UNI Defense Smothers Idaho State for 13-6 Win

Saturday, September 21

Cedar Falls, Iowa

4 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

2-1

Idaho State

1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Idaho State

UNI

Team runs out before the start of the game.

Panthers defense makes a tackle near the line of scrimmage.

Spencer Cuvieler and teammate Austin Evans makes a tackle.

Elerson Smith reaches to sack the quarterback.

Jared Brinkman and Bryce Flater celebrate after a defensive stop.

Will McElvain runs the ball with help of offensive lineman, Jackson Scott-Brown.

Jalen Rima returning a kick for the Panthers.

Offensive line setting up for an offensive drive.

Zach Kibby punting the ball for the Panthers.

Jaylin James catches a pass from quarterback, Will McElvain.

Roosevelt Lawrence trips up the ball carrier.

Austin Evans, Xavior Williams, and Omar Brown. (Left to right)

Elerson Smith rushes past the offensive line.

Teammates congratulate kicker, Matthew Cook after a successful attempt.

UNI Defense Smothers Idaho State for 13-6 Win

9/21/2019 9:47:00 PM | Football

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The ninth-ranked UNI football team overcame a sluggish offensive start with smothering defense and a strong second half to earn a 13-6 win over Idaho State (RV) Saturday at the UNI-Dome.

Idaho State built a 6-0 lead on a pair of field goals. The first field goal capped a 12 play, 45-yard drive that ended in a 42-yard field goal from ISU's Kevin Ryan.

Ryan hit again from 35-yards to put ISU up 6-0 with 13:03 remaining in the first half. The field goal capped a six-play, 14-yard after a penalty on a punt gave the Bengals great field position.

UNI got on the board on a 39-yard field goal from freshman Matthew Cook with 1:06 remaining in the first half to cut the lead to 6-3 before the break.

The Panthers took the lead with the only touchdown of the game from either team with 14:14 remaining in the game. Will McElvain scrambled right before turning back. Isaiah Weston went into scramble mode and beat his man to the back corner of the end zone where McElvain found him for the 17-yard touchdown.

The Panthers added another field goal with 2:11 left in the game to lock up the seven-point win.

The offense wasn't as efficient as the first two outings of the season, but the UNI defense more than made up for the offense struggles.

The Panther D held Idaho State to just 203 yards and recorded five sacks, 10 tackles for loss and three interceptions. Xavior Williams recorded a career-high four pass breakups. Elerson G. Smith recorded a career-high three sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, nine tackles, a pass breakup and a pass breakup. The junior is in an amazing stretch extending to last year. In the last six games, he has 10 sacks and 13.5 TFLs.

McElvain closed the game 15-26 for 131 yards and a touchdown. He has still not thrown an interception in his first three starts.

Tyler Hoosman carried the ball 10 times for a game-high 55 yards, including a long 22-yard run. He also had a 29-yard reception all in the second half. Jaylin James tallied three receptions for 37 yards. Weston notched four receptions for 36 yards and a score.

The Panthers are now 2-1 on the season while Idaho State falls to 1-2. UNI next prepares for a likely Top-10 matchup with No. 6 Weber State in Ogden, Utah, Saturday evening.

The Wildcats had a bye week, but are 1-2 on the year with both losses coming against FBS opponents.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

GAME NOTES
• Elerson Smith recorded a career-high three sacks to go along with a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss and nine tackles, his previous best was two sacks, three tackles for loss (Both Missouri State, 2017) and five tackles (Iowa State, 2019).

• Going back to last year, in the last six games, elerson Smith has 13.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

• Omar Brown notched his second interception of the season, and second in two games for the freshman.

• Tim Butcher recorded a career-high five tackles, including a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss.

• Riley Van Wyhe notched two tackles.

• Austin Evans recorded the second interception of his career.

• Roosevelt Lawrence recorded the first sack of his career.

• Tyler Hoosman recorded a career-long reception of 29 yards, the longest reception for either team on the day.

• Zac Kibby recorded a career-long 51-yard.

• Xavior Williams entered the game ranked fourth in the FCS at 2.0 passes defended per game. He improved that number by recording a career-high four pass breakups for the day.

• Bryce Flater recorded his first-career interception.

• Freshman Matthew Cook remained perfect on the year hitting from 39 yards in the second quarter and 20 yards in the fourth quarter. He is now 8-8 on the year.

• Will McElvain has completed three games and has yet to throw an interception.