UNI Football Smothers Illinois State for 26-16 Win

Saturday, November 3

Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome)

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

5-4 , 4-2

Illinois State

5-4 , 2-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Illinois State

Northern Iowa

Duncan Ferch Celebrates his fourth career pick-six.

UNI Football Smothers Illinois State for 26-16 Win

11/3/2018 5:48:00 PM | Football

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The UNI defense put up a dominant performance allowing just three points for the first three quarters to lead the way to a 26-16 win over No. 13 Illinois State Saturday afternoon at the UNI-Dome.

The Panthers held Illinois State to 215 yards, including just 35 rushing yards in the victory. They also notched three sacks and 10 total tackles for loss. Duncan Ferch notched his fourth-career interception returned for a touchdown which ties the UNI school record with Deiondre' Hall. Korby Sander added another interception.

Entering the fourth quarter, Illinois State had just 75 yards of total offense before picking up 140 in the final frame.

Offensively, UNI racked up 387 yards, including 125 on the ground and 262 through the air.

Marcus Weymiller did yeoman's work. He tallied 30 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 42-yard reception on the Panther's final drive. Briley Moore led all receivers with four catches for 76 yards. Eli Dunne was 17-32 for 262 yards and an interception.

Austin Errthum went 4-4 in field goal kicking, including a 43-yarder. He is now 14-17 on the season. Errthum also had six touchbacks on seven kickoffs.

The Panthers are now 5-4 on the season and 4-2 in MVFC play with a pair of games left on the schedule.

UP NEXT
UNI travels to Youngstown State to play the Penguins 11 a.m. CT Nov. 10.

NOTES
- The Panthers are 4-0 when scoring a defensive touchdown and every MVFC win has come with a defensive score.
- Ferch's pick-six is the fourth of his career which ties Deiondre' Hall (2012-15) for the UNI career record.
- Rickey Neal Jr. and Bryce Douglas were dominant on the defensive front. Douglas recorded 3.5 tackles for loss, including a sack while Neal tallied 3.0 TFLs and two sacks.
- For the third time in four games, UNI held their opponent to under 100 yards rushing. The Redbirds notched 35 yards on 28 carries. South Dakota tallied 41 yards on 41 carries, South Dakota State racked up 51 yards on 20 carries.
- Illinois State was just 1-11 on third downs Saturday.
- The last opponent to hold Illinois State to under 215 yards was North Dakota State on Nov. 9, 2013. The Bison held the Redbirds to 196 yards on 50 plays.
- Marcus Weymiller tallied his second 100-yard rushing game of the season. He previously picked up 108 yards on the ground against South Dakota State.
- Over his 18 seasons at UNI, head coach Mark Farley has amassed a 54-9 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)