UNI Knocks Off Second-Straight Ranked Opponent [Video]

The University of Northern Iowa Panthers earned its second-straight win over a ranked Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponent in as many weeks Saturday night (Sept. 19, 2015).

Quarterback Aaron Bailey finished 15-25-0 for 218 yards and a touchdown, leading 9th-ranked Panthers to a 34-20 road victory at No. 17 Cal Poly. He also added 57 yards on the ground, while rushing for two TDs.

Daurice Fountain notched a career-high 123 receiving yards in UNI's win. Tyvis Smith led the Panthers on the ground with 13 carries for 88 yards and a score.

On the defensive side of the ball, D’Shawn Dexter and Jared Farley both scored career-high tackle numbers with 12 and 13 respectively, while Brett McMakin led both teams with a career-high 15 total tackles.

The Panthers opened scoring with a seven-yard rushing touchdown from Savon Huggins in the first two minutes of the game. The score put UNI up 7-0, ending a seven play, 75 yard drive.

UNI continued a strong performance on both sides of the ball, with a Deiondre’ Hall interception setting up UNI’s second touchdown of the game. After a huge catch from Fountain to put UNI in scoring territory, Bailey finished the drive with a 25-yard rushing score to give the Panthers a 14-0 advantage with 5:25 left in the quarter. The drive lasted seven plays and 87 yards.

Sam Rohr had a helping hand in setting up UNI’s next scoring play, picking up a 40-yard reception to the Cal Poly one-yard-line. Smith drove the Panthers into the end zone with a one-yard rushing touchdown to give UNI a 21-0 lead with 38 second left to play in the first quarter. The third score of the game ended a seven play, 52 yard drive that took 2:38 off the clock.

Cal Poly was able to jump on the scoreboard with 13:54 on the clock in the second quarter after Chris Brown rushed for a 42-yarder to make the score 21-7. The drive lasted 1:38 for six plays and 86 yards.

The Panthers fired back with its second passing touchdown of the game when Bailey linked up with Braden Lehman for a seven-yard receiving score to make the score 28-7. With 3:56 left in the first half, UNI ended a five play, 36 yard drive that burned 1:07 off the clock.

A defensive battle ensued during the third quarter, with both teams going scoreless. The Panthers put up several tough defensive stands, including forcing the Mustangs to turn the ball over twice on downs.

UNI drove home its fifth touchdown of the game to open the fourth quarter, making the score 34-7. Bailey scored his second rushing touchdown of the game on a two-yard rush, ending a nine play, 73 yard drive with 12:01 left to play.

The Mustangs were able to add a touchdown late in the fourth quarter after Brown rushed for two yards into the end zone to make the score 34-13. The drive lasted eight plays for 77 yards. Cal Poly added the final touchdown of the game with 1:52 remaining on a two-yard run by Jared Mohamed to bring the score to a final of 34-20.

UNI will take a week off before heading to Normal, Ill. to open Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) play. The Panthers next face the Illinois State Redbirds on Oct. 3.