Recap |
Final Stats |
Quotes
UNI improved its Gateway-best record in conference openers to 15-7 with the 38-7 victory over the Missouri State Bears.
UNI moved its mark in Homecoming games since 1920 to 55-23-7. UNI is a perfect 4-0 in Homecoming contests against Missouri State. The Panthers have scored Homecoming victories over the Bears in 1980 (41-0), 1984 (24-10), 1986 (45-3) and 2006 (38-7).
UNI played without leading rusher sophomore running back Corey Lewis. Lewis was held out of action with a high ankle sprain he suffered at Iowa State (Sept. 30). Lewis leads the Panthers in rushing this season with 499 yards and six touchdowns.
Junior running back Darian Williams eclipsed the 100+ rushing mark for the first time as a Panther with 123 yards on 15 carries against Missouri State. Williams also scored his first collegiate touchdown, a four-yard run in the third quarter.
Senior wide receiver James Lindgren caught a touchdown pass for the fifth consecutive game. Lindgren didn't waste much time reaching the end zone against Missouri State as he scored on a 51-yard pass play on the Panthers' first offensive play of the game. Lindgren had two catches on the day for 73 yards. Lindgren leads the UNI receivers this season with 18 catches, 246 yards and five touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Eric Sanders topped the 5,000-yard passing mark in Saturday's 38-7 win over Missouri State. Sanders has passed for 5,040 yards and 45 touchdowns in his UNI career. Sanders passed for two touchdowns on Saturday including a 51-yarder to James Lindgren and a 22-yarder to Curt Bradley.
Sanders threw for two touchdowns on Saturday and it marked the 14th time in his career he has passed for at least two touchdowns in a game. Sanders has thrown 45 touchdown passes in his UNI career.
Sophomore Johnny Gray wears hats and he showed them off Saturday as he notched 137 all-purpose yards against Missouri State. Gray returned five punts for 81 yards, caught four passes for 49 yards and ran the ball once for seven yards. On the season, Gray has tallied 453 all-purpose yards (223 receiving, 113 PR, 65 KR, 52 rushing).
The Panther defense limited Missouri State to only 51 passing yards. The last time UNI held a team below 100 yards passing in a game came on Nov. 19, 2005, when the Panthers held Northern Arizona to 98 yards passing.
UNI placekicker Brian Wingert moved to within 10 points of becoming the school's all-time leading scorer. Wingert had tallied 291 career points and trails only Dedric Ward (300) and Brian Mitchell (297) on the UNI career scoring list.
Wingert drilled a 20-yard field goal against Missouri State to up his career total to 53 field goals. Brian Mitchell holds the UNI record for field goals in a career with 59.
Wingert is a perfect 19-of-19 on extra points this season. Wingert has made 20 consecutive extra points dating back to the 2005 season. Wingert has converted 48 of his last 49 extra point attempts going back to Oct. 1, 2005.
Wingert, who notched nine points against Missouri State, has scored a point in 30 consecutive games. Brian Mitchell holds the UNI record by scoring a point in 33 consecutive games (1989-1991).
