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Football
Panthers, Redbirds Set to Lock Horns Saturday in Normal
Complete UNI Football Weekly Release in PDF Format Complete Illinois State Football Weekly Release in PDF Format
Complete Missouri Valley Football Conference Weekly Release in PDF Format
#9/#11 University of Northern Iowa (7-3, 5-2 MVFC) vs. Illinois State University (5-5, 4-3 MVFC) Game #11 • Sat., Nov. 21, 2009 • 12 p.m. (Central) Normal, Ill. • Hancock Stadium (15,000 FieldTurf)
Series vs. ILS: UNI leads 17-8 Television: None Radio: Panther Sports Network
UNI FOOTBALL QUICK HITS • The UNI defensive unit is only allowing 12.3 points per game, which stands as the second best mark among all FCS schools. The Panther `D' is also ranked 10th in the nation in total defense and 12th in rushing defense. UNI leads the MVFC in all three categories.
• UNI has the seventh highest scoring average in the nation, racking up 34.7 points per game. The Panthers rank 11th in rushing offense with 198.2 yards per game and 12th in total offense with 424.4 yards per game.
• UNI has won five or more Missouri Valley Football Conference games 17 times in the league's 25-year history. UNI has a streak of seven straight seasons of five or more league wins, including 2009.
• UNI head coach Mark Farley is becoming known for his winning prowess in the month of November. Since taking over the head coaching duties in 2001, Farley has posted a mark of 28-4 in the month of November. In fact, heading into Saturday's game at Illinois State, UNI has won 22 of its last 23 November games.
• The Panthers' 34-0 shutout of Western Illinois marked the sixth time this season that the UNI defense had limited the opposition to seven or fewer points. It was UNI's second shutout of the season.
• UNI put on a dominant show in Saturday's 34-0 shutout of the Western Illinois Leathernecks. UNI limited WIU to 112 yards, including a miniscule 31 yards in the second half. UNI also held WIU to six first downs in the game, including only two in the second half. WIU went 0-for-11 on third-down conversions as well. The Panther defense racked up six sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss in the matchup.
• UNI has dropped three games this season but the combined record of the teams the Panthers have lost to is 25-6. Iowa is ranked No. 13 in the latest BCS standings and has a 9-2 record. Southern Illinois is 9-1 overall and South Dakota State is 7-3 overall.
• UNI head coach Mark Farley is in his ninth season at the helm of the Panther program. Farley has posted a mark of 82-31, which puts him No. 3 on the Panthers' all-time wins list trailing only Stan Sheriff (129) and Clyde Starbeck (95). Farley is the Panthers' all-time postseason wins leader with nine (9-5 all-time in the playoffs).
THE GAME The University of Northern Iowa football team (7-3 overall, 5-2 MVFC) will look to close the regular season on a three-game win streak when the Panthers travel to Normal, Ill., to take on the Illinois State University Redbirds (5-5 overall, 4-3 MVFC).
THE SERIES The Panthers and Redbirds will be meeting for the 26th time on the gridiron. UNI holds a 17-8 lead in the all-time series. UNI has won three straight games in the series. Illinois State's last win in the series came in 2005, the year UNI reached the NCAA FCS championship game.
THE COACHES UNI head coach Mark Farley is in his ninth season at the helm of the Panther sideline. Farley has posted a mark of 82-31 in eight seasons, which includes five trips to the NCAA FCS playoffs. Brock Spack is in his first season as the head coach of the Illinois State Redbirds. Spack has tallied a 5-5 mark heading into the season finale against the Panthers.
RADIO The game will be broadcast on the Panther Sports Network. Gary Rima (play-by-play) and Scott Peterson (analyst) will call the action.
UNI PANTHERS GAMEDAY ONLINE Panther fans will be able to view most of UNI's home football games on www.UNIPanthers.com through UNI Panthers GAMEDAY Online. For a nominal fee, fans can get live streamed audio and video of most home games of UNI volleyball, football, men's basketball and women's basketball as well as some road contests. To sign up, please go to UNI's official athletic website at www.unipanthers.com and click on the Live Video link on the front page.
PANTHER POINTS
ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS The Redbirds will head into Saturday's game looking to finish with a winning record for the first time since the 2006 season. Illinois State has posted a 5-5 record this season, including a 4-3 mark in the MVFC. The Redbirds have posted league wins over North Dakota State, Indiana State, Missouri State and Western Illinois. Illinois State has dropped conference games to South Dakota State, Southern Illinois and Youngstown State.
AIR ATTACK The Panther secondary will face a challenge in shutting down Illinois State's top receiver, Eyad Salem. Salem averages 8.3 receptions per game for 86.9 yards, leading the MVFC in both categories. Redbird quarterback Matt Brown has a 63.6 percent completion rate. Brown ranks second in the conference in passing efficiency, behind only Pat Grace.
UNI `D' AMONG THE BEST The UNI defensive unit is only allowing 12.3 points per game, which stands as the second best mark among all FCS schools. The Panther `D' is also ranked 10th in the nation in total defense and 12th in rushing defense. UNI leads the MVFC in all three categories.
AND THE `O' IS PRETTY GOOD TOO UNI has the seventh highest scoring average in the nation, racking up 34.7 points per game. The Panthers rank 11th in rushing offense with 198.2 yards per game and 12th in total offense with 424.4 yards per game.
CONSISTENCY UNI has won five or more Missouri Valley Football Conference games 17 times in the league's 25-year history. UNI has a streak of seven straight seasons of five or more league wins, including 2009.
KINGS OF NOVEMBER UNI head coach Mark Farley is becoming known for his winning prowess in the month of November. Since taking over the head coaching duties in 2001, Farley has posted a mark of 28-4 in the month of November. In fact, heading into Saturday's game at Illinois State, UNI has won 22 of its last 23 November games.
STINGY SCORING DEFENSE The Panthers' 34-0 shutout of Western Illinois marked the sixth time this season that the UNI defense had limited the opposition to seven or fewer points. It was UNI's second shutout of the season.
SIMPLY DOMINANT UNI put on a dominant show in Saturday's 34-0 shutout of the Western Illinois Leathernecks. UNI limited WIU to 112 yards, including a miniscule 31 yards in the second half. UNI also held WIU to six first downs in the game, including only two in the second half. WIU went 0-for-11 on third-down conversions as well. The Panther defense racked up six sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss in the matchup.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES UNI recorded 10 tackles for a loss in its 34-0 victory over Western Illinois. The 10 TFLs tied for the third best single-game performance in school history. Senior defensive tackles Chuck Kinney and Wes Lane each recorded 2.5 TFLs to lead the Panthers over the Leathernecks.
SCHEDULE STRENGTH UNI has dropped three games this season but the combined record of the teams the Panthers have lost to is 25-6. Iowa is ranked No. 13 in the latest BCS standings and has a 9-2 record. Southern Illinois is 9-1 overall and South Dakota State is 7-3 overall.
THIRD DOWN DOMINANCE UNI has been successful on both sides of the ball this season when it comes to third down conversions. On offense, the Panthers have converted at a 48 percent clip, succeeding on 60-of-125 attempts. On the defensive side of the ball, UNI has held its opponents to a 28 percent conversion rate.
Q EARNS MVFC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF WEEK HONORS University of Northern Iowa senior safety Quentin Scott has been named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for his play against Western Illinois (11/14). Scott (Little Rock, Ark./Des Moines North High School) intercepted two passes and returned the second one 45 yards for a touchdown in leading the UNI Panthers to a 34-0 shutout win over the Western Illinois Leathernecks. Scott's first interception came on a flea-flicker attempt from WIU quarterback Wil Lunt. The second pick came with 13:20 in the game and capped the scoring in the game. Scott helped the Panther defense limit the Leathernecks to 112 yards of total offense, including only 31 yards in the second half.
SCOTT AND SCOTT Quentin Scott and Garrett Scott both made contributions from the safety position against Western Illinois (11/14). Quentin recorded his third and fourth interceptions of the 2009 campaign, returning the latter 45 yards for his first touchdown as a Panther. Garrett, making his first career start, made three tackles against the Leathernecks. Garrett also recorded his first career quarterback sack against the Leathernecks.
HALLGREN GETS HIS KICKS Junior placekicker Billy Hallgren was perfect on all six kicks he attempted in a 34-0 shutout win over Western Illinois. Hallgren made field goals from 42 and 37 yards, while drilling all four extra points. The 42-yard field goal in the second quarter was a season-best for the Coal Valley, Ill., native. Hallgren leads the Panthers this season with 74 points. He has made 41-of-41 extra points. Hallgren is 11-of-15 on field goal attempts, including making nine of his last 10.
PANTHER O-LINE = VITAL COG The Panthers' offensive line has been vital to the team's success through 10 games. Led by five starting seniors (Austin Howard, Nate Herrig, Austin Steichen, Jason Fiacco, and Jordan Limbaugh), UNI has only allowed nine total sacks on the season. That is the best mark in the MVFC and the ninth-best in the nation. Not only are the men up front keeping the Panthers from moving backwards, they have also been a force in the ground game. UNI's 198.20 yards rushing per contest is the 11th-best mark in all of FCS football.
GRACING THE ENDZONE Senior quarterback Pat Grace passed for three touchdowns and tied for the team lead in rushing in a 34-0 victory over the visiting Western Illinois Leathernecks (11/14). Grace completed 9-of-17 passes for 213 yards and touchdown passes of 7, 56 and 18 yards in the shutout win. Grace hit Ryan Mahaffey on a 7-yard score in the first quarter. He then connected with Jarred Herring for a 56-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Grace capped his day with an 18-yard touchdown pass to D.P. Eyman in the fourth quarter. He rushed for a team-high 63 yards on 15 carries against the Leathernecks.
TRACK MEET OR FOOTBALL GAME? UNI turned the Western Illinois (11/14) contest into a track meet as a pair of Missouri Valley Conference track champions found their way into the endzone. Last year's 100-meter outdoor track & field champion Jarred Herring scored on a 56-yard catch and run against the Leathernecks in the second quarter. Later in the fourth quarter the MVC long jump champion, Quentin Scott, scored on a 45-yard interception return.
UNI HAS WIU'S NUMBER UNI has outscored WIU over the past three seasons, 106-9. WIU's last touchdown against UNI came in the fourth quarter of the teams' 2006 matchup in the UNI-Dome. UNI has won the past three matchups by scores of 42-3, 30-6 and 34-0.
RUFFIN UP THE OPPOSITION Senior defensive end James Ruffin leads the MVFC with 0.95 sacks per game. He has racked up 9.5 sacks for the Panthers this season to push the opposition back 57 yards. He is currently ninth in the nation in sacks per contest. Ruffin also ranks seventh on the list of active career leaders in sacks. Ruffin is on the Buck Buchanan Award watch list for the award given anually to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.
THE Mark Farley RADIO SHOW UNI head coach Mark Farley's radio call-in show will be broadcast live on the Panther Sports Network every Thursday throughout the season. The show will take place at Beck's on the Hill in Cedar Falls and will run from 6:05 p.m. - 7 p.m.
WEEKLY PRESS LUNCHEONS UNI head coach Mark Farley or a member of his coaching staff will be available at the weekly Press Luncheons held each Monday beginning at 12 noon in the back room of Pepper's Grill and Sports Pub located on 18th Street in Cedar Falls.
UNI ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE Looking for highlights, post-game comments and press conference coverage? Log on to UNI Athletics on YouTube for the latest video coverage of the Panthers - www.youtube.com/uniathletics. The YouTube channel will show exclusive interviews with coaches and student-athletes along with other videos showcasing Panther pride.
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER Fans of UNI Athletics on Facebook and Twitter will have access to in-game updates, score recaps and special announcements. UNI Athletics on Facebook will give fans the chance to connect with other Panther fans, as well as providing information on upcoming events. Followers on Twitter will be able to access up-to-the-minute score updates and news about the Panthers on their computer of mobile device.
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