Cook breaks scoring record in UNI football victory over Leathernecks

Saturday, November 4

Cedar Falls, Iowa

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

6-3 , 5-1

Western Illinois

0-9 , 0-6

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Western Ill.

UNI

Cook breaks scoring record in UNI football victory over Leathernecks

11/4/2023 5:15:00 PM | Football

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The Panthers finished the matchup with Western Illinois with 476 yards of offense in a 50-6 victory.

CEDAR FALLS --- The UNI Panthers and the Western Illinois Leathernecks met for the final time as conference opponents in a 50-6 victory for the Panthers. Northern Iowa got started early and never let up, scoring the most points in a single game this season. UNI moved to 6-3 with the victory and 5-1 in conference play. This is the first time the Panthers have started conference play with a 5-1 record since 2019. Northern Iowa has gone on to make the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons it has won five of their first six conference matchups.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI wasted no time inside the UNI-Dome, scoring on its first drive of the day on a 70-yard drive in five plays and just over two minutes. Sergio Morancy was the first Panther to find the end zone on a 27-yard touchdown reception from Theo Day. Northern Iowa followed the touchdown with a WIU three and out, not allowing the Leathernecks to even record a single yard of offense on the drive. The second Panther drive looked promising before the Leathernecks forced a fumble on the eight-yard line to get the ball back. UNI's defense would respond just a few plays later as Tucker Langenberg forced a fumble with Caden Houghtelling recovering. Amauri Pesek-Hickson would score just one play later on a six-run carry to put the Panthers ahead by two scores.

Western Illinois recorded their first first down of the game in their third offensive drive, but stalled out and turned the ball over on downs after Tate Sander made a key stop on fourth down and two to give the purple and gold the ball back on downs. UNI capitalized on the stop with Logan Wolf moving the Panthers down the field on a 40-yard reception from Day, capping the drive with Alex Allen's first touchdown catch of the year on a two-yard reception.

The UNI defense continued their dominant performance with another three and out holding the Leatherneck offense on their own one-yard line. When Western Illinois looked to punt the ball back to the Panthers, a bobbled snap by the punter resulted in a safety, the first of the season for Northern Iowa. The resulting drive for the Panthers saw Pesek-Hickson's second rushing touchdown of the game on a two-yard run. The touchdown was set up by a 21-yard reception from Sergio Morancy and a 12-yard reception from Sam Schnee. Another three-and-out from the Leatherneck offense gave the Panthers the ball back. The offense got going again, this time with 56 rushing yards by Tye Edwards on the drive but stalled in the red zone and settled for a 22-yard field goal that was knocked home by Matthew Cook.

Western Illinois tallied its second first down of the game in its next offensive drive but was forced to punt after three failed conversion attempts. The Panthers were forced to punt for the first time following a 28-yard rush by Pesek-Hickson which worked the clock down to half. The teams headed for the locker room with UNI firmly in the driver's seat with a 33-0 lead.

Coming out of halftime, the Leathernecks looked to mount their first scoring drive until Tucker Langenberg snagged a Morrissey pass for the first Northern Iowa interception of the game. Tye Edwards found the end zone on the very next play with a 29-yard touchdown rush. The defense came back out but didn't stay for long, forcing a turnover on downs at the Western Illinois 39-yard line. Morrissey took a sack on fourth and six by Warren Peeples and Cartez Crook-Jones.

Panther fans got their first extended look at backup quarterback Aiden Dunne as Theo Day's day was done and the redshirt sophomore, Dubuque, Iowa native came out to lead the offense. In his first drive of the day, Dunne found Brady McCullough in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown reception. UNI's defense continued to work and forced another Western Illinois punt. Aidan Dunne continued to be a problem for the Leatherneck defense as the elusive quarterback continued to extend plays and found Derek Anderson for a 20-yard reception on third down as well as taking one himself for a 12-yard gain on the ground. The drive ended in Matthew Cook's second field goal on a 28-yard try.

The Leathernecks mounted their first scoring drive of the game on their final drive of the game which culminated in a four-yard touchdown pass from Morrissey to Tajh Sanders. The PAT was no good and Western Illinois finished the game with six points. Fans got their first look at quarterback Matthew Schecklman who came in for the final Panther possessions to kneel out the game and seal the UNI victory.

Northern Iowa finished with 476 total yards on 60 plays. The 225 rushing yards is the most this season and the most since last year's matchup with South Dakota where the Panthers recorded 213 rushing yards. Panther quarterbacks combined for 251 total yards with Theo Day throwing for a game-leading 201 yards. Tye Edwards rushed for 96 total yards while Amauri Pesek-Hickson punched the ball into the end zone twice. On defense, Tucker Langenberg and Caleb Frazer led the UNI defense with six total tackles. Langenbeg also added one forced fumble and an interception as well as three tackles for a loss of five yards.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI extended their lead in the series to 36-16 including a now 19-8 record at home.
Placekicker Matthew Cook's third PAT broke the school record for all-time scoring set by David Johnson (2010-14). The record now stands at 394 points.
Cook extended his career PAT streak to 151 after six made PATs against the Leathernecks.
The Panther defense recorded their first safety since a 9-19 loss to No. 4 Eastern Washington in the first round of the 2021 FCS Playoffs.
Quarterback Aidan Dunne recorded the first touchdown of his career in the third quarter.

UP NEXT

The Panthers head to Missouri State to take on the Bears next week for their final road game of the regular season. The game kicks off at 2 p.m. CT in Springfield, Missouri, and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be listened to on the Panther Sports Radio Network.