UNI football: Panthers close the non-conference slate at Utah Tech

UNI Panthers (2-1 / 0-0 MVFC) at Utah Tech Trailblazers (0-3 / 0-0 UAC)

7 p.m. CT | September 20, 2025
St. George, Utah | Greater Zion Stadium (8,291)
ESPN+ (Rod Zundel: Play-by-Play / Max Christensen III: Analyst)
Panther Sports Radio Network | (J.W. Cox: Play-by-Play / Scott Peterson: Analyst)

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The Panthers wrap up the non-conference portion of their 2025 schedule at Utah Tech. The last time these teams met was in 2022 inside the UNI-Dome when UNI came out victorious by a 41-14 final. In that matchup, Theo Day finished with 308 passing yards and three touchdowns. Sam Schnee led the receiver room with 143 yards and a touchdown on five receptions.

UNI is coming off a 17-14 Family Weekend victory against Eastern Washington inside the UNI-Dome. The Panthers moved to 2-0 inside the Dome on the season as well as 2-0 against FCS opponents.

In that matchup, Matthew Schecklman finished with 359 passing yards, a career-high and his first time with over 300 passing yards. The last time a UNI QB has thrown for over 300 yards was in 2023 against North Dakota State when Theo Day passed for 342 yards.

The Panthers finished with two receivers over 100 receiving yards (Tysen Kershaw 143 / Ayden Price 135). The last time UNI had a 100-yard receiver was Sergio Morancy in 2024 against Indiana State (119). The last time the Cats had a pair of receivers with 100+ yards was in 2019 against Southern Utah (Deion McShane 110 / Isaiah Weston 105).

Tysen Kershaw's 79-yard touchdown reception was the longest of his career. He finished with 143 yards, also a career-high.

After a career-high 135 yards, Ayden Price was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week. His first Valley Weekly Award is the Panthers' first Newcomer of the Week honor since 2022.

The Panthers scored on their opening play for the first time since Dom Williams scored on a nine-yard rush against Missouri State in 2022.

UNI seeks its second all-time victory over the Trailblazers after the lone matchup fell the way of the Cats in 2022. UNI is seeking its first 3-1 start since 2021.

The Panther team sits amongst the top-25 in FCS football in a number of statistical categories after their first three matchups including third-down conversion percentage (13th - 47.6%), fewest fumbles lost (22nd - 1), kick return defense (22nd - 16.4), fewest sacks allowed (23rd - 1.33), scoring defense (24th - 19.7), fewest TFLs allowed (3rd - 3.33), time of possession (6th - 34:21), and winning percentage (10th - 66.7%). UNI's third-down conversion percentage is first in the Valley while its kick return defense, passing offense (235), passing yards per completion (12.59), red zone defense (77.8%), TFLs allowed, and time of possession are all second in the league.

Individually, Jonathan Cabral-Martin leads the nation and the MVFC with 2.0 passes defended per game after four pass breakups and an interception against Butler and a pass breakup against Eastern Washington. The cornerback is second in the Valley with 0.33 forced fumbles per game and fifth with 0.33 interceptions per game.

Owen Ostroski is seventh in the FCS and first in the Valley with 1.00 sacks per game after a pair against Eastern Washington. The redshirt-senior is fourth in the MVFC with 1.33 tackles for loss.

Ayden Price is eighth in the nation and first in the Valley with 22.86 yards per reception. Price broke off for a 63-yard touchdown reception against Eastern Washington.

Both Jack Kriebs and Caleb Frazer are 10th in the FCS and third in the MVFC with one fumble recovery. Frazer recovered a fumble against Butler, while Kriebs picked up a fumble recovery against Wyoming.

Joe Hall III is tied with Cabral-Martin for fifth in the Valley with 0.33 interceptions per game after a pick in the red zone against Butler.

Along with Cabral-Martin, Kriebs and Ethan Schoville are tied for second in the Valley with 0.33 forced fumbles per game.

Matthew Schecklman is second in the Valley with six passing touchdowns, 680 passing yards, 226.7 passing yards per game, and 12.83 yards per completion.

The Panthers return 100% of quarterback play from the 2024 season. Matthew Schecklman and Aidan Dunne return to the Panther squad for another season following a year that saw 2,231 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns with a 61% completion percentage.

35% of UNI's wide receiver production is back in 2025. The Panthers return 65 receptions for 772 yards and four touchdowns from last season.

Just 4% of running back production returns in 2025 after losing Tye Edwards and Amauri Pesek-Hickson from the 2024 roster. Harrison Bey-Buie returns to UNI after a season that saw him appear in just two games due to injury, recording 17 carries for 74 yards.

The Panthers bring in transfer Bill Jackson from Tulsa in the backfield. With the Golden Hurricanes, Jackson appeared in 10 games, totaling 319 rushing yards and 104 receiving yards, and scored two receiving touchdowns in 2024. The redshirt-senior appeared in a total of 33 games at Tulsa, totaling 919 rushing yards and one touchdown on 189 carries and 156 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 28 receptions.

UNI also welcomes Owen Ostroski to the defensive line from Tulsa. In 2024, Ostroski appeared in 12 games and totaled 36 tackles (14 solo, 22 assist) and recorded 8.5 TFL for 43 yards, including two sacks for 17 yards. In his time at Tulsa, the redshirt-senior played in 35 games and totaled 91 tackles, including 22 for loss. The lineman had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery with the Golden Hurricanes.

The 2025 Panther roster includes nine new coaches to the Panther program, including head coach Todd Stepsis. On top of the coaching staff, the roster includes 33 true freshmen and 11 transfers that will be new to UNI in 2025.

The 2025 roster of 118 players includes 70 athletes from the great state of Iowa. Of these 70, 21 are true freshmen, including a trio from across the street at Cedar Falls High School. Of the 118 athletes on the roster, 97 call either Iowa or its six bordering states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska or South Dakota) home.

The UNI Football team currently has six alumni on active professional rosters including Elijah Campbell (Safety - Miami Dolphins), Spencer Brown (Offensive Lineman - Buffalo Bills), Khristian Boyd (Defensive Lineman - New Orleans Saints), and Trevor Penning (Offensive Lineman - New Orleans Saints) on NFL rosters and Jared Brinkman (Defensive Lineman - Edmonton Elks) and Benny Sapp III (Cornerback - Saskatchewan Roughriders) on CFL rosters.

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.

Calendar

Upcoming Events