Panthers host the Sycamores for the final game of the 2024 season

UNI football (2-9 / 0-7 MVFC) vs. Indiana State (4-7 / 3-4 MVFC)

1 p.m. CT | Nov. 23, 2024
Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI-Dome (16,324)
ESPN+ (Mark Simpson: Play-by-play, Justin Surrency: Analyst)
Panther Sports Radio Network | (J.W. Cox: Play-by-Play / Scott Peterson: Analyst)

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI football team prepares to host the Sycamores of Indiana State on Saturday, November 23 in a senior day matchup. The game also marks the final game of head coach Mark Farley's Panther career as well as the career of long-time PA announcer Bob Justis. Both Bob Justis as well as the Panther senior class will be recognized pregame.

This will be the 37th all-time meeting between the Sycamores and the Panthers. The last time these teams met, UNI took home a 27-20 victory which was sealed on an interception on the three yardline by Edwin Dearman. In that matchup, Harrison Bey-Buie ran for 137 yards and three touchdowns.

The Panthers are coming off a 38-39 overtime loss to Youngstown State last Saturday. In that matchup, Aidan Dunne finished with 197 yards and three touchdowns on 16 completions. On the ground, Tye Edwards recorded 60 yards and a touchdown while Desmond Hutson led the Panther receivers with 101 yards and a score.

Desmond Hutson set a new career high with 101 receiving yards and Aidan Dunne tied his career high with three passing touchdowns against the Penguins. Dominic Sisneros recovered the first fumble of the season for the Panthers on a muffed punt in the third quarter.

This will be head coach Mark Farley's last game at the Panther helm after he announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2024 season. Coach Farley holds a winning record over all but two current MVFC teams (he has not competed against Murray State in his career with the Panthers).

The Panthers remain one of the cleanest teams in the MVFC with just 45 penalties on the season. UNI's 4.09 penalties per game are the ninth-fewest in the nation and third-fewest in the MVFC with just 37.55 penalty yards per game, the best mark in the Valley, and ninth nationally. On the ground, Tye Edwards continues to be a force with 5.80 rushing yards per carry. That is the fifth-best mark in the conference. Edwards' 71.2 rushing yards per game is the eighth-best mark in the Valley. Sergio Morancy has recorded four receiving touchdowns on the season. That is the eighth-most in the MVFC. Morancy is also one of only 36 players in the nation to record a kickoff return touchdown and one of just five Valley Players to do so. Morancy's 25.6 yards per kickoff return is the third-best mark in the MVFC and 16th-best nationally. Matthew Schecklman is averaging 11.93 yards per completion, the fifth-best average in the Valley.

Indiana State is coming off a 31-19 loss to the Illinois State Redbirds. In that matchup, the Sycamores trailed 31-7 midway through the third quarter after Illinois State's Wenkers Wright broke through the middle for a 12-yard touchdown run to extend the Redbirds' lead. Indiana State mounted two 80-plus yard scoring drives over the final 6:00 minutes of the contest capped by Elijah Owens touchdown passes to Zavion Taylor and Rashad Rochelle, but the Redbirds secured the final onside kick and ran out the clock to close out the contest.

Owens finished 22-of-32 through the air for 213 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 20 carries for 64 yards and a rushing touchdown in leading the Indiana State offense on the day. Rochelle hauled in 10 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, while Butler Lawson contributed 54 rushing yards and 45 receiving yards in the loss. Geoffrey Brown finished with a team-high 10 tackles to lead the Sycamore defense, while Maddix Blackwell and Garret Ollendieck added nine tackles apiece for the Sycamores. Ollendieck added 0.5 tackles-for-loss in his first action back on the field, while Ahmond Glass, Tony Roberts, and Lucas McAllister combined for five pass breakups.

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.

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