Panthers fall in road contest at South Dakota

Saturday, October 12

Vermillion, S.D.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

2-4 , 0-2

South Dakota

5-1 , 3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UNI

South Dakota

Photo by: Eli Hull

Panthers fall in road contest at South Dakota

10/12/2024 5:14:00 PM | Football

Box Score Final Stats Photo Gallery

In his first career start, Matthew Schecklman finished with 250 passing yards and one TD in the Panthers’ 17-42 loss to The Coyotes.

VERMILLION, S.D. — The UNI football team traveled to Vermillion, South Dakota to take on the Coyotes of USD. The Panthers opened with scores on both of their first two possessions, but could only find the endzone once the rest of the afternoon while the Coyote offense was unstoppable as the Panthers fell 42-17.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Panthers struck first on a one-yard touchdown run from Tye Edwards. The score was set up by 49 and 23-yard receptions from Desmond Hutson to get the Panthers on the board early inside the DakotaDome. Caden Palmer knocked the extra point through the uprights to give UNI a 7-0 lead. The Coyotes answered with a touchdown on their first offensive possession which was capped by a 38-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aidan Bouman to tight end JJ Galbreath.

A, nearly, eight-minute drive from the Panthers spanned the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second. The drive saw a fourth down which was negated by defensive pass interference as well as a 24-yard reception from tight end Layne Pryor. The drive stalled inside the five yard line and resulted in a 22-yard field goal, the first of the day from Palmer. The Panthers took a 10-7 lead.

The Yotes drove the field quickly on their next offensive possession which ended in the endzone on a 49-yard reception from running back Travis Theis. The Panthers punted on their next possession which led to a USD touchdown after a drive that ended with a three-yard score from Theis. The Coyotes took a 21-10 lead just over midway through the second quarter. A turnover on downs from the Panthers led to the Yotes' fourth touchdown of the day on a 37-yard reception to put USD ahead 28-10 with just under two minutes to play in the first half. The Panthers were picked off in the end zone after a promising drive to end the first half.

USD opened the second half with a touchdown to take a 35-10 lead before the Panthers scored their second touchdown of the day on a 50-yard flea flicker which was pitched from Tye Edwards to Matthew Schecklman and then thrown to Jaiden Ellis-Lahey. Palmer recorded the PAT to pull the Panthers within 18 at 17-35. South Dakota answered with a 20-yard touchdown rush to extend their lead to 42-17 with just under 30 seconds to play in the third quarter.

The matchup saw both teams punt on each of their next drives to end the game with the Yotes on top with a final score of 42-17.

In Matthew Schecklman's first career start, the redshirt sophomore finished 18-26 for 250 yards and a touchdown. In the air, Desmond Hutson led the Panthers with 94 yards on four receptions. Tye Edwards led the ground game with 53 yards on 19 carries. On the defensive side of the ball, Albert Nunes led UNI with 11 total tackles.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The Panthers fell to 2-4 on the season with the 42-17 loss to South Dakota. They are not 31-21-1 all-time against the Coyotes.
The 49-yard pass and catch from Matthew Schecklman to Desmond Hutson was the longest pass play of Schecklman's career, the longest reception of Hutson's career, and the longest pass of the 2024 season until a 50-yard flea flicker from Schecklman to Jaiden Ellis-Lahey. The reception was Ellis-Lahey's longest reception in his career and his first touchdown of the 2024 season.
Wide receiver Tay Norman recorded the first catch of his career on a 12-yard reception in the second quarter.

UP NEXT

The Panthers wrap up their two-game road stand on October 19 at North Dakota as UNI heads to Grand Forks, N.D. to matchup with the Fighting Hawks. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Midco Sports Plus and ESPN+. JW Cox and Scott Peterson bring you radio coverage from the Alerus Center on the Panther Sports Radio Network.

UNI football action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Football), X (@UNIFootball) and on Instagram (@unipantherfootball). The full 2024 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.