UNI football: Panther comeback falls just short against Youngstown State

Saturday, November 22

Cedar Falls, Iowa

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

3-9 , 1-7

Youngstown State

8-4 , 5-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Youngstown St.

UNI

Photo by: © Andy Saigh

UNI football: Panther comeback falls just short against Youngstown State

11/22/2025 5:12:00 PM | Football

Box Score Final Stats

UNI Panther football drops season finale to No. 17 Youngstown State by a 35-32 final.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI football team closed out the 2025 season inside the UNI-Dome against the Youngstown State Penguins on Saturday afternoon. The Penguins dominated the first half, but the Panther offense exploded in the second half, putting up 29 points in the final 30 minutes. The Panthers looked to mount a 25-point comeback, but couldn't find the final three points and fell just short by a 35-32 final in Cedar Falls to close the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Youngstown State Penguins were the first on the board with a pair of rushing touchdowns from quarterback Beau Brungard. UNI's first offensive possession looked promising but was cut short by a fumble at the Penguins' nine yard line. UNI got on the board with a 40-yard field goal off the foot of Max Bartachek to cut the YSU lead to 11 at 14-3.

The Penguins tabbed two more touchdowns in the first half to hold a 28-3 lead after 30 minutes of play. Ayden Price accounted for 63 of Jaxon Dailey's 86 first-half passing yards on three receptions. Tucker Langenberg recorded seven tackles including one for loss and a forced fumble in the first half.

Out of the break, the Panthers went for back-to-back touchdowns on a six-yard reception by JC Roque Jr. and a one-yard rush by Harrison Bey-Buie. Bartachek tallied the extra point on the Roque Jr. touchdown while the Cats went for two on the Bey-Buie rushing score. Jaxon Dailey found Roque Jr. in the back of the end zone on the try to convert on the two-point play and cut the Penguin lead to 10 at 28-18.

The Penguins responded with their only points of the second half on a three-yard passing touchdown to extend their lead. Bay-Buie's second rushing touchdown of the day followed to cut back into the deficit before a nine-yard sack by Owen Ostroski on a YSU fourth down gave the Panthers the ball with the ability to cut it to a one-score game. Dailey found Roque Jr. once again in the endzone to cut it to three at 35-32.

The Panther defense stood tall and forced two more punts on the next two Youngstown State offensive possessions, but the offense was unable to find the last push and turned the ball over on downs both times. The Cats fell just short of a 25-point comeback with a 35-32 final.

Jaxon Dailey played the game of his collegiate career as he threw for 352 yards and two touchdowns on 25 completions. The quarterback also led the ground game with 52 rushing yards including a pair of 20+-yard scrabbles. Running back Bill Jackson finished with 115 receiving yards on seven catches and 41 rushing yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Tucker Langenberg led the defense in his final collegiate outing with 15 total tackles, including six solo tackles, two TFLs, one sack, and a forced fumble. Ryan Crandall also finished in double figures with 10 total tackles.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The Panthers finish 2025 with a 3-9 record including a 1-7 record in MVFC play. UNi still leads the all-time series with the Penguins 26-11 after Saturday's final.
Jaxon Dailey's career-high 352 passing yards are second-most this season behind Matthew Scheckman's 359-yard outing against Eastern Washington.
Dailey's 25 completions are a career high while his 64-yard pass to Bill Jackson was a career long.
Bill Jackson recorded a career-high 115 receiving yards.
Tucker Langenberg tied his career high with 15 total tackles.

UNI football action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Football), X (@UNIFootball) and on Instagram (@unipantherfootball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.