Panthers fall to No. 9 Fighting Hawks

Saturday, October 19

Grand Forks, N.D.

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

2-5 , 0-3

North Dakota

5-2 , 2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UNI

North Dakota

Photo by: Eli Hull

Panthers fall to No. 9 Fighting Hawks

10/19/2024 4:13:00 PM | Football

Box Score Final Stats Photo Gallery

The UNI football team finished with 201 yards of offense in a 31-7 loss at North Dakota.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The UNI football team traveled to Grand Forks, North Dakota to take on the no. 9 Fighting Hawks of North Dakota on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers and the Hawks played even through the first possessions until UND started to break away with multiple stops on defense and multiple scores on the offensive side of the ball.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Fighting Hawks struck first with a three-yard rushing touchdown from running back Isaiah Smith. The scoring drive included two fourth-down conversions which saw a fake punt. The Panthers' first offensive drive looked promising after a 24-yard completion from Matthew Schecklman to JC Roque Jr. as well as a fourth-down conversion on a rush from Schecklman. The drive stalled out at the 40 yard line and resulted in a missed 50-yard field goal.

The Panther defense held strong on the next UND possession and forced a turnover on downs. Two plays later, Schecklman found JC Roque Jr. again, this time for a 60-yard touchdown. The Fighting Hawks scored two more touchdowns to close the first half with a 21-7 lead.

The Panthers came out of the halftime break on offense after deferring the coin toss. A 30-yard run from Tye Edwards got the drive off to a good start before the Panthers stalled at the UND 40. A turnover on downs gave the ball back to the Fighting Hawks. The Panther defense stood tall and forced a punt that was downed at the UNI seven yard line. The Panthers drove the field with multiple chunk plays including a 14-yard reception from Desmond Hutson on third down and a 16-yard reception by Amauri Pesek-Hickson. The UNI drive stalled out at the UND 42 on another turnover on downs.

The Panther defense stopped the UND offense and forced another punt which bounced into the Panther endzone for a touchback. The UNI drive resulted in a punt which set up a UND touchdown on the Fighting Hawks' next offensive drive. UND took a 28-7 lead with the touchdown and extra point. The Panthers' next drive resulted in a pick which led to a 47-yard field goal by UND. A three and out by UNI gave the ball back to The Fighting Hawks.

Matthew Schecklman finished the matchup with 178 yards on 16 completions and a touchdown. Through the air, JC Roque Jr. led the Panthers with 85 yards on 4 receptions and a touchdown. Tye Edwards finished with 31 rushing yards.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The Panthers fall to 2-5 on the season and 25-15 all time against North Dakota.
JC Roque Jr. recorded his first collegiate touchdown on a 60-yard reception in the second quarter. The reception was also the longest of his career.
Matthew Schecklman recorded the longest pass and longest passing touchdown of his career on the 60-yard touchdown pass to Roque Jr. in the second quarter.

UP NEXT

The Panthers head home for a homecoming weekend matchup against the Bears of Missouri State on October 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+. The game can be listened to with JW Cox and Scott Peterson on the call 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.