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Football
Seniors Shine as Panthers Blank Leathernecks, 34-0Nov. 14, 2009
For more highlights and postgame reaction log on to UNI Athletics on YouTube
The University of Northern Iowa football team scored a 34-0 shutout victory Saturday over Western Illinois on senior night in the UNI-Dome. The shutout marked only the fifth time in WIU school history that the Leathernecks had been held scoreless.
UNI outgained WIU, 398-112, and the Panthers were plus-2 in turnover margin for the contest. The UNI defense held the Leathernecks to 0-for-11 on third-down conversion attempts and 0-for-2 on fourth-down attempts.
Senior quarterback Pat Grace was 9-of-17 passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns. Grace was a dual threat to the Leatherneck defense, also rushing for 63 yards on 15 carries. Senior running back Derrick Law gained 63 yards rushing on 17 carries.
Schuylar Oordt caught three passes for 79 yards to lead the Panthers. Jarred Herring and D.P. Eyman each had two receptions and one touchdown catch apiece.
Senior safety Quentin Scott snared two interceptions, returning the second pick 45 yards for a touchdown. Defensive linemen Wes Lane and James Ruffin, both seniors, recorded 1.5 sacks apiece. Ben Boothby also had 1.5 sacks in the contest.
Linebacker Jordan Smith and senior defensive tackle Chuck Kinney led the Panther defense in tackles with eight each. Andre Martin added an interception.
UNI opened the scoring in the first quarter with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Grace to Ryan Mahaffey. The Panthers' opening drive covered 73 yards on nine plays, spanning 4:40.
UNI went up 14-0 with 8:40 left in the second quarter when Grace found Herring across the middle on third down, and Herring turned it into a 56-yard touchdown catch with his breakaway speed, eluding several Leathernecks along the way.
A 42-yard field goal by Billy Hallgren put the Panthers up 17-0 with 0:48 left in the first half.
On the Panthers' first possession of the second half Grace found Oordt down the middle of the field for a 50-yard completion. Hallgren added another field goal, this time from 37 yards out to make the score 20-0.
Grace found fellow senior Eyman in the endzone for an 18-yard scoring strike on the first play of the fourth quarter. The touchdown put UNI on top 27-0 with 14:54 left in the game.
Senior safety Quentin Scott intercepted his second pass of the game and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown with 13:20 left in the fourth quarter to score the final points of the day.
With the victory, UNI improves to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Western Illinois fell to 1-9 overall and 0-7 in league play.
UNI wraps up regular season play next Saturday in Normal, Ill., against Illinois State. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.
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