No. 9 Panthers Pick Up Statement Win Over No. 7 Illinois State

Saturday, November 2

Normal, IL

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

6-3 , 4-1

Illinois State

6-3 , 3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northern Iowa

Illinois State

No. 9 Panthers Pick Up Statement Win Over No. 7 Illinois State

11/2/2019 4:37:00 PM | Football

Box Score

NORMAL, ILL. – Ninth-ranked UNI football played its most complete game of the season, dominating both sides of the ball en route to a 27-10 win over No. 7 Illinois State Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
UNI forced four turnovers, including three on four consecutive offensive plays in the fourth quarter and held the Redbirds to 210 yards of total offense. Walter Peyton Award candidate James Robinson recorded 39 yards on 16 carries, a 2.4 average.

Offensively, the Will McElvain tied his career-high three TD passes, including two to Suni Lane to lead UNI on the offensive side. He was 14-28 for 189 and three TDs. Isaiah Weston tallied a team-high 68 yards on five catches but was held out of the end zone for the first time since week one's loss to Iowa State.

Jaylin James scored a touchdown on an 11-yard reception with 3:28 to play in the first quarter to give UNI the 7-0. Illinois State responded with their longest drive to tie the game up at 7-7.

Lane only caught two passes, his first was a 16-yard touchdown with 11 seconds remaining in the first half to give UNI a 14-7 lead at the break. An interception by Omar Brown in Redbird territory set up the score.
His second was a 27-yard TD with 11:00 to play in the game. McElvain appeared to be wrapped up for a sack but escaped two defenders to fins Lane streaking to the pylon. He brought in the reception to give UNI a 21-10 lead.

UNI then recorded three turnovers in four Illinois State offensive plays. The first was an interception by Christian Jegen, which led to a 23-yard field goal by Matthew Cook. On the next play for the Redbirds, Roosevelt Lawrence forced a fumble that was recovered by Xavior Williams to set up a 33-yard field goal for Cook.

Two plays into Illinois State's next drive, Brown picked up his second interception of the day.

Nick McCabe tallied 44 rushing yards on 15 carries to lead all rushers.

The win is coach Mark Farley's 87th against a top-25 opponent and improved his record in November to 57-10 in the month during his career.

NOTES
- Suni Lane scored his first career touchdown with 11 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give UNI a 14-7 lead at the half.
- It is Lane's first game with multiple receptions.
- Matthew Cook is now 14-17 on the season after a 23-yard field goal with 8:31 to play and a 33-yard make with 5:48 to play in the game.
- Over the last three games, UNI has forced 13 turnovers (six against USD, three against MSU, four against Ilst)
- Omar Brown tallied his fourth and fifth interceptions of the season.
- In the fourth quarter, UNI forced three turnovers in four plays.
- Freshman Nick McCabe tallied a career-high 14 carries for a career-high 44 yards.
- The Panthers held their opponent to 210 yards or less for consecutive weeks.
- The first three-game win streak since racking up four straight during 2017.
- It was Mark Farley's 87th win against a top-25 opponent.
- UNI held Illinois State running back James Robison to his season-low against an FCS opponent.
- Isaiah Weston was held without a touchdown for the first time since the season opener against Iowa State. He still had a team-high 68-yards receiving on five touchdowns, including a 34-yard reception that set up UNI's first touchdown.
- It is the first win for UNI in Normal since 2011 when UNI won 23-20 in double overtime.

UP NEXT
The Panthers return home to face Indiana State at the UNI-Dome. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. The Sycamores are 3-6 on the season after falling to Southern Illinois 23-14 Saturday.