UNI Football Plays Final Road Game at Youngstown State

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THE GAME
No. 22 UNI football hits the road for the last time in the regular season to face Youngstown State at Stambaugh Stadium in Ohio. The Penguins opened the season with high hopes but dropped three of their first four games en route to a 3-6 record. Despite the disappointing record, YSU is in the top half of the FCS in total offense and total defense.

The Panthers are coming off of an impressive win over Illinois State in the Dome, but the Panthers will need to win out in order to earn a trip back to the FCS playoffs.

The UNI defense was dominant against Illinois State, the Panthers tallied 10 tackles for loss and held ISU to 215 yards and just 1-11 on third downs. The offense scored just one touchdown, but Austin Errthum was 4-4 in field goals. The Marcus Weymiller had his second 100-yard game of the year and scored UNI's lone offensive touchdown.

Youngstown State is led by Montgomery Van Gorder who has thrown for 1702 yards on 131-242 for 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Nathan Mays picked up the start for the Penguins against North Dakota State. Tevin McCaster has 1027 yards on 201 carries this season and Zach Farrar has 20 catches for a team-high 307 yards.

The ISU defense is ranked 64th in the FCS, giving up 387.9 yards per game. Armand Dellovade leads the team with 82 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Savon Smith leads the way with five sacks. Youngstown has forced only six turnovers so far this season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.

NEED TO KNOW
• The Panthers are 22nd in the FCS Stats poll and 24th in the 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 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).
• 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. The Panthers are 28th in the FCS and third in the MVFC for rushing defense at 128.4 yards per game allowed.
• In the Farley era, UNI is 13-2 against Youngstown, but the Penguins have won two of the last four, including both of the last two games in Ohio. The Panthers haven't won in Youngstown since the 2010 season.
• UNI leads the series 22-7.
• The Panthers are 4-0 when scoring a defensive touchdown and every MVFC win has come with a defensive score. 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.
• Eli Dunne is 158-256 (61.7 percent) on the season for 1,904 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has thrown just five interceptions on the season. In conference play, he has been even more efficient, throwing 119-185 (64.3 percent) for 1,489 yards and nine touchdowns.
• Special Teams have shined for the Panthers. UNI has yet to allow a blocked punt or field goal this season. UNI is 19th in the FCS in Kickoff Return Defense and 21st in Net Punting. Austin Errthum is coming off of an MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week nod. He leads the Valley in field goals with 14 and has the highest percentage at 82.4 percent (14-17). He also leads the conference in kickoff average (63.8 YPK), Net (41.8 YPK) and touchbacks (33).
• Austin Errthum earned MVFC 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 ESPN+.

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UNI Football Plays Final Road Game at Youngstown State

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Players Mentioned

Eli Dunne

Austin Errthum

Duncan Ferch

Deion McShane

Cal Twait

Brawntae Wells

Marcus Weymiller

Xavior Williams

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