 90 yards, while Daurice Fountain snagged a touchdown in the second quarter for the lone passing score for UNI. Senior Jared Farley scored an offensive touchdown for the second-straight week after running in from a yard out late in the game.

SDSU's Taryn Christion scored four touchdowns, with three coming in the air to lead the Jackrabbits on offense. Dallas Goedert caught six of Christion's passes, for 83 yards and a touchdown.

SDSU outgained UNI 380-369 in total yardage, with its biggest advantage coming on the ground at 143-82. The Jackrabbits scored on their first five drives before Blake Thomas' interception late in the third quarter ended their run.

On the defensive side of the ball, Duncan Ferch led UNI with 12 tackles on the day, while Farley posted 10. Seniors Keelon Brookins and Adam Reth each recorded a sack for the Panthers.

Leading 3-0 early, SDSU's first touchdown came on a fourth and goal conversion from the two-yard line, following a Christion pass that found Cade Johnson for the score with 3:43 left in the first quarter.

Down 10-0, UNI pounded the ball with a combo rushing attack from Marcus Weymiller and Trevor Allen to set up a six-yard touchdown pass from Dunne to Fountain. The Jackrabbits took a kickoff 70 yards the following possession and found three points after a 55-yard field goal from Chase Vinateiri.

With the Jackrabbits leading 13-7, SDSU converted its second fourth down of the game after Christion sprinted up the middle for the 21-yard touchdown. The Jackrabbits went for two points after the score, but their pass fell to the ground to leave the score at 19-7 with 4:19 remaining in the half. Christion scored his third touchdown of the game just before the break, this time through the air as he floated a pass to Dallas Goedert for 28 yards.

The two squads wouldn't score until 12:03 remaining in the fourth quarter as SDSU's Christion threw a 30-yard touchdown to Jacob Brown, before the Jackrabbits earned a two-point conversion to go up 34-7.

The Panthers wouldn't relinquish however, as UNI outscored SDSU 15-3 to close out the game. Both scores would be one-yard touchdown runs, as Farley and Trevor Allen punched in scores before the Dunne found Jalen Rima for a two-point conversion to leave the final margin at 37-22.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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ADDITIONAL NOTES

Saturday's game marked the first time that UNI and SDSU has played each other in the postseason.
UNI is now 0-3 against MFC teams in the postseason.
The Panthers have lost to SDSU, North Dakota State (2015) and Illinois State (2014).
UNI is now 24-21 all-time in postseason play and 23-19 in the FCS Playoffs.
Daurice Fountain finished his Panther career fourth in receptions (150), fifth in touchdown catches (23) and ninth in receiving yards (2,077).
This year, Fountain turned in the fifth-most touchdowns (12) and ninth-most catches (66) in as single season.
Eli Dunne finished this year with the fourth-most passing completions (224) and tied for the fourth-most passing touchdowns (26) in a single season.
For his career, Dunne ranks 10^th at UNI for passing touchdowns (33).
Jared Farley finished his career with 313 total tackles, which ranks eighth all-time at UNI.
UNI earned 21 interceptions this season, with the bulk of those picks coming in the final six games for the Panthers (14).