Panthers handed first loss of the 2024 season at Nebraska

Saturday, September 14

Lincoln, Neb.

6:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

2-1 , 0-0

Nebraska

3-0 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UNI

Nebraska

Photo by: Eli Hull

Panthers handed first loss of the 2024 season at Nebraska

9/14/2024 11:10:00 PM | Football

Box Score UNI vs. Nebraska Final Stats Photo Gallery

The UNI football team fell in Lincoln, Nebraska to the 23rd-ranked Cornhuskers by a final score of 34-3.

LINCOLN, Nebraska — The Panther football team traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska to take on the 23rd-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Panthers' first FBS matchup of the season. The Panthers scored on their first offensive drive of the day, but hit some speed bumps along the way and finished with a 34-3 loss to the Huskers.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cornhuskers jumped out to a lead on their first drive of the night which culminated in a 24-yard reception from quarterback Dylan Raiola to wide receiver Carter Nelson. The Panthers answered with a 10-minute drive which ended on a 30-yard field goal from Caden Palmer. The Panthers' offensive drive saw two third-down conversions and a fourth-down conversion. The Panthers recorded 32 total rushing yards on the first offensive drive and 30 yards through the air.

Nebraska returned to the field and recorded its second touchdown of the day on an 18-yard reception by Isaiah Neyor. The Panther offense came up with a pair of 15+-yard plays through the air on the subsequent drive but were forced to punt. A 59-yard pass from Raiola to Jaylen Lloyd set up a Husker 10-yard touchdown run from Jacory Barney Jr. to give Nebraska a 21-3 lead after the extra point was converted.

Both teams turned the ball over on downs on their offensive drives which took the game into the halftime break with the Panthers trailing 3-21. The Huskers threatened on their drive but stalled out at the UNI 25 yardline as they went for a fourth and three on a pass that was broken up by Albert Nunes.

The Panthers opened the second half with the ball with a 25-yard kickoff return from Sergio Morancy. Back-to-back seven-yard rushes from Aidan Dunne were followed by a seven-yard rush from Tye Edwards. Amauri Pesek-Hickson tacked on 21 more on a six-yard rush along with a 15-yard penalty on Nebraska for a late hit out of bounds. The Panthers pushed deep into Cornhusker territory before a pick on the four yardline brought the Panther drive to a screeching halt.

The pick from the Cornhuskers ended in a 31-yard field goal. The Panthers' following drive ended in a punt which resulted in another Nebraska field goal. Another punt gave the Huskers the ball back before an Interception by Fletcher Marshall Jr. gave the Panthers the ball back. That UNI drive ended in a punt. A late touchdown from the Nebraska offense gave the Cornhuskers a 34-3 victory inside Memorial Stadium.

Aidan Dunne led both the Panthers in the air and on the ground with 117 passing yards and 49 rushing yards. Amauri Pesek-Hickson recorded 39 rushing yards while Sergio Morancy led the receivers with 30 yards on two receptions.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The Panthers 34-3 loss was the first of the season. The Panthers moved to 2-1 on the season and 0-1 all-time against Nebraska.
Fletcher Marshall Jr. recorded the first interception of his career and the Panther's first recovered turnover of the season. The turnover was also Dylan Raiola's first turnover of his college career.
The Panthers' rushing effort combined for 139 total yards, the most allowed to an opposing offense by the Cornhuskers in the 2024 season.

UP NEXT

The Panthers hop on a plane and travel to Hawaii to take on the Rainbow Warriors on September 21st to cap off their three-game road stand. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 p.m. CT and can be broadcast on Spectrum Sports PPV or listened to 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.