University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Saturday, November 3
Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome)
1 p.m.
University of Northern Iowa
vs
Illinois State
Panther Football Hosts No. 13 Illinois State
11/1/2018 12:07:00 PM | Football
GAME NOTES | ONLINE: ESPN+ | TV: Panther Sports Network (CFU | KCRG | KGCW | KCWI | NBC Sports Chicago) | RADIO: Panther Sports Network | LIVE STATS
THE GAME
UNI football hosts Illinois for the first game between the two programs since the 2015 season. The Redbirds enter the game ranked 13th in the Coaches' Poll, but have dropped back-to-back games. The Panthers won four of five games before stumbling last week at Western Illinois. UNI is 4-4 overall and 3-2 in MVFC play while ISU is 5-3 overall and 2-3 in conference.Â
The Panther offense played an uncharacteristically inconsistent game Saturday in Macomb. Panther quarterback Eli Dunne started 8-8 but ended 22-33 for 218 yards and a pair of interceptions. He was sacked four times and tallied two fumbles. Defensively, the Panthers gave up 300 yards through the air and gave up over 100 yards rushing for the first time in three games.Â
Illinois State is a rush-first offense led by James Robinson who is in the top-10 all-time for ISU's rushing yards and rushing TD lists. The junior has 921 yards on the year with 146 carries. Brady Davis has passed for 1,553 yards and 16 touchdowns this season with a completion percentage of 56.5 percent. Spencer Schnell does a little of everything for ISA and leads in receiving yards and punt return yards.Â
The ISU defense is ranked 15th in the FCS, allowing just 303.1 yards per game and ninth in scoring defense with just 17.3 points per game allowed. Zack Matthews leads ISU with 70 tackles and Romeo McKnight has a team-high 3.0 sacks.Â
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
NEED TO KNOW
• The Panthers are are receiving votes in the FCS Coaches' Poll and in the FCS Stats Poll.Â
•UNI is the top team in the MVFC and No. 7 in the FCS in Red zone scoring. The Panthers are 27 of 29 in the red zone with nine rushing touchdowns, 10 passing touchdowns and eight field goals.
• Running back Marcus Weymiller, offensive tackle Cal Twait, quarterback Eli Dunne and linebacker Duncan Ferch were announced as captains for the 2018 season by head coach Mark Farley.Â
• Brothers Trevor and AJ Allen, sons of Panther Hall of Famer Andre Allen, are both making waves for UNI early this season. Trevor is UNI's second-leading rusher through seven games with 434 yards. AJ is one of three Panthers with multiple interceptions and is third on the team in total tackles.
• In the Farley era, UNI is 9-8 against ISU, but the Redbirds have won four of the last five meetings. The two teams have not met since 2015.Â
• UNI leads the series 20-13.
• The Panthers have scored a defensive touchdown for the three times in four Missouri Valley Conference games. Against Indiana State, Duncan Ferch scored on a pick-6, against South Dakota, Brawntae Wells recovered a fumble in the end zone and Saturday Xavior Williams returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.Â
• UNI tallied consecutive shutouts for the first time since 2008 with wins over Hampton and Indiana State. The Panthers went nine quarters without giving up a point.Â
• Eli Dunne is 141-224 (62.9 percent) on the season for 1,642 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has thrown just four interceptions on the season. In conference play, he has been even more efficient, throwing 102-153 (66.7 percent) for 1,227 yards and nine touchdowns.Â
• UNI Kicker Austin Errthum is 10-13 on the season and has the highest field goal percentage in the Missouri Valley Conference. He is also 26-26 in PATs. He is also the conference leader in kickoff average (63.6), net yardage (42.1) and touchbacks (27).
• Duncan Ferch was named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week after notching 13 tackles and three pass breakups against South Dakota State.Â
• Cal Twait was named the Missouri Valley Conference Lineman of the Week after leading the Panther O-line unit in a dominant performance over Indiana State.
• Deion McShane was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week after picking up seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against Hampton.Â
• The game is the will be broadcast on ESPN+.
THE GAME
UNI football hosts Illinois for the first game between the two programs since the 2015 season. The Redbirds enter the game ranked 13th in the Coaches' Poll, but have dropped back-to-back games. The Panthers won four of five games before stumbling last week at Western Illinois. UNI is 4-4 overall and 3-2 in MVFC play while ISU is 5-3 overall and 2-3 in conference.Â
The Panther offense played an uncharacteristically inconsistent game Saturday in Macomb. Panther quarterback Eli Dunne started 8-8 but ended 22-33 for 218 yards and a pair of interceptions. He was sacked four times and tallied two fumbles. Defensively, the Panthers gave up 300 yards through the air and gave up over 100 yards rushing for the first time in three games.Â
Illinois State is a rush-first offense led by James Robinson who is in the top-10 all-time for ISU's rushing yards and rushing TD lists. The junior has 921 yards on the year with 146 carries. Brady Davis has passed for 1,553 yards and 16 touchdowns this season with a completion percentage of 56.5 percent. Spencer Schnell does a little of everything for ISA and leads in receiving yards and punt return yards.Â
The ISU defense is ranked 15th in the FCS, allowing just 303.1 yards per game and ninth in scoring defense with just 17.3 points per game allowed. Zack Matthews leads ISU with 70 tackles and Romeo McKnight has a team-high 3.0 sacks.Â
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
NEED TO KNOW
• The Panthers are are receiving votes in the FCS Coaches' Poll and in the FCS Stats Poll.Â
•UNI is the top team in the MVFC and No. 7 in the FCS in Red zone scoring. The Panthers are 27 of 29 in the red zone with nine rushing touchdowns, 10 passing touchdowns and eight field goals.
• Running back Marcus Weymiller, offensive tackle Cal Twait, quarterback Eli Dunne and linebacker Duncan Ferch were announced as captains for the 2018 season by head coach Mark Farley.Â
• Brothers Trevor and AJ Allen, sons of Panther Hall of Famer Andre Allen, are both making waves for UNI early this season. Trevor is UNI's second-leading rusher through seven games with 434 yards. AJ is one of three Panthers with multiple interceptions and is third on the team in total tackles.
• In the Farley era, UNI is 9-8 against ISU, but the Redbirds have won four of the last five meetings. The two teams have not met since 2015.Â
• UNI leads the series 20-13.
• The Panthers have scored a defensive touchdown for the three times in four Missouri Valley Conference games. Against Indiana State, Duncan Ferch scored on a pick-6, against South Dakota, Brawntae Wells recovered a fumble in the end zone and Saturday Xavior Williams returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.Â
• UNI tallied consecutive shutouts for the first time since 2008 with wins over Hampton and Indiana State. The Panthers went nine quarters without giving up a point.Â
• Eli Dunne is 141-224 (62.9 percent) on the season for 1,642 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has thrown just four interceptions on the season. In conference play, he has been even more efficient, throwing 102-153 (66.7 percent) for 1,227 yards and nine touchdowns.Â
• UNI Kicker Austin Errthum is 10-13 on the season and has the highest field goal percentage in the Missouri Valley Conference. He is also 26-26 in PATs. He is also the conference leader in kickoff average (63.6), net yardage (42.1) and touchbacks (27).
• Duncan Ferch was named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week after notching 13 tackles and three pass breakups against South Dakota State.Â
• Cal Twait was named the Missouri Valley Conference Lineman of the Week after leading the Panther O-line unit in a dominant performance over Indiana State.
• Deion McShane was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week after picking up seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against Hampton.Â
• The game is the will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
PK
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LB
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WR
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DL
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RB
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DB
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