Panthers prep for battle against the Penguins

UNI football (2-8 / 0-6 MVFC) at Youngstown State (3-8 / 2-5 MVFC)

11 a.m. CT | Nov. 16, 2024
Youngstown, Ohio | Stambaugh Stadium (20,630)
ESPN+ (Brad Wells: Play-by-play, Don Patterson: Analyst, Kelly Burke: Analyst)
Panther Sports Radio Network | (J.W. Cox: Play-by-Play / Scott Peterson: Analyst)

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI football team heads to Youngstown State to take on the Penguins in the last road contest of the 2024 season for the Panthers. The last time these teams met, UNI came away with a 44-41 victory inside the UNI-Dome last season.

The Panthers are coming off a 9-31 loss against the Redbirds of Illinois State last weekend inside the UNI-Dome. In that matchup, Matthew Schecklman finished the game with 172 yards on 15 completions. Brady McCullough led the Panther receivers with 38 yards on two receptions including a long reception of 33 yards. On the ground, Amauri Pesek-Hickson finished with 62 yards on six carries.

Two Panthers finished with new career bests including Caden Palmer with a 42-yard field goal and Brady McCullough with a 33-yard reception.

Head coach Mark Farley announced on Sunday that he would be retiring as head coach of the UNI Panthers at the conclusion of the 2024 season. The last time the UNI football program was not coached by Farley, the iPod had not been introduced, Facebook had not been formed, YouTube had not been founded, Twitter had yet to be launched, and the iPhone was still six years from development. In 2001, a gallon of gas cost $1.40, a gallon of milk cost $2.89, and a carton of eggs cost just over a dollar. The movie Shrek had just come out when Farley coached his first game for the Panthers while Monsters Inc. was released one day before the ninth game of his coaching career, a 34-13 victory over Indiana State.

The Panthers remain the cleanest team in the MVFC with just 40 penalties on the season. UNI's 4.00 penalties per game are the seventh-fewest in the nation and fewest in the MVFC with just 36.90 penalty yards per game, the best mark in the Valley, and eighth nationally. On the ground, Tye Edwards continues to be a force with 5.88 rushing yards per carry. That is the fifth-best mark in the conference. Edwards' 72.3 rushing yards per game is the seventh-best mark in the Valley. Sergio Morancy has recorded four receiving touchdowns on the season. That is the sixth-most in the MVFC. Noah Pettinger averages 43.3 yards per punt, the second-best average in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and 19th-best average nationally. Matthew Schecklman is averaging 11.92 yards per completion, the fourth-best average in the Valley.

Youngstown State is coming off a 33-37 loss to Southern Illinois last weekend in a matchup that saw the Penguins bolt out to a 28-0 lead, but the Salukis rallied for the home victory.YSU built its four-touchdown lead behind three rushing scores by QB Beau Brungard and a short TD toss to Tyshon King to start the game. The Penguins had 478 yards while SIU finished with 488. YSU had 297 yards of total offense in the first half with 161 through the air and 136 on the ground. SIU had 230 with 150 of those coming on the final two possessions of the quarter.

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.

Calendar

Upcoming Events