UNI Hosts Lamar in FCS Playoffs

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THE GAME
UNI football did what it needed to do in the last game of the regular season with a 37-0 win over Missouri State. The win convinced the FCS Selection committee to include the Panthers in the field of 24. The Panthers host Lamar (Texas) in the first round. The Cardinals finished the season with six consecutive wins, including three straight over ranked opponents.

UNI is making its 23rd post-season appearance and the 20th trip to the FCS playoffs. The extensive playoff experience for the Panthers is the opposite for Lamar. It is the first FCS playoff game in Lamar history while UNI is playing in its 46th. The Cardinals dropped football after the 1989 season and reintroduced the sport in 2010. 2018 is the second winning record since the reintroduction of football with the other being the 2014 season when Lamar finished 8-4.

The Panther defense is ranked 33rd in total defense and 24th in scoring defense. The Panther offense is ranked 63rd, but have received help from the UNI defense that has scored four touchdowns this season.

Lamar is a run-first offense with four players with over 500 yards of offense. LU ranks 12th in the FCS with 250.3 rushing yards per game. Myles Wanza leads the way with 598 yards on 96 carries. Darrel Colbert has 1,343 yards passing and 584 yards rushing on the year with 12 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing TDs.

The Cardinal defense has picked up 26 turnovers on the year but allows 452.1 yards per game, ranked 98th in the FCS. Lamar has 25 sacks on the season led by Daniel Crosley who had 8.0 on the year and 15.0 TFLs. Davon Jernigan leads the team with 103 tackles.

UNI is 5-1 in the dome this season with the only loss coming against No. 1 North Dakota State. Lamar is 3-2 on the road this season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.

NEED TO KNOW
• The Panthers are receiving votes in both the FCS Stats poll FCS Coaches' Poll.
• 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.
• Over his 18 seasons at UNI, head coach Mark Farley has amassed a 55-10 mark in November. Farley has gone undefeated during November 10 times (2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017) while having a losing record once during the month (2002).
• According to Massey computer rankings, UNI has the toughest schedule among FCS schools. Massey has the Panthers as No. 1 ranked strength of schedule in the FCS. Sagarin, who does just Division I rankings and doesn't distinguish between FBS and FBS, has UNI rated as the 116th toughest schedule overall.
• The only meeting in the history of the two programs came in the 1964 Pecan Bowl when State College of Iowa picked up a 19-17 win over Lamar Tech behind Randy Schultz 160 yards and two touchdowns.
• UNI leads the series 1-0.
• The Panthers are 4-0 when scoring a defensive touchdown. Two of the defensive scores came from Duncan Ferch. His pick-six is the fourth of his career which ties Deiondre' Hall (2012-15) for the UNI career record. The Panthers are now tied for second in the FCS and first in the MVFC in defensive touchdowns scored. Against Indiana State, 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.
• 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.
• The Panthers shut out three opponents in one season for the first time since the 1971 season. That year, the Panthers shut out South Dakota (8-0), Drake (28-0) and Morningside (21-0).
• Eli Dunne is 189-312 (60.6 percent) on the season for 1,204 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has thrown just five interceptions on the season. In conference play, he has been even more efficient, throwing 150-241 (62.2 percent) for 1,789 yards and 12 touchdowns.
• Special Teams have shined for the Panthers. UNI has yet to allow a blocked punt or field goal this season. UNI is 13th in the FCS in Kickoff Return Defense and 25th in Net Punting. Austin Errthum leads the Valley in field goals with 18 and has the highest percentage at 85.7 percent (18-21) of teams with over 10 attempts. He also leads the conference in kickoff average (63.7 YPK), Net (41.7 YPK) and touchbacks (42).
• Korby Sander was named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week for racking up 13 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception against Missouri State.
• Austin Errthum earned MVFC Player of the Week honors for hitting four field goals and picking up six touchbacks against Illinois State.
• Duncan Ferch was named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week after notching 13 tackles and three pass breakups against South Dakota State.
• 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.
• The game is the will be broadcast on ESPN3.

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UNI Hosts Lamar in FCS Playoffs

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Players Mentioned

Eli Dunne

Austin Errthum

Duncan Ferch

Deion McShane

Korby Sander

Cal Twait

Brawntae Wells

Marcus Weymiller

Xavior Williams

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