UNI Football Smothers No. 2 SDSU 24-9

Saturday, October 20

Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome)

4 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

4-3 , 2-2

South Dakota State

5-2 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota State

Northern Iowa

UNI Football Smothers No. 2 SDSU 24-9

10/20/2018 8:54:00 PM | Football

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The No. 25 UNI football needed a marquee win to cement its playoff aspirations. Behind a stifling defensive and solid offense, the Panthers raised the nation's eyebrows with a 24-9 upset of second-ranked South Dakota State Saturday in the UNI-Dome.

The Panther defense held the nation's second-leading scoring offense to no touchdowns and just 9 points and 326 yards, well below SDSU's averages of 529 yards and 48.4 points. UNI held SDSU vaunted rushing attack to just 51 yards on 20 carries.

For the second consecutive game, UNI tallied a defensive score to put the final nail in the coffin. Xavior Williams picked off SDSU's Taryn Christion and returned it for a 30-yard touchdown to put the Panthers up 24-9 with just 24 seconds left on the clock. It was just the third interception of the season for Christion, his second came in the third quarter when he was picked off by Korby Sander.

The Jackrabbits were held out of the end zone for the first time since Sept. 28, 2013, in a shutout loss to North Dakota State.

South Dakota State made just one trip into the UNI red zone, which ended in a field goal.

Offensively, the Panthers were efficient. Marcus Weymiller had 20 rushes for 110 yards on the day. Trevor Allen carried the ball 10 times for 43 yards and touchdown. UNI had just one negative play and Eli Dunne was 13-22 for 172 yards and a touchdown. UNI did not give up a turnover.

SDSU was held to their lowest offensive output since last year's 19-7 loss to Youngstown State.

NOTES
UNI is 4-1 over the last five games and is now in sole possession of second place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference at 3-1.

The Panthers scored a defensive touchdown for the third time in four Missouri Valley Conference games.

UNI continues its streak of red-zone scoring. The Panthers are now 24-24 on the year of red zone chances. UNI scored a touchdown and a field goal Saturday to remain perfect.

In the last three games, Eli Dunne is 64-96 (66.7 percent) for eight touchdowns and no interceptions.
Marcus Weymiller's 108 yards is a season high and his first 100-yard game since rushing for 109 against Indiana State last season.

NEXT UP
UNI travels to Western Illinois to face the Leathernecks 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 in Macomb, Illinois. WIU is 3-4 overall and 2-2 in MVFC play with wins over Youngstown State and Missouri State.