University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panthers End 2004 Season With 6 Wins
12/23/2004 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 23, 2004
CEDAR FALLS - WRAPPING UP 2004: When all was said and done, the University of Northern Iowa 2004 football team was judged on its first five games, and not on its final six. Despite six consecutive victories by an average margin of 23.7 points, the Panthers couldn't overcome a 1-4 start to begin the year. As a result, the Panthers were passed over for the 1-AA playoffs but finished on a high note with a 7-4 record, including a 5-2 mark in the always tough Gateway Football Conference to place third behind playoff selections Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky.
The season began with high expectations following a 1-AA quarterfinal appearance in 2003 and the return of a majority of the offensive stars from that 10-3 team. What was thought to be an early-season weakness -- the defense -- turned out to be a strength in the early going despite losing four games in the first five outings. The offense struggled in the early going due to injuries and took a primary hit when fifth-year starting quarterback Tom Petrie was lost for the season in the fourth game of the year to a broken clavicle.
The campaign began with a 23-0 shutout from the hands of 1-A Iowa State. The Panthers rebounded with a 40-0 shutout of their own over Division II Minneosta State. The next three games were against ranked 1-AA opponents. All resulted in losses in the final minutes or possessions of the contests -- losing 24-21 to 13th-ranked Stephen F. Austin, 40-36 to no. 1 ranked Southern Illinois to open the Gateway Conference portion of the schedule, and 17-10 to sixth-ranked Western Kentucky. UNI then won the last six games of the season, including defeating Indiana State on the road in the Gateway TV game of the week 58-6, and downing 2003 playoff participant, Northern Arizona, 41-25 on the road to end the year.
The season also was highlighted by the emergence of several newcomers who will contribute greatly in the years to come. Redshirt freshman quarterback Eric Sanders stepped in for the injured Petrie and went 6-1 as the starter, culminating in his selection as the Gateway Football Conference's Freshman of the Year. Petrie received that same honor four years ago. Junior linebacker Brett Koebcke ended the year as the team's leading tackler in his first season wearing the Purple and Gold and was named to the league's All-Newcomer Team. Junior wide receiver Justin Surrency stepped to the forefront after playing in the shadows his previous two seasons and finished as the team's leading receiver, earning second team all-conference honors.
"It was a good season," said UNI head coach Mark Farley. "It was rewarding in the fact that the team found a way to find that second gear early in the season when we were 1-4. They found that second gear to push us ahead. All the credit goes to that group of players and that group of coaches who got the guys in the hunt to battle for the playoffs.
"We had a couple games go against us in that playoff run (on the final weekend of regular season play). There's nothing we could control about that. I felt we did everything that we could do to put ourselves in that picture at the end. I'm very proud of how our players pulled themselves back into the season."
1,000-YARD MAN: Junior running back Terrance Freeney became the 16th runner in school history to gain at least 1,000 yards rushing when he compiled 101 yards in UNI's final game at Northern Arizona. He finished the season with 1,100 yards and seven TDs on 244 carries, ranking 10th on UNI's all-time leaders chartfor yards in a season. His 1,261 yards gained last season ranks second. He had a season-high 236 yards rushing this year against Western Illinois, which ranks seventh on the single-game chart.
HEINS GOES OUT WITH STYLE: Senior defensive tackle Justin Heins ended his collegiate career in style at Northern Arizona when he recovered two fumbles and had his first career interception. The three turnovers were part of UNI's seven total gained by the Panthers in the game. His interception was just the second by a lineman this season -- the first by junior tackle Kevin Stensrud.
IDLEBURGH STEPS IN FRONT: Amongst the seven turnovers gained by UNI in its final game at Northern Arizona were two interceptions by senior free safety James Idleburgh. The second was returned 47 yards for a TD, giving UNI a 38-21 lead with 4:13 left in the game. These were his only interceptions of his UNI career. He transferred to UNI from Iowa Central Community College last year.
CAREER BUSTER: Senior tight end Andy Thorn caught a career-high seven passes for 75 yards with a long of 32 and three TDs of eight, 13 and nine yards at Northern Arizona. His last reception gave UNI the lead for good at 24-21 with 8:32 left in the game.
RECORD BUSTER: Redshirt freshman quarterback Tom Petrie in the fourth game of the year due to injury. Sanders ended up completing 95-of-150 passes with just five interceptions for 1,307 yards and 15 TDs, an efficiency rating of 162.86.
DOKES MAKES PRESENCE KNOWN: Sophomore corner Dre Dokes returned to action against Illinois State in fine form, tying a school record with three interceptions. He had missed the previous two games because of a sprained ankle. His first interception led to Brian Wingert's 44-yard field goal, putting UNI up 24-0 in the first quarter. His second swipe occurred early in the second period and his third led to another goal by Wingert, giving the Panthers a 41-7 lead with 1:14 left in the third period. He ended the year with a team-high four interceptions, matching the total number he recorded last season.
NUMBERS TELL THE STORY: After starting the season 1-4, the Panthers became a team on a mission. UNI handed Illinois State its most lopsided loss of the season in defeating the Redbirds 41-14. In their six straight wins to conclude the season, the Panthers outscored the opponents 228-74, including 138-32 in the first half, and 104-16 in the first quarter.
GAINING THE TURNOVERS: Another reason for UNI's success was the ability to gain the turnovers. Though UNI was not turning the ball over earlier this season, it also was not getting the turnovers. However, in the last six games, the Panthers turned the ball over just six times, but gained 18 turnovers, including seven in the final game at Northern Arizona. UNI finished the year ranked eighth in 1-AA in turnover margin and tied for first in turnovers lost with just 12.
MAKING THE CASE: The last time a team to make the 1-AA playoffs with four losses was in 1995 when Idaho advanced as an at-large team with a 6-4 mark. Just 13 teams total have made the post-season field with four losses since the system was expanded to 16 teams in 1986. Only five of those teams made it as at-large teams. UNI advanced as the Gateway's automatic bid with a 7-4 mark in 1995.
2004 HONORS (As of 12-23-04) Gateway All-Conference 1st Team RB Terrance Freeney OL Luke Stigler DL Ryan Arnold DB Dre Dokes 2nd Team WR Justin Surrency LB Brett Koebcke Honorable Mention FB Reggie Brown TE Andy Thorn P Cory Henke
Gateway All-Newcomer Team QB Eric Sanders LB Brett Koebcke Gateway Freshman of the Year QB Eric Sanders
Gateway Academic All-Conference 1st Team WR Justin Surrency Second Team WR James Lindgren OC John Schabilion OC Doug Wilkinson Honorable Mention WR Curt Bradley
CoSIDA Academic All-District 1st Team OC John Schabilion 2nd Team WR James Lindgren
7th Annual Division 1-AA Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team OC John Schabilion
CLOSE ENOUGH? In UNI's four losses, the Panthers lost by just 37 points total, including 23 to 1-A Iowa State. Discounting that one game, UNI lost three games by just 14 points -- 24-21 to 12th-ranked Stephen F. Austin, 40-36 to no. 1 Southern Illinois, and 17-10 to no. 6 Western Kentucky. Thus, UNI was 1-3 in games decided by seven or fewer points after defeating Youngstown State 22-20.
UNI was 2-1 in 2003, 3-1 in 2002, 5-0 in 2001 and 2-2 in 2000 in games decided by seven or fewer points.
SENIORS: UNI saids goodbye to 21 seniors in 2004. They include tailback Tom Petrie, offensive tackle Andy Thorn, linebacker Doug Wilkinson.
PILE IT ON: UNI's 58-6 defeat of Indiana State is the Panthers' largest margin of victory over a Gateway Conference foe, overtaking the 52-7 defeat of Western Illinois in the 1987 season. It also is the largest victory margin ever over a 1-AA opponent.
CALLING THE SHOTS: With the season-ending injury to four-year starting quarterback Tom Petrie on Oct. 2, UNI relied on youth. Though redshirt freshman Eric Sanders took over the starting role, his backup was another redshirt freshman. Jim Lizzi. He also saw some action against Illinois State, but did not record any statistics.
FREENEY BACK TO FORM: After being slowed early in the year with a thigh contusion and bronchitis, junior tailback Terrance Freeney returned to form in the last six games. He rushed for at least 100 yards in four games,and gained 89 at Indiana State and a game-high 84 versus Illinois State. He also scored seven TDs in the last six games.
The Panthers out-gained their opponents 2,057-to-1,152 over that time span.
ANOTHER POLL: Besides The Sports Network and ESPN/USA Today 1-AA polls, UNI finished 18th in the final Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette Top 25 behind James Madison, Harvard, Montana, William & Mary, Sam Houston State, Eastern Washington, Southern Illinois, Furman, Delaware, New Hampshire, Georgia Southern, Hampton, Western Kentucky, Cal Poly, North Dakota State, Wofford, and Villanova. Rounding out the Top 25 are Portland State at no. 19, Lafayette, Lehigh, Pennsylvania, Northwestern State, Jacksonville State and Coastal Carolina.
WINGERT MADE HIS MARK: Sophomore kicker Brian Wingert's finished the year ranked no. 3 in 1-AA in field goals after being ranked no. 1 earlier in the year. He ranks first amongst active career 1-AA leaders by percentage, having made 27-of-33 (.818) in 20 games played, and is second in career field goals made per game.
This season, he made 14-of-18 field goals (.778) with a long of 44. He kicked the game-winning 31-yarder in UNI's 22-20 win at Youngstown State with no time left on the clock.
INGE CHOSEN FOR NCAA COACHING PROGRAM: UNI Co-Defensive Coordinator William "Bill" Inge is one of 20 ethnic minority football coaches chosen to participate in the second NCAA Advanced Coaching Program, which is a component of the NCAA Coaches Academy. He will receive three days of intense training in areas such as communication, fiscal responsiblities, building a successful program, moral and ethical considerations, and academic issues. The Program will be held Jan. 7-9 in Louisville, KY, preceding the American Football Coaches Assoc. convention.
PATCHWORK OL WORKS: UNI rushed for 224 yards against Youngstown State, 406 yards in the win over Western Illinois, 268 yards against Southwest Missouri State, 275 yards at Indiana State, 199 yards in the win against Illinois State, and 148 yards in the win over Northern Arizona. All this despite a patchwork conglomeration of offensive linemen.
UNI had been playing without the services of starting center John Schabilion due to ankle problems, and starting tackle Doug Wilkinson played the tackle position for the first time. Senior Joe Keller replaced Schabilion at center until the latter's return.
Schabilion did see action in 41 plays against SMS and came back to start at Indiana State. Keller left the SMS game after 29 plays due to an ankle sprain and didn't play at Indiana State. Rinehart returned to action in 33 plays against INS.
UNI did not give up a sack in five consecutive games before surrendering two at NAU.
UNDER FIRE: Redshirt freshman Tom Petrie against Western Kentucky. Petrie was the first freshman to start when he came on board four years ago.
Sanders did a credible job in his first start, and just his third collegiate game overall, when he completed 18-of-26 passes for 205 yards, including a one-yard TD pass to Ben Spellman. The two interceptions he did throw were both in the end zone, and the last one was at the end of the game in an effort to tie the game.
WRONG STREAK: UNI's 1-4 start to begin the season matched the 1-4 start in the 1988 season during Earle Bruce's one-year reign as head coach. UNI finished 5-6 that season, 7-4 this year.
SO CLOSE: The Panthers had to be the best 7-4 team in the country. After opening the season with a 23-0 defeat at 1-A Iowa State and a 43-0 win over Division II Minnesota State, the Panthers played three straight ranked teams, including two ranked in the top 6 at the time of the contests.
In those three games, UNI had the opportunity to win or tie the games with less than a minute remaining. Against then 13th-ranked Stephen F. Austin, UNI drove to the SFA 45 before stalling out with 36 seconds left on four straight incomplete passes. Against no. 1 Southern Illinois, backup quarterback Eric Sanders drove UNI to SIU's 20 before his pass was intercepted at the two yard line. Against no. 6 Western Kentucky, Sanders' pass was intercepted in the end zone with less than eight seconds remaining. UNI lost those three games by a total of 14 points.
ONE OF THOSE YEARS: Injuries definitely took a toll on the Panthers. Besides losing four-year starting quarterback Tom Petrie Oct. 2 to a broken clavicle, UNI played two games without converted tight end, starting defensive end Dre Dokes to an ankle sprain early in the first quarter and he missed two games, while senior outside linebacker Danny Triplett tore the ACL in his left knee, undergoing surgery and missing four contests.
Gibbs returned to action against Western Illinois. Overman had surgery. Schabilion missed two games, also, but played in the last four games, starting against Indiana State. Wide receiver/return specialist James Lindgren missed two games due to a left hamstring strain but returned to action against Illinois State in a limited role. Rinehart returned to action at Indiana State, and Dokes returned to form by intercepting three passes against Illinois State.
LIZZI BREAKS THROUGH: Senior reserve fullback/tailback Jim Lizzi rushed for a career-high 26 times and 145 yards against Minnesota State. His previous high game was 13 carries against Cal Poly in 2002 and 75 yards last year against Youngstown State.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK: UNI had two players gain over 100 yards versus Minnesota State -- Terrance Freeney with 103. UNI repeated the effort against Western Illinois when Freeney rushed for 236 yards, 13 shy of his career high, and Carter gained 123 rushing.
WHERE ARE THE YARDS?: UNI was held to just 99 total yards against Iowa State -- just 36 on the ground and 63 through the air. Last year's lowest offensive output was 164 yards in the 1-AA quarterfinal game at Delaware, including just 52 passing yards. UNI gained just 35 rushing yards against McNeese State in the 1997 season and just nine ground yards versus Eastern Illinois in the 1996 1-AA playoffs' first round. The Panthers had just 97 passing yards against Stephen F. Austin, also in the 1996 season.
PART II: UNI's potent running back duo of Terrance Freeney and Richard Carter, who combined for over 2,000 yards a year ago, were held to just 36 yards total at Iowa State. Carter rushed for a career-low 12 yards on seven carries, while Freeney's 24 yards on 13 attempts was his second-lowest effort since transferring to UNI last year.
Amazingly, quarterback Tom Petrie 63 passing yards was not his career low -- he had four other games with fewer yards, including just 52 yards gained last year at Delaware.
SEASON OPENERS: UNI now is 53-46-7 in season openers dating back to 1895. With this year's and last year's season-opening losses at Iowa State, the Panthers now have lost two consecutive season openers. Before that, UNI had won four straight openers after losing 66-0 at 1-A Iowa in 1997.
UNI ON HOMECOMING: UNI now is 53-23-7 in its own Homecoming and had a one-game win streak on that special day before losing 17-10 to Western Kentucky this year. WKU also beat UNI 31-12 on UNI's Homecoming in 2002. Before that, the Panthers had won seven consecutive games on Homecoming.
PLAYING THE BIG BOYS: The Panthers have had some success against teams designated 1-A. Most of the success has come in the last 18 years. UNI now is 8-13 against 1-A teams since 1985 after losing at Iowa State this year in the first game, 23-0.
CONFERENCE DOMINANCE: Since the Gateway Football Conference was founded in 1985, UNI has won or shared 11 league titles. The Panthers won the title outright in 1985 (5-0), 1987 (6-0), 1991 (5-1), 1992 (5-1), 1993 (5-1), 1994 (6-0), 1996 (5-0), and in 2001 (6-1). Titles were shared in 1990 with Southwest Missouri State (5-1), in 1995 with Eastern Illinois (5-1) and this past year with Southern Illinois (6-1). In those seasons when UNI shared the title, the Panthers received the league's automatic bid to the playoffs in 1990 by virtue of their 20-17 win over SMS, in 1995 with their victory over EIU 17-7, and in 2003 because of their 43-40 win over SIU.
FREENEY DROPPED FROM PAYTON WATCH LIST: UNI tailback Terrance Freeney was named to the 2004 Walter Payton Award watch list for the second consecutive season when it was announced Aug. 30, one of 32 athletes named to the Payton or Buck Buchanan lists. He was later dropped from the list after early-season injuries slowed his progress.
Freeney was added to the revised Walter Payton Award "watch list" about midway through the 2003 season. Just a sophomore, he finished 14th of 17 candidates with 26 points in the final voting, including one first-place vote. The Walter Payton Award, now in its 18th year of existence, is given to the top offensive player in 1-AA.
YOUNG BLOOD: The UNI depth chart showed eight freshmen amongst the two-deep, including true freshman Brett Koebcke, a transfer from William Rainey Harper Community College.
STREAKING: A Gateway team has started conference play 5-0 on 14 occasions (including UNI and Southern Illinois in 2003) and all of the 11 previous teams finished second or better in the league standings. Ten of those 11 earned playoff berths, and 10 won the conference crown. Only twice in league history (1987, 2003) have two teams started 5-0 or better the same year.
GFC STAT TALK: This is how UNI ranks in the final 2004 Gateway Football Conference statistics. UNI Scoring Offense 2nd Scoring Defense 2nd Pass Offense 5th Pass Defense 3rd Rushing Offense 3rd Rushing Defense 2nd Total Offense 3rd Total Defense 2nd Kickoff Returns 8th Punt Returns 8th Punting 6th Turnover Margin 2nd Pass Efficiency 2nd Pass Defense Eff. 4th Sacks By T3rd Penalties 3rd 3rd-Down Conversions 1st Field Goals 4th Individual Rushing Freeney-3rd Passing Avg/Game Sanders-8th Total Offense Sanders-7th Pass Efficiency Sanders-2nd Receiving Yards/Game Surrency-6th Receptions Per Game Surrency-5th Kick Return Average Carter-6th Punt Return Average Lindgren-6th Punting Henke-3rd Interceptions Dokes-T4th Scoring Wingert-4th All-Purpose Running Freeney-5th Defense (Press Box Stats) Tackles Koebcke-26th; Idleburgh-T27th; Ivory-40th; Dokes-45th Sacks Ivory-T7th Fumbles Forced Idleburgh-T6th; Koebcke-T6th Fumbles Recovered Gibbs-1st; Heideman-T5th; Heins-T5th Passes Defended Key-2nd Tackles for Loss Overman-T8th; Ivory-10th
UNI VERSUS THE TOP 25: The Panthers now own a 45-30 record over teams ranked in the 1-AA Top 25 since 1985 after losing 24-21 to 13th-ranked Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 18, to no. 1 Southern Illinois on Oct. 2, and to 6th-ranked Western Kentucky on Oct. 9 17-10.
UNI defeated 11th-ranked Northwestern State, no. 7 Western Illinois, lost 24-3 to 12th-ranked Western Kentucky, defeated no. 2 Southern Illinois 43-40 and no. 24 Montana State 35-14, and lost to no. 3 Delaware 37-7 last year.
UNI dropped out of The Sports Network's Top 25 for the first time Oct. 28, 2002, receiving enough votes to be ranked 32nd, and it never recovered to jump back into the top 25s. This was just the fourth time since 1984 that the Panthers ended the season un-ranked. The other years were 1986, 1988, 1997 and 1998.
UNI VERSUS NO. 1: Since moving up to the 1-AA level in 1985, UNI now is 1-4 versus teams ranked no. 1 in a specific poll at the time of the contest after losing 40-36 to Southern Illinois on Oct. 2. UNI lost to no. 1 Marshall in the 1996 playoffs 31-14, defeated no. 1 Youngstown State 35-32 in 1997, lost to no. 1 McNeese State 20-17 in 1998, and lost to no. 1 Montana 38-0 in the 2001 playoffs.
UNI ON TV: With its 36-13 win over Western Illinois on Oct. 23 and the 58-6 win at Indiana State on Nov. 6, UNI now has won six consecutive games on Gateway television. It now is 6-2 overall when shown on the conference package.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: UNI is the only original Gateway member to win at least two non-conference games every year. The Panthers now are 88-40 against non-conference teams since 1985.
UNI IN THE DOME: UNI is 143-38-1 (.788) in the UNI-Dome since the building opened in 1976. The Panthers were 6-0 at home last year and had an eight-game home win streak dating back to the 2002 season before losing to 13th-ranked Stephen F. Austin at home this year on Sept. 18. UNI was 5-1 at home in 2000, losing 44-41 to Western Illinois in the last game of the season, snapping a seven-game home winning streak.
The Panthers were 6-0 at home in 2001and were 3-3 in 2002. They have the best home field winning percentage in the Gateway Conference with a 49-11 record. They have gone undefeated at home in a season seven times since 1990.
UNI had a 25-game overall home winning streak heading into the 1992 1-AA semifinal game against Youngstown State, which the Penguins snapped with their 19-7 win. Prior to a Sept. 24, 1994, loss to McNeese State, UNI had won 29 straight regular-season games in the Dome dating back to the 1989 season opener, lost 22-14 to Mankato State.
GFC RANKED VERSUS RANKED: There have been 51 times in which two Gateway teams ranked in the top 25 played one another. The home team is 29-22, while the higher-ranked team is 28-23. Fourteen times the meeting involved teams that were both ranked in the top 10.
UNI has played in seven of those games when the two teams have been ranked in the top 10, and has a 4-3 record in such contests after defeating seventh-ranked Western Illinois and losing to ninth-ranked Western Kentucky last season. The third-ranked Panthers defeated fifth-ranked Southwest Missouri State in the Dome in 1996, 38-31; no. 3 UNI defeated no. 8 Western Illinois 30-6 at home in 1996, no. 10 Illinois State defeated third-ranked UNI 47-28 in Normal in 1999, and no. 9 Youngstown State defeated no. 6 UNI 29-20 in Cedar Falls in 1999.
UNI played six ranked teams in 2001, defeating then second-ranked Youngstown State 30-11 in the Dome, then 12th-ranked Western Illinois 17-14 on the road, sixth-ranked Western Kentucky 24-23 on the road, third-ranked Eastern Illinois 49-43 on the road, 16th-ranked Maine 56-28 at home, and lost 38-0 to no. 1 Montana in the 1-AA semifinals.
UNI defeated 17th-ranked YSU and lost to eighth-ranked Western Illinois for its only games against ranked foes in 2002. Last season, UNI played five ranked teams, defeating no. 11 Northwestern State, WIU, and Southern Illinois. It lost at 12th-ranked Western Kentucky.
SQUEAKERS: When UNI defeated Western Kentucky 24-23 in 2001, it marked just the second time in league history in which there were two one-point decisions on the same day.
In all, there have been 27 games decided by one point. UNI has more one-point wins in Gateway games than any other team, and the Panthers are 7-3 in those contests.
OT NO WAY: UNI is 2-4 in overtime games. The Panthers are 1-1 at home in OT. Two of those extra period games were during the 1-AA playoffs, and the Panthers lost both of those games -- 27-21 at Boston University in 1993, and 44-41 at Northeast Louisiana in 1987.
HALFTIME LEAD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF: UNI's double overtime loss to Western Illinois in 1997 and the 20-17 loss in overtime to McNeese State in 1998 were the only times in the decade of the '90s when the Panthers surrendered a halftime lead (UNI led WIU 9-0 and MSU 7-0). Prior to that, UNI had a 53-0 regular-season record when leading at the half.
UNI led third-ranked Youngstown State on the road, 17-14, at the half in 2000, but went on to fall 28-24 in the last 1:17 of the game. UNI was 8-0 in 2001 when leading at the half and was 4-2 in 2002, losing to Illinois State after leading 17-10 at the half and at Indiana State, 21-19, after leading 10-0 at the break.
Last year, UNI was 8-0 when leading at the half and was 7-1 this year after defeating Minnesota State 40-0, Youngstown State 22-20, Western Illinois 30-6, Southwest Missouri State 42-20, Indiana State 58-6, Illinois State 41-14 and Northern Arizona 45-21, and losing to Southern Illinois after leading 26-14 at intermission.
TURF VS. GRASS: Over the past 11-plus years, UNI now is 16-18 on grass. UNI was 0-4 on grass in 1997, 0-1 in 1998, 2-1 in 1999, 1-0 in 2000, 4-1 in 2001 and was 1-2 last year. After losing at Iowa State on Saturday, it is 0-1 this year. It is 27-16 on artificial surfaces on the road.
LAST TIME IT HAPPENED IN A GAME -- Individual Two Rushed for 100 Yards: Terrance Freeney 236 yds, Richard Carter 123 yds vs. Western Illinois, 10-23-04 One Rushed for 100 Yards: Terrance Freeney at Northern Arizona, 101 yds, 11-20-04 One Rushed for 200 Yards: Terrance Freeney vs. Western Illinois, 236 yds, 10-23-04 Passed for 200 Yards: Eric Sanders vs. Southwest Missouri State, 232 yds, 10-30-04 Passed for 300 Yards: Tom Petrie vs. Southern Illinois, 422 yds, 11-15-03 Passed for 400 Yards: Tom Petrie vs. Southern Illinois, 422 yds, 11-15-03 Last 300-Yard Total Offense: Tom Petrie vs. Stephen F. Austin, 305 yds, 9-18-04 Received for 100 Yards: Justin Surrency vs. Southwest Missouri State, 190 yds, 10-30-04 Received for 150 Yards: Justin Surrency vs. Southwest Missouri State, 190 yds, 10-30-04 Received for 200 Yards: Eddie Galles vs. Southern Illinois, 251 yds, 11-15-03 Scored 2 TDs Rushing: Terrance Freeney vs. Southwest Missouri State, 2 TDs, 10-30-04 Scored 3 TDs Rushing: Terrance Freeney vs. Stephen F. Austin, 3 TDs, 9-18-03 Scored 4 TDs Rushing: Adam Benge at Eastern Illinois, 4 TDs, 12-01-01 Scored 2 TDs Receiving: Andy Thorn at Northern Arizona, 3 TDs, 11-20-04 Scored 3 TDs Receiving: Andy Thorn at Northern Arizona, 3 TDs, 11-20-04 Scored 4 TDs Receiving: Dedric Ward vs. Western Illinois, 4 TDs, 9-29-95 Kicked 3 Field Goals: Brian Wingert's at Youngstown State, 3 FGs, 10-16-04 Kicked 4 Field Goals: Brian Wingert's vs. Minnesota State, 4 FGs, 9-11-04 Kicked 5 Field Goals: MacKenzie Hoambrecker vs. Youngstown State, 5 FGs, 10-19-02 Kicked 50+ Field Goal: MacKenzie Hoambrecker vs. Southwest Missouri State, 59 yds, 11-16-02 Kickoff Return for TD: Ben Sanderson vs. Cal Poly, 87 yds, 11-17-01 Punt Return for TD: Justin Surrency at Indiana State, 68 yds, 11-6-04 2 Punt Returns for TD: Dedric Ward vs. St. Cloud State, 46, 42 yds., 9-7-96 Interception Return for TD: James Idleburgh at Northern Arizona, 47 yds, 11-20-04 Fumble Recovery for TD: Ken Harris vs. Youngstown State, 9-29-01 Safety: Beau Gibbs at Indiana State, 11-6-04 Intercepted 2 Passes: James Idleburgh at Northern Arizona, 2 Int., 11-20-04 Intercepted 3 Passes: Dre Dokes vs. Illinois State, 11-13-04, 3 Int.
LAST TIME IT HAPPENED IN A GAME -- Team Rushed for 200 Yards: Nov. 6, 2004, at Indiana State, 275 yds Rushed for 300 Yards: Oct. 23, 2004, vs. Western Illinois, 406 yds Rushed for 400 Yards: Oct. 23, 2004, vs. Western Illinois, 406 yds Passed for 200 Yards: Oct. 30, 2004, vs. Southwest Missouri State, 232 yds Passed for 300 Yards: Nov. 15, 2003, vs. Southern Illinois, 432 yds Passed for 400 Yards: Nov. 15, 2003, vs. Southern Illinois, 432 yds Had 400 Yards Total Offense: Nov. 6, 2004, at Indiana State, 449 yds Had 600 Yards Total Offense: Nov. 1, 2003, vs. Youngstown State, 618 yds Scored 30 Points: Nov. 20, 2004, at Northern Arizona, 45 pts Scored 40 Points: Nov. 20, 2004, at Northern Arizona, 45 pts Scored 50 Points: Nov. 6, 2003, at Indiana State, 58 pts Scored 60 Points: Sept. 6, 2003, vs. Northern Michigan, 62 pts Had 3 TDs Rushing: Nov. 13, 2004, vs. Illinois State, 3 TDs Had 4 TDs Rushing: Oct. 30, 2004, vs. Southwest Missouri State, 3 TDs Had 5 TDs Rushing: Sept. 6, 2003, vs. Northern Michigan, 7 TDs Had 6 TDs Rushing: Sept. 6, 2003, vs. Northern Michigan, 7 TDs Had 2 TDs Passing: Nov. 20, 2004, at Northern Arizona, 3 TDs Had 3 TDs Passing: Nov. 20, 2004, at Northern Arizona, 3 TDs Had 4 TDs Passing: Nov. 6, 2004, at Indiana State, 4 TDs Had 5 TDs Passing: Nov. 11, 2000, vs. Prairie View A&M, 5 TDs Had 6 TDs Passing: Nov. 20, 1999, vs. Southwest State, 6 TDs Had 20 First Downs: Nov. 6, 2004, at Indiana State, 21 Had 25 First Downs: Oct. 30, 2004, vs. Southwest Missouri State, 26 Had 30 First Downs: Oct. 28, 2000, vs. Southwest Missouri State, 31
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: UNI true freshman quarterback Nick Nelson is the son of Panther offensive line coach Rick Nelson. They are just one of four assistant coach/player son combinations known in the country. The other combinations are Boston College defensive line coach Kevin Willis and his son, defensive end Keith Willis; BYU running backs assistant Lance Reynolds and son, center Lance, Jr.; and UNLV defensive line coach Craig Wederquist and son, defensive back Nate.
There are four father/son combinations when the father is the head coach and three combinations when the father is head coach and a son is an assistant coach on the same team.
TRIPLETT CHOSEN FOR HULA BOWL: Senior linebacker Danny Triplett has been selected to play in the annual Hula Bowl, slated for Jan. 22, 2005, at 6 p.m. Central. Triplett injured his knee in the seventh game this season on Oct. 23 against Western Illinois and has undergone surgery, so his invitation has needed to be declined.
2004 SINGLE GAME SUPERLATIVES
Rush Attempts: 36, Terrance Freeney vs. Western Illinois Opp: 23, Stevie Hicks (Iowa State); Josh Cayson (Youngstown State) Rush Yards: 236, Terrance Freeney vs. Western Illinois Opp: 111, Stevie Hicks (Iowa State) Rush TDs: 2, Terrance Freeney vs. Western Illinois; vs. Southwest Missouri State Opp: 1, Several Pass Attempts: 37, Tom Petrie vs. Stephen F. Austin Opp: 67, Jason Murrietta (Northern Arizona) Pass Completions: 22, Tom Petrie vs. Stephen F. Austin Opp: 41, Jason Murrietta (Northern Arizona) Consecutive Completions: 10, Eric Sanders vs. Western Kentucky Opp: 8, Bret Meyer (Iowa State); Jason Murrietta (Northern Arizona) Pass Interceptions: 3, Tom Petrie at Southern Illinois Opp: 4, Yance Vaughan (Illinois State); Jason Murrietta (Northern Arizona) Pass TDs: 4, Eric Sanders at Indiana State Opp: 2, Several Receptions: 10, Justin Surrency vs. Southwest Missouri State) Opp: 11, Josh Hamlin (Northern Arizona) Reception Yards: 190, Justin Surrency vs. Southwest Missouri State Opp: 176, James Norris (Western Illiinois) Reception TDs: 3, Andy Thorn at Northern Arizona Opp: 2, Quorey Payne (Southern Illinois) Punts: 10, Cory Henke at Iowa State Opp: 9, Jamie VanDenElzen (Minnesota State) Punt Avg.: 49.0, Cory Henke at Southern Illinois Opp: 47.0, Brian Claybourn (Western Kentucky) Punt Returns: 6, Justin Surrency at Indiana State Opp: 6, Todd Miller (Iowa State) Punt Return Yds: 103, Justin Surrency at Indiana State Opp: 88, Craig Turner (Southern Illinois) PATs Kicked: 8, Brian Wingert's at Indiana State Opp: 5, Craig Coffin (Southern Illinois) PATs Attempted: 8, Brian Wingert's at Indiana State Opp: 5, Craig Coffin (Southern Illinois) Field Goals Kicked: 4, Brian Wingert's vs. Stephen F. Austin Opp: 2, Several Field Goals Attempted: 4, Brian Wingert's vs. Stephen F. Austin, at Youngstown State, vs. Western Illinois Opp: 2, Several Kickoff Returns: 3, Richard Carter at Southern Illinois Opp: 5, Several Kickoff Return Yds: 59, Richard Carter vs. Illinois State Opp: 131, Therral Hatfield (Indiana State) Total Offense Attempts: 45, Tom Petrie vs. Stephen F. Austin Opp: 70, Jason Murrietta (Northern Arizona) Total Offense Yds: 294, Tom Petrie vs. Stephen F. Austin Opp: 365, Jason Murrietta (Northern Arizona) Touchdowns: 3, Andy Thorn at Northern Arizona Opp: 1, Several All-Purpose Yds: 236, Terrance Freeney vs. Western Illinois Opp: 195, Craig Turner (Southern Illinois) Points: 18, Andy Thorn at Northern Arizona Opp: 12, Derek Farmer (Stephen F. Austin); Craig Turner, Quorey Payne (Southern Illinois)
2004 GAME-BY-GAME RECAP
UNI 0 0 0 0 0 Iowa State 0 17 0 6 23 Sept. 4, 2004 Ames, IA ISU's seasoned defense was better than UNI's veteran offense. The Cyclones' win snapped a 10-game losing streak. UNI struggled all afternoon moving the ball, gaining just seven first downs to ISU's 27. The Cyclones held almost a 16-minute edge in time of possession. UNI's lackluster performance on offense forced its defense to remain on the field for 84 plays on a hot and humid afternoon.
UNI senior signal caller Tom Petrie completed just eight-of-19 passes for 63 yards to a relatively inexperienced receiving corp. Walter Payton Award candidate, junior tailback Terrance Freeney, could muster just a 1.8 average on 13 carries for 24 yards, while senior Richard Carter rushed seven times for only 12 yards.
ISU broke a scoreless first quarter on a 37-yard field goal by Brian Jansen with 12:49 left in the second period and led 17-0 at the half after adding a 23-yard TD pass from sophomore Austin Flynn to Todd Blythe. Freshman Bret Meyer, who started the game, capped off the half with a three-yard scoring pass to Jon Davis. The final margin came with 14:04 left in the game when Tony Johnson scored from one yard out.
At the end of the day, UNI gained just 99 yards on 36 rushing and 63 passing and allowed 378 yards, including 202 on the ground. ISU's Stevie Hicks picked up 111 of those yards on 23 carries.
UNI was led defensively by senior safety Tyler Johnson with 12 total stops, including seven solos.
It was the first Panther shutout since the final game of the 2001 season when Montana bewt UNI 38-0 in the 1-AA playoff semifinals. It was the fourth straight loss to ISU. Before that, the Panthers had won two consecutive games in 1992 and '94.
Minnesota State 0 0 0 0 0 UNI 17 13 3 7 40 Sept. 11, 2004 UNI-Dome UNI was able to jump out to an early 17-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, scoring on its first four drives, and went on to defeat Division II Minnesota State. On the fifth play of the first drive, senior tight end Tom Petrie.
The Mavericks were held to three-of-15 third-down conversions, 124 yards in total offense, including just 29 rushing and 95 passing. UNI converted 13-of-21 third downs and compiled 549 total yards, including 328 rushing and 221 passing.
Petrie led the Panthers with 16-of-26 passing for 201 yards and three TDs, while redshirt freshman Eric Sanders, in his first collegiate action, was three-of-five passing for 20 yards. He also scored on a one-yard run with 1:11 left in the game. Thorn caught just two passes total on the day, but both went for TDs, the second a 54-yarder with 13:19 left in the half which put UNI up 24-0. Junior Justin Surrency led UNI with four catches for 35 yards.
Senior fullback/tailback Terrance Freeney added 17 carries for 103 yards. Sophomore Brian Wingert's made all four field goal attempts from 30, 25, 43 and 36 yards and all three PATs attempted, while senior James Lindgren, his first of his career.
Defensively, the Panthers were led by senior linebacker Titus Ivory with three solo and three assisted tackles and one tackle for loss.
This was UNI's first shutout since defeating Division II Northern Michigan 62-0 in the second game in 2003.
Stephen F. Austin 0 14 0 10 24 UNI 0 7 7 7 21 Sept. 18, 2004 UNI-Dome UNI fought back in the closing five minutes before falling to 13th-ranked Stephen F. Austin. A hard-fought game on both sides, the score was 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. SFA's Derek Farmer completed a four-yard run at the 13:11 mark of the second period to put the Lumberjacks on the scoreboard first. Farmer finished the night with 71 total yards on 21 carries. SFA scored again with 6:02 left in the half thanks to a Michael Motte 12-yard reception from quarterback Michael Williams.
The Panthers answered on their sixth drive when junior wide receiver Tom Petrie with 1:28 remaining before intermission and the score at the break was 14-7.
Surrency tied the game on a 26-yard TD reception with 7:15 left in the third quarter, but SFA scored 10 more points on a 41-yard field goal and an eight-yard reception by Farmer wiht 5:45 left in the game. UNI drove 80 yards, culminating in a one-yard run by Petrie to pull the Panthers within three with 4:20 left. After stopping the 'Jacks, UNI got the ball ack with 2:27 left, but the drive stalled on four incomplete passes and a penalty.
The Panthers had 290 passing yards on 22-of-37 passing by Petrie but again struggled in the ground game, gaining just 77 yards. Terrance Freeney gained just 14 yards on 10 attempts after sustaining a thigh contusion in the first quarter. Surrency led all receivers with a career-high nine catches for a personal-best 156 yards.
SFA was 17-of-26 passing for 225 yards and gained 132 yards rushing.
UNI 14 12 0 10 36 Southern Illinois 0 14 10 16 40 Oct. 2, 2004 Carbondale, IL UNI lost more than just a football game in their 40-36 loss at no. 1-ranked Southern Illinois. It also lost four-year starting quarterback Tom Petrie to a fractured left clavicle with about 10 minutes left in the game.
The game almost was a repeat performance from last year's Gateway Conference showdown, except with opposite results. This time around, the Salukis came back from a 20-0 deficit to defeat the 15th-ranked Panthers.
UNI took advantage of Saluki miscues early, jumping out to a 20-0 lead with 8:21 left in the first half. Sophomore Justin Surrency for a 23-yard TD reception to give UNI the 20-0 lead after the PAT was blocked.
As UNI was taking advantage of penalties and turnovers, SIU was making the big plays. Five key plays went at least 50 yards. Craig Turner returned a punt 58 yards to put SIU on the scoreboard finally with 3:57 left in the half and less than two minutes later, Quorey Payne scored on a 69-yard pass from Joel Sambursky. UNI's Patrick Hunter scored his first career TD on a 52-yard pass from Petrie with 10 seconds left in the half.
Turner added a 71-yard run with 11:15 left in the third quarter and Craig Coffin's 33-yard field goal pulled SIU back to within two at 26-24 at the 4:25 mark. The teams traded scores to start the final period. Petrie threw a 19-yard pass to James Lindgren with 13:48 left, and SIU answered with a 61-yard TD pass to Brandon Jacobs just 44 seconds later. SIU took the lead for good at 38-33 with 11:33 remaining on a two-yard run, which followed Petrie's third interception of the day.
Petrie led what probably was the final drive of his collegiate career down to the SIU 18 when he suffered his injury. Brian Wingert's then kicked a 35-yard field goal to make it 38-36 in favor of SIU with 8:17 left, but SIU got two more points on a safety at the 5:59 mark.
Sanders showed his grit in a pressure situation when he drove the Panthers down to the SIU 20 with 20 seconds left. His first two passes went incomplete, and his last attempt with eight seconds remaining was intercepted on the two yard line.
Petrie left the game after having completed 12-of-24 passes with the three inteceptions and three TDs for 187 yards. Sanders completed five-of-13 passes for 56 yards and the one interception. Terrance Freeney gained a hard-fought 93 yards on 26 carries. Surrency caught a game-high seven passes for 98 yards and the one TD. UNI was led defensively by senior end Ryan Arnold with six tackles.
UNI gained a total of 369 yards, 243 passing, and gave up 426 yards, 233 on the ground.
Western Kentucky 3 7 0 7 17 UNI 0 0 10 0 10 October 9, 2004 UNI-Dome For the third game in a row, UNI lost to a top-ranked team in the minute of play, this time to sixth-ranked Western Kentucky, 17-10.
On paper, it appeared UNI won the contest. The Panthers out-gained the Hilltoppers 154-to-150 rushing and out-gained them 205-to-192 passing. Time of possession also was in the Panthers' favor at 31:33 to 28:27.
WKU got on the board first with a 21-yard field goal with 11:17 left in the first period. It looked as though that would be all the scoring in the first half until the Hilltoppers went up 10-0 on a two-yard TD run by Brian Porter with 20 seconds left. The TD was set up by a 62-yard pass to Maurice Perkins caught at the UNI six yard line.
UNI fought back in the second half. Redshirt freshman quarterback Tom Petrie the previous week to a broken clavicle threw his first TD pass at the 9:26 mark of the third quarter, a one-yarder to Brian Wingert's kicked a 20-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 with 4:49 left in the third quarter.
The play that broke the stalemate and handed UNI its third straight loss was a 68-yard punt return fro a score with 13:23 left in the game by WKU's Dennis Mitchell.
Also for the third game in a row, UNI had a chance to tie or win the contest on its last possession. Sanders threw an eight-yard pass to Andy Thorn reaching UNI's 36, a 17-yard pass to James Lindgren reached the WKU 47, and a 33-yard pass to Patrick Hunter left the ball on the 14. Sanders' next pass went incomplete and on the next play he was sacked for a loss of seven yards. His next attempt was incomplete, and for the second week in a row, he was intercepted on his final attempt with about eight seconds remaining in the game.
Terrance Freeney carried 11 times for 56 yards, but entered the game late in the first half after being ill most of the week. Four players caught three passes each, including Thorn, Lindgren, Curt Bradley and Carter. Sanders finished the night with 18-of-26 passing with two interceptions for 205 yards.
Defensively, UNI was led by junior inside linebacker Brett Koebcke with 14 total tackles, including one sack and five solos.
UNI 0 9 10 3 22 Youngstown State 7 0 0 13 20 Oct. 126, 2004 Youngstown, OH Good things come to those who persevere. UNI's football team persevered through a multitude of injuries and last-possession losses three weeks in a row to top-ranked teams. Just when it looked like a repeat performance, Brian Wingert's 31-yard field goal with no time left on the clock lifted the Panthers to a 22-20 win at Youngstown State.
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak and gave UNI its first Gateway Football Conference win of the year.
UNI built up a 19-7 lead with 1:40 left in the third quarter. Junior tailback Terrance Freeney scored on a one-yard run with 10:07 left in the second quarter. But Wingert's point after attempt was blocked, leaving YSU with a 7-6 lead. The Penguins had scored first on a 73-yard pass from redshirt freshman Tom Zetts to Matt Rycraft with just 1:21 remaining in the first period.
The Panthers took a 9-7 lead at the half on Wingert's 39-yard field goal with 5:16 left. A 31-yard TD reception from redshirt freshman Eric Sanders to Justin Surrency put UNI in charge 16-7 with 8:43 left in the third period and Wingert kicked a 26-yard field goal with 1:40 left in the third to put the Panthers up 19-7.
YSU fought back, scoring on a one-yard run by Demetrius Ison with 5:29 left in the game, and it regained the lead 20-19 on a ine-yard pass from Zetts to Mike Roberts with just 3:53 remaining. That score followed a Freeney fumble recovered by James Terry on the UNI 24 yard line.
Deja vu.
After Richard Carter returned the ensuing kickoff 10 yards to the Panther 28, Sanders threw an incomplete pass. Surrency caught a 14-yard pass to the UNI 42 for a first down. Carter gained 16 yards on the next three carries, but was thrown for a four-yard loss back tothe YSU 46. Sanders again threw an incomplete pass on a third-and-nine play, but he connected again with Surrency for 14 yards on the next play to keep the drive alive at the 1:22 mark.
Freeney gained just five yards on the next two plays when Wingert attempted a 44-yard field goal with no time left that might have been partially blocked and came up short of the posts. With the Penguins beginning their victory celebration, the officials called a roughing the kicker penalty on YSU, and UNI was given a second chance. This time, Wingert's 31-yard field goal was good, and the celebration took off on the other side of the field.
Wingert was named the Gateway's Special Teams Player of the Week and The Sports Network Special Teams Player of the Week for his effort, the first UNI player to receive a weekly award this season.
UNI won the game on paper, also. It gained 361 yards to YSU's 264. The Panthers rushed for 224 yards, with Freeney gaining a season-high 136. Sanders completed nine-of-18 passes with no interceptions for 137 yards. Surrency caught five passes for a game-high 94 yards. Linebacker Titus Ivory recorded a team-high 12 tackles, including five solos and one tackle for loss. And UNI had a 10-minute advantage in time of possession.
Western Illinois 0 6 0 7 13 UNI 23 7 3 3 36 Oct. 23, 2004 UNI-Dome The offense moved the ball and the defense dominated in UNI's 36-13 win at home over Western Illinois. Terrance Freeney was one star for the Panthers, rushing 36 times for 236 yards, just 13 yards shy of his career high, and two TDs in the winning effort. The 236 yards ranks ranks seventh on the UNI chart for most individual rushing yards in a game. He was named the Gateway's Offensive Player of the Week and CollegeSportsReport.com GFC Performer of the Week for his effort.
The Panthers sprinted out of the gates and kept the Leatherneck defense on its heels. Freeney capped off the opening UNI drive with a 26-yard scamper, reaching pay dirt as the clock neared the 12-minute mark.
The Panther defense stuffed WIU's offense, forcing a punt and putting the ball back into the offense's hands. UNI drove 73 yards to its second TD, an 11-yard connection between Eric Sanders and Patrick Hunter with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Titus Ivory sacked WIU QB Steve LaFalce for a safety, adding two points to make it 16-0 with 4:46 left in the first quarter.
After WIU was forced to punt once again, UNI orchestrated a clock-eating 12-play, 87-yard drive that ended with Sanders throwing his second TD pass, this time to James Lindgren. The 27-yard strike put the score at 23-0 and capped off an impressive first quarter for the Panthers.
The Leathernecks ended the shutout with a 42-yard field goal near the start of the of second quarter, but the Panther offense continued to fire on all cylinders. UNI spent nearly six minutes on an 11-play, 81-yard march, capped off by a three-yard TD run by Freeney. The score gave UNI a 30-3 lead with just 31 seconds remaining in the half.
WIU drove 57 yards in those 31 seconds and kicked a 40-yard field goal with no time left on the clock.
UNI deployed a "kill the clock" strategy in the second half, offering the Leatherneck defense a steady diet of between-the-tackles running by Freeney and Brian Wingert's connected on a 22-yard field goal with 3:44 left in the third quarter.
WIU's offense showed signs of life in the fourth period, covering 43 yards in under a minute and scoring with 8:15 left, making it 33-13. Wingert kicked his second field goal of 24 yards with 5:32 left to end all scoring.
The Panthers compiled 526 yards, 406 rushing. This is the most rushing yards since the Panthers gained 328 on the ground earlier this season against Minnesota State and the most total offense since compiling 549, also against MSU. Freeney gained 236 of those yards and Carter 123 on 13 carries. Sanders turned in an efficient performance, completing nine-of 15 passes with no interceptions for 120 yards.
Senior offensive tackle Luke Stigler received UNI's first Gateway Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week honor. He graded out at 91 percent.
UNI held WIU to just 11 net rushing yards and 311 total overall. The Panthers' punishing defense held the league's leading rusher and all-purpose runner to just 29 rushing yards on 14 carries, a 2.1 average.
The Panther defense was led by senior strong safety James Idleburgh recorded two solo and five assisted tackles and three deflections, and sophomore corner Curtis Cooper had his best game as a Panther, tallying four solo and two assisted stops.
SMS 3 3 0 14 20 UNI 7 21 7 7 42 UNI-Dome October 30, 2004 For the second straight week, the Panther offense tallied at least 500 yards, and for the second straight week, UNI dealt a crushing defeat to a Gateway Football Conference foe. The Panthers dominated Southwest Missouri State on all fronts for a decisive 42-20 victory.
The Panthers came out of the gates a bit flat, going three-and-out on their opening possession and surrending a 44-yard field goal to the Bears. The offense came to life midway through the first quarter with an impressive 95-yard march. Tailback Eric Sanders was a perfect four-for-four passing on the series.
Wide receiver Justin Surrency kick-started the squad, leading UNI to its second 90-plus-yard drive of the day. He hauled in three catches for 75 yards, including a diving 40-yard TD reception. Brian Wingert's kick put the score at 14-3 with just under five minutes remaining in the first half.
The Panther defense stuffed the Bears and forced a punt, and the UNI offense drove 64 yards to the end zone again, scoring on a 14-yard connection between Sanders and Surrency again. With the score 21-3 with 42 seconds left in the half, junior tackle Kevin Stensrud picked off his first career interception and returned it seven yards for the TD. SMS added a 49-yard field goal by Jon Scifres with no time left on the clock to make is 28-6 at the break.
UNI marched for its longest scoring drive of the game, a 98-yard marathon culminating in a one-yard TD run by Freeney to make it 35-6 with 7:17 left in the third period. The Bears scored on a one-yard run by A.J. Porter with 14:04 left in the game, but UNI answered with an 80-yard drive capped off by a 16-yard TD run by Richard Carter. SMS scored quickly on a 51-yard TD pass from Porter to Steven Rush with 5:44 remaining to end all scoring.
Sanders turned in another impressive performance, completing 14-of-17 passes for 232 yards and two TDs. Surrency was named the Gateway Football Offensive Player of the Week after pulling down a career-high 10 catches for a personal-best 190 yards and two TDs. Freeney had over 100 yards rushing for the third game in a row when he rushed 35 times for 164 yards and two TDs. Overall, UNI gained 500 yards, 268 rushing, and allowed just 244 yards, 123 on the ground. The Panthers had a 34:50 to 25:10 time of possession advantage.
Defensively, the Panthers were led by senior free safety James Idleburgh three solo and nine assisted tackles (coaches' film).
UNI 16 14 21 7 58 Indiana State 3 3 0 0 6 Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN UNI kept its playoff hopes alive with a 58-6 defeat of Indiana State in Terre Haute. The Panthers won their fourth consecutive game behind the passing of redshirt freshman Eric Sanders, the running of junior tailback Terrance Freeney, the heads up defensive play of senior Beau Gibbs, and productive special teams play.
For the second week in a row, a UNI opponent took an early lead on a field goal. ISU's Kyle Hooper kicked a 34-yarder with 8:09 left in the first quarter. A TD was averted with a seven-yard sack on the drive by UNI's Kevin Stensrud that moved the ball back to the UNI 17. Two plays later, Hooper kicked the goal.
UNI then went on a tear, taking a 30-3 lead. The Panthers went ahead 7-3 at the 6:23 mark on a 17-yard TD pass from Sanders to tight end Cory Henke punt was downed on the UNI one yard line. A 55-yard pass to Patrick Hunter put UNI up 15-3 at the end of the first period.
Sanders threw just his fifth interception of the season on UNI's first series of the second quarter, but less than a minute later, Gibbs recovered a fumble on the Sycamore 31. Six plays later, Justin Surrency caught a 10-yard TD pass from Sanders and Brian Wingert's PAT made it 23-3 with 10:34 left in the half.
UNI took a 30-6 lead into the locker room at the break after tight end Andy Thorn caught a five-yard pass from Sanders with 13.6 seconds remaining. The Panthers were heading towards the locker room when the officials mandated one second be put back on the clock and Hooper kicked a 46-yard field goal to end the first-half scoring.
For the third week in a row, UNI totally dominated an opponent. The Panthers put up 28 more points on the board in the second half, beginning with a 68-yard punt return by Surrency with 9:48 left in the third period. Gibbs recovered his second ISU fumble 12 seconds later, but UNI was unable to capitalize after Freeney fumbled and ISU recovered on its own 10. However, eight seconds later, Alphonso Key intercepted Phillip Johnson at the Sycamore 32.
Freeney's two-yard run with 3:21 left in the third gave UNI a 44-6 lead and Sanders scored on a 14-yard run with 53 seconds remaining to make it 51-6. At that point, redshirt freshman Jim Lizzi scored on a nine-yard run to end all scoring.
The Panthers gained 449 yards total, including 275 rushing. Freeney gained 89 yards rushing and one TD on the 26 carries, Lizzi picked up 68 yards and one TD on 15 carries, and Sanders rushed for 63 yards and the one TD on nine carries. Sanders completed 11-of-15 passes with the one interception for 174 yards and the four TDs. He was named the Gateway's Offensive Player of the Week, while Surrency received his second consecutive conference honor when he was selected the Special Teams Player of the Week.
ISU was held to 178 yards, including just 22 on the ground.
Illinois State 0 7 0 7 14 UNI 24 7 10 0 41 UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA UNI's 21 seniors said goodbye to the UNI-Dome and won their fifth consecutive game. With all the focus on the seniors, redshirt freshman Eric Sanders turned in another rock solid performance, completing 10-of-14 passes with no interceptions for 165 yards and a pair of scores.
UNI orchestrated a five-play, 62-yard opening drive that was capped off by a 20-yard TD run by junior Brett Koebcke paved the way for UNI's second scoring drive, which covered 18 yards in six plays culminating in a four-yard pass from Sanders to Freeney with 8:32 left in the first quarter. Sanders then launched a 74-yard scoring strike to Dre Dokes picked off his first of three interceptions, leading to Brian Wingert's 44-yard field goal, which gave UNI a 24-0 lead at the end of just one period.
Senior Richard Carter hit pay dirt on UNI's first drive of the second quarter when he scored on a 33-yard run. ISU finally got on the board with a six-yard pass with 1:52 left to make it 31-7 in favor of UNI at the break.
Reggie Brown scored on a two-yard run with 9:23 left in the third quarter and Wingert kicked a 19-yard field goal with 1:14 left in the third period to make it 41-7. ISU scored on a controversial three-yard pass with just three seconds left in the game.
The Panthers gained 364 yards, including 199 rushing, and gave up 235 yards to the Gateway's second-leading offensive team. ISU quarterback Yance Vaughan was sacked four times. Freeney gained a game-high 84 yards on 21 carries, and Justin Surrency caught four passes for 36 yards.
UNI 3 7 7 28 45 Northern Arizona 0 0 14 0 21 Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ UNI finished the season with six straight losses and once again dominated an opponent despite a rough travel day. The Panthers led 10-0 at the half after Terrance Freeney advanced to the NAU 10 yardline on a fourth-and-one, which helped to set up Andy Thorn eight yard TD pass reception, his first of three on the night, with 11:50 left in the half. Michael Matthes blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt with 6:53 left in the half, and Heins recovered a fumble on the `Jack 24 with 29 seconds remaining before intermission.
NAU recorded its first score on a five-yard pass with 11:22 left in the third period, but UNI answered about three minutes later with Thorn's second TD, this time from 13 yards out. NAU pulled to within 17-14 with 5:43 left in the quarter on another three-yard pass and with 2:55 left, James Idleburgh picked off his first of two interceptions, returning it to the UNI 38 to save another possible score.
NAU took its only lead at 21-17 with 10:06 left in the game on a one-yard run, but the Panthers scored the final 28 points of the game, beginning with Thorn's nine-yard TD reception with 8:32 left. Gibbs intercepted a Jason Murrietta pass at UNI's 25, and a little over two minutes later, redshirt freshman quarterback Eric Sanders scored on an 11-yard run. Idleburgh got his second interception at the 4:13 mark, returning it 47 yards for a TD, and less than two minutes later, Heins recovered his second fumble on UNI's 42 with 2:56 remaining. Jim Lizzi ended all scoring on a one-yard run with three seconds left in the game.
UNI gained 346 yards, including 198 passing on 16-of-27 completions with no interceptions and the three TDs by Sanders. Freeney compiled a game-high 101 yards on 20 carries, while Thorn caught a career-high seven passes for 75 yards and the three TDs. The Panthers gave up496 yards, including 372 through the air. Junior linebacker Brett Koebcke recorded seven solo and eight assisted tackles, while while linebacker Darin Heideman ended with six solo and eight assisted tackles, including one tackle for loss. In total, UNI came up with seven turnovers in the game while not committing a miscue.
Heins was named the Gateway's Defensive Player of the Week.