USD falls to Northern Iowa
Posted: Sunday, September 07, 2008
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of South Dakota gave it old college try , albeit in a new setting, before falling 24-13 to the University of Northern Iowa here Saturday in the UNI-Dome.
South Dakota, after opening the season with a 52-0 blanking of NAIA St. Ambrose, was playing its first Football Championship Subdivision foe in its transitional year from NCAA Division II to the FCS (formerly NCAA Division I-AA).
The Coyotes of Coach Ed Meierkort won several statistical battles against the Panthers, ranked fifth in the FCS coaches poll.
USD outgained UNI 415 to 324 in total yards and had football for just over 37 minutes to just over 22 minutes for the Panthers of Coach Mark Farley, who had lost their opener 41-17 at then 16th-ranked Division I Brigham Young last week.
Junior quarterback Pat Grace, a graduate of Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School, threw two touchdown passes for UNI, which turned away three late drives by the Coyotes to hold on for the win before a crowd of 12,904.
Grace completed 10 of 14 passes for 130 yards for the Panthers (1-1). He tossed a 16-yard TD pass to Schuylar Oordt and a 32-yarder to Johnny Gray.
Corey Lewis rushed for 154 yards on 21 carries and scored UNI's other touchdown on a 12-yard run in the first quarter.
UNI kicker Billy Hallgren closed out the scoring with a 28-yard field goal with 6:29 left in the game.
The Panthers took a 14-0 lead before the Coyotes (1-1) responded on a seven-yard touchdown run by quarterback Noah Shepard with 3:21 left in the first half.
Shepard led the Coyotes in rushing with 90 yards on 19 carries and he completed 22 of 33 pass attempts for 290 yards.
Grace, starting just his second game for UNI, completed 10 of his 14 passes for 130 yards.
UNI stretched its lead to 21-7 when Grace hooked up with Gray on a 32-yard scoring pass with 1:17 left in the half.
Shepard led Coach Ed Meierkort's South Dakota team on a third-quarter scoring drive that ended with a two-yard TD slant by the junior from Thornton, Colo. But, the Coyotes botched the PAT, leaving them eight points down heading into the fourth quarter.
Hallgren's field goal followed a South Dakota drive that ended inside the Panthers' 13 on downs.
Dan Skelly caught eight passes for 144 yards for the Coyotes.
Defensively for USD, Wayne Curry made seven tackles, while Bryron Bullock, Joel Gentile and Blake Hojer were each credited with six tackles.
In addition, Ryan Routh and Mychal Bogan came up with interceptions for the Coyotes.
On the UNI side, defensive tackle Mark Huygens, a I-AA All-America candidate out of Sergeant Bluff-Luton, had one tackle assist and defensive back Tre-Darrius Canady, a graduate of Sioux City East, had two tackle assists.
UNI wide receiver Josh Collins, a graduate of Sioux City West, went without a pass reception, but did run the ball twice for one yard.
South Dakota returns to action Saturday at Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, La., and Northern Iowa hosts Missouri Valley Football Conference foe South Dakota State in the UNI-Dome in its next outing.
South Dakota, after opening the season with a 52-0 blanking of NAIA St. Ambrose, was playing its first Football Championship Subdivision foe in its transitional year from NCAA Division II to the FCS (formerly NCAA Division I-AA).
The Coyotes of Coach Ed Meierkort won several statistical battles against the Panthers, ranked fifth in the FCS coaches poll.
USD outgained UNI 415 to 324 in total yards and had football for just over 37 minutes to just over 22 minutes for the Panthers of Coach Mark Farley, who had lost their opener 41-17 at then 16th-ranked Division I Brigham Young last week.
Junior quarterback Pat Grace, a graduate of Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School, threw two touchdown passes for UNI, which turned away three late drives by the Coyotes to hold on for the win before a crowd of 12,904.
Grace completed 10 of 14 passes for 130 yards for the Panthers (1-1). He tossed a 16-yard TD pass to Schuylar Oordt and a 32-yarder to Johnny Gray.
Corey Lewis rushed for 154 yards on 21 carries and scored UNI's other touchdown on a 12-yard run in the first quarter.
UNI kicker Billy Hallgren closed out the scoring with a 28-yard field goal with 6:29 left in the game.
The Panthers took a 14-0 lead before the Coyotes (1-1) responded on a seven-yard touchdown run by quarterback Noah Shepard with 3:21 left in the first half.
Shepard led the Coyotes in rushing with 90 yards on 19 carries and he completed 22 of 33 pass attempts for 290 yards.
Grace, starting just his second game for UNI, completed 10 of his 14 passes for 130 yards.
UNI stretched its lead to 21-7 when Grace hooked up with Gray on a 32-yard scoring pass with 1:17 left in the half.
Shepard led Coach Ed Meierkort's South Dakota team on a third-quarter scoring drive that ended with a two-yard TD slant by the junior from Thornton, Colo. But, the Coyotes botched the PAT, leaving them eight points down heading into the fourth quarter.
Hallgren's field goal followed a South Dakota drive that ended inside the Panthers' 13 on downs.
Dan Skelly caught eight passes for 144 yards for the Coyotes.
Defensively for USD, Wayne Curry made seven tackles, while Bryron Bullock, Joel Gentile and Blake Hojer were each credited with six tackles.
In addition, Ryan Routh and Mychal Bogan came up with interceptions for the Coyotes.
On the UNI side, defensive tackle Mark Huygens, a I-AA All-America candidate out of Sergeant Bluff-Luton, had one tackle assist and defensive back Tre-Darrius Canady, a graduate of Sioux City East, had two tackle assists.
UNI wide receiver Josh Collins, a graduate of Sioux City West, went without a pass reception, but did run the ball twice for one yard.
South Dakota returns to action Saturday at Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, La., and Northern Iowa hosts Missouri Valley Football Conference foe South Dakota State in the UNI-Dome in its next outing.
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