Northern Iowa points toward true football title

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Northern Iowa quarterback Tirrell Rennie said winning a national playoff for the FCS championship would far exceed a BCS bowl game. “Not to downplay them," he added. / BILL NEIBERGALL/THE REGISTER/BILL NEIBERGALL/ REG

 

How champions are determined in NCAA football

Bowl Subdivision: The top two teams in the Bowl Championship Series standings meet in the BCS title game Jan. 9 in New Orleans. The BCS standings are determined by computer rankings, the Harris Poll and the USA Today coaches’ poll. This division was formerly known as I-A.
Championship Subdivision: Schools at this level, such as Northern Iowa, compete in a 20-team playoff to crown a true national champion. This division was formerly known as I-AA.
Divisions II and III: Schools at these levels also determine their champions through playoff structures.

Saturday’s playoff Game

Northern Iowa (9-2) hosts Wofford (9-2) in the second round of the FCS playoffs at 4 p.m. Saturday in the UNI-Dome. Both teams drew byes in the opening round.

 

 

CEDAR FALLS, IA. — Northern Iowa quarterback Tirrell Rennie has played in a bowl game during his college football career, but it wasn’t anything fancy.

There was no trip to a warm-weather climate, no week-long stay in a five-star hotel, no lavish gift from the bowl sponsor.
“It was right here,” Rennie said Monday, standing on the field in the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
It’s called the Graphic Edge Bowl, and Rennie played in two of them when he was the quarterback at Ellsworth Community College. Ellsworth won both of those bowl games in the UNI-Dome, topping the College of DuPage (Ill.) in 2008 and Central Lakes (Minn.) in 2009.
It wasn’t exactly the Rose Bowl.
“It would be like the Cotton Bowl or the Pizza Hut Bowl or something like that,” Rennie said, laughing. “It’s fine. It was exciting enough.”
The NCAA does not offer bowl games to teams such as Northern Iowa from the Football Championship Subdivision. Rather, the FCS schools compete in a 20-team playoff to determine a true national champ.
“The significance of a national championship, I think, far exceeds a BCS bowl game. Not to downplay them,” Rennie said.
“How long has Boise State been wanting a chance to prove they could be national champs? Well, here in the FCS, if you get in the playoffs and you beat all those teams, now you win the national championship. You’ve proved yourself worthy.”
Northern Iowa (9-2) hosts Wofford (9-2) in the second round of the FCS playoffs at 4:05 p.m. Saturday in the UNI-Dome. Both teams drew byes in the opening round.
The winner will advance to the quarterfinals next week on the long road to the championship game in Frisco, Texas, on Jan. 7. The Panthers need to win four straight games to capture the national title — a grueling test of excellence and endurance.
“This proves how good we are. We have to win, win, win and then make it to the national championship,” Rennie said. “Whereas in the BCS, you’re voted in if you win that one game. What does that mean? You’ve just played one team.”
Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley chose diplomacy when comparing systems.
“I think they both have it right,” Farley said. “I think their system (the bowls) is awesome, because more teams and fans are involved and there’s more winners.
“... In their system, half the teams that are going to a bowl game are going home happy. That’s probably where their system is great. In our system, if you do reach the national championship and win it, you have done the ultimate.”
Northern Iowa played for the national title in 2005 and experienced a bowl-like atmosphere in Chattanooga, Tenn. — arriving early for the game and enjoying the festivities.
All the other playoff games are similar to regular-season contests, with teams arriving the day before the game and leaving when it’s over.
“In our system, we’re grinding,” Farley said.
Northern Iowa defensive tackle Ben Boothby has never played in a bowl game, but he’s watched plenty of them on television.
“Yeah, they’re cool,” he said. “I’d rather play for a national championship. At the end of the year, you can always say you were better than any other team. You beat every team along the way to get to the championship.
“I’m for the BCS going to a playoff system, because then you have a true winner instead of somebody voting you in.”
Rennie transferred to Northern Iowa last season from Ellsworth and has led the Panthers to the playoffs two seasons in a row. He’s passed for 3,185 yards and run for 2,030 yards in two seasons and accounted for 43 touchdowns. He’s suffered a string of injuries this season, but had a chance to rest last week.
Farley has tried to protect Rennie by keeping him from running the ball too much.
Not now, though.
“I’m just going to have to fight through it, like I’ve been fighting through the whole season, just like everyone else on the team has been battling their injuries,” Rennie said.
“We’re not saving anybody. For us 18 seniors, these are the last four games of our careers possibly. We’re going to make it work, no matter what, even if we come out with a peg leg.”

Seven Panthers named all-MVFC

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Seven Northern Iowa players were named today to the all-Missouri Valley Football Conference team.
Six Panthers received first-team spots. They are quarterback Tirrell Rennie, offensive lineman Jay Teply, placekicker Tyler Sievertsen, defensive tackle Ben Boothby, linebacker L.J. Fort and cornerback Varmah Sonie.
Linebacker Jordan Smith picked up a second-team spot.
Receiving honorable mention were defensive end Darren Branch, running back David Johnson and return specialist Jared Herring

Valley Co-Champs Earn Playoff Bids

 

Missouri Valley Football co-champions UNI (9-2, 7-1) and North Dakota State (10-1, 7-1) will represent the league in the NCAA Division I Football Championship and have earned first-round byes in the 20-team field.

Two or more MVFC teams have made the playoffs in each of the past 16 seasons, and a league team has appeared in four championship games and in 14 semifinal games. The Panthers are ranked No. 2 in this week's Sports Network/Fathead.com poll, while North Dakota State is No. 4. The league's other ranked team in that poll, Illinois State (7-4, 5-3) did not receive an at-large spot in the 20-team field.

North Dakota State claimed a share of the program’s first Missouri Valley Football Conference championship with a 7-1 record. It is NDSU’s 28th conference title overall and the first since 2006 when the Bison won the Great West Football Conference championship. North Dakota State will make its 25th postseason appearance including its second straight in the NCAA FCS playoffs. The Bison have compiled a 37-14 record overall, 32-13 in NCAA postseason play (including 17 NCAA Division II) and 2-1 in the FCS playoffs. NDSU won its first two games in the NCAA FCS playoffs before falling 38-31 in overtime to eventual champion Eastern Washington in the quarterfinal round. North Dakota State won national championships in 1965, 1968, 1969, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990.

With a 23-20, double-overtime win at No. 14 Illinois State, UNI clinched a share of its 16th conference title -- the most in league history. The Panthers have won or shared seven titles since head coach Mark Farley took over in 2001. The Panthers have posted nine or more regular season wins on five different occasions since 2001. UNI accomplished the feat in 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008 and now 2011. UNI lost in the first round of last year's playoffs to Lehigh.

UNI Takes MVFC Title with 2OT Thriller, 23-20

NORMAL, Ill. --  With a 36-yard field goal by sophomore Tyler Sievertsen in the second overtime period, the No. 4-ranked University of Northern Iowa football team earned a thrilling 23-20 victory at No. 14 Illinois State and claimed a share of its 16th Missouri Valley Football Conference title.
The league championship is the Panthers' seventh since 2001. UNI also finished off its fifth season of nine or more regular season wins since 2001.
Sievertsen was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts on the day, connecting from 38, 40 and 36 yards.
In a game where UNI was outgained 443-191 in total offense, the Panthers did just enough to pull off the victory. Senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie rushed 17 times for 100 yards, all in the second half, to go over the 2,000 yard mark for his career.
Other than Rennie's second-half rushing, the Panthers struggled on offense for most of the day. The UNI defense was on the field for 100 plays - twice the number that the Panther offense ran, at 50.
Senior linebacker L.J. Fort notched 22 tackles, tying him for the fourth-best single-game performance in UNI history. Fellow senior linebackers Jordan Smith and James Conley added 15 and 14 tackles, respectively.
In a scoreless first quarter, UNI held Illinois State on a fourth-down try at the UNI 32-yard line before the teams traded three punts.
Illinois State got on the scoreboard first with a 3-0 lead with 8:53 left in the second quarter. After UNI stopped ISU running back Cliffton Gordon on third-and-goal at the 4-yard line, Redbird kicker Nick Aussieker connected on a 22-yard field goal attempt.
The Redbirds put together a 14-play, 61-yard drive later in the second quarter that once again ended in a 37-yard field goal by Aussieker. With 0:29 left in the first half, Illinois State led 6-0.
Illinois State (7-4, 5-3 MVFC) outgained UNI 196-18 in total yards in the opening half. At halftime, the Redbirds held a 14-1 advantage in first downs and a 45-11 margin in total plays.
UNI (9-2, 7-1 MVFC) opened the second half with an eight-play, 41-yard drive in 2:36 that resulted in a 38-yard field goal by Sievertsen, pulling the Panthers to within 6-3 with 12:23 left in the third quarter. Rennie rushed for all 41 yards on the drive.
With 2:52 left in the third quarter, senior linebacker L.J. Fort forced his sixth fumble of the season and Garrett Scott recovered at the UNI 33-yard line. UNI turned the takeaway into a seven-play, 52-yard scoring drive. Rennie hit senior receiver Jarred Herring for a two-yard touchdown pass to give the Panthers the lead at 10-6 with six seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Illinois State put together a 19-play, 85-yard scoring drive that lasted 9:58 and gave the Redbirds the lead with 2:57 left in the fourth quarter. Cliffton Gordon rushed in from one yard out on fourth-and-goal, and the extra point put Illinois State up 13-10.
Carlos Anderson returned the ensuing kickoff to the UNI 39-yard line, and a 10-play, 38-yard drive put the Panthers in position to tie the game. On fourth down from the Illinois State 23, with 10 seconds on the clock, Sievertsen drilled a 40-yard field goal into a stiff wind to send the game into overtime tied at 13-13.
Rennie recorded a 12-yard touchdown run on the Panthers' first possession of overtime, but the Redbirds used three fourth-down conversions on their possession to score on a two-yard pass from Matt Brown to Marvon Sanders. After one overtime period, the score remained knotted at 20-20.
In the second OT, the Panther defense forced Illinois State to attempt a 37-yard field goal, and Aussieker missed wide left.
After three plays by the UNI offense, Sievertsen made his third field goal of the game - this one a game-winner from 36 yards out to lock up a share of the MVFC title.
The playoff field for the NCAA Division I Football Championship will be announced at 9 a.m. Sunday morning on ESPNU.

2011 panthers

UNI FOOTBALL QUICK HITS• The No. 4-ranked University of Northern Iowa football team will take on No. 14 Illinois State University in the regular season finale for both teams. The game is set to kickoff at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Ill. ESPN3 will broadcast the game live.
• A win would guarantee UNI at least a share of its 16th Missouri Valley Football Conference championship and its seventh title since 2001.
• The Panthers are looking to record their fifth regular season with at least nine wins since 2001. UNI posted nine or more regular-season wins in 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2008.
• UNI holds an 18-8 edge in the all-time series with the Redbirds. The Panthers won last year's meeting by a score of 42-14 in the UNI-Dome. Illinois State claimed a 22-20, last-second victory in 2009 when the teams last met in Normal. UNI head coach Mark Farley holds a record of 6-4 against ISU since he took over the Panther program in 2001.
• Senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie is 70 yards shy of 2,000 rushing yards for his career. Rennie has racked up 1,930 yards in only 21 career games, and he is averaging 5.5 yards per carry over his two seasons at UNI. Rennie is eighth on the UNI career rushing touchdowns list with 23.
• UNI ranks No. 4 in the nation in scoring defense by giving up only 15.80 points per game. UNI trails Sam Houston State (12.50 points/game), North Dakota State (14.30 points/game) and Norfolk State (15.45 points/game) in the national scoring defense rankings.
• With 18 interceptions on the season, UNI leads the MVFC in pass efficiency defense at a rating of 115.13. The Panthers are tied for fifth in the nation and first in the Valley with an average turnover margin of plus-1.4.
• UNI sophomore kicker Tyler Sievertsen is 14-of-15 on field goal
attempts and a perfect 32-of-32 on PATs this season. Since Sept. 24 against Western Illinois, he owns a streak of 35 consecutive kicks made. Sievertsen has also connected on seven field goal tries of 40 yards or longer this season.
• Senior linebacker L.J. Fort, the nation's fourth-leading tackler, posted 10 stops in a 34-21 victory over Southern Utah (11/12) to run his season total to 129 tackles. Fort has posted at least 10 tackles in each of the Panthers' ten games this season.
• Redshirt freshman running back David Johnson leads UNI in both rushing yardage and receptions this season through ten games. Johnson has rushed for 727 yards and eight touchdowns. As a receiver, he has tallied a team-best 28 receptions for 402 yards and three scores. Johnson has 11 total touchdowns and ranks second on the team with 66 points through ten games.
• UNI head coach Mark Farley is second on the Panthers' all-time win list with 97 career victories. Farley's 96th win, coming against Youngstown State on Nov. 5, pushed him past former coach Clyde Starbeck, who notched 95 wins from 1936-42 and 1945-57. Farley now trails only Stan Sheriff's 129 wins, which he accomplished from 1960-82.
• UNI has posted an all-time record of 618-382-47 since the inception of Panther football in 1895.
• The Panthers boasted of nine players in the National Football League (when camps opened in late July), a list which includes: Brad Meester (Jacksonville Jaguars), Benny Sapp (Miami Dolphins), Brandon Keith (Arizona Cardinals), Chad Rinehart (Buffalo Bills), Austin Howard (Philadelphia Eagles), James Ruffin (Cincinnati Bengals), Quentin Scott (Oakland Raiders), Schuylar Oordt (St. Louis Rams) and Ryan Mahaffey (Baltimore Ravens). Oordt was signed to the Jaguars practice squad Oct. 12.
THE GAME
The No. 4-ranked University of Northern Iowa football team will take on No. 14 Illinois State University in the regular season finale for both teams. The game is set to kickoff at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Ill.
THE SERIES
UNI holds an 18-8 edge in the all-time series with the Redbirds. The Panthers won last year's meeting by a score of 42-14 in the UNI-Dome.
     Illinois State claimed a 22-20, last-second victory in 2009 when the teams last met in Normal.
     UNI head coach Mark Farley holds a record of 6-4 against ISU since he took over the Panther program in 2001.
ALL-TIME SERIES RESULTS VS. ISU
1972 at ISU L, 24-14
1985 at ISU W, 15-3
1986 vs ISU W, 22-13
1987 vs ISU W, 48-17
1988 at ISU W, 34-7
1989 at ISU L, 32- 13
1990 vs ISU W, 31-0
1991 at ISU W, 17-14
1992 vs ISU W, 41-14
1993 at ISU W, 20-19
1994 vs ISU W, 24-17
1995 at ISU L, 31-29
1996 vs ISU W, 47-10
1997 at ISU W, 50-34
1998 vs ISU L, 38-23
2000 vs ISU W, 34-28
2001 at ISU L, 42-14
2002 vs ISU L, 31-20
2003 at ISU W, 16-7
2004 vs ISU W, 41-14
2005 at ISU L, 31-3
2006 vs ISU W, 38-27
2007 at ISU W, 23-13
2008 vs ISU W, 31-17
2009 at ISU L, 22-20
2010 vs ISU W, 42-14
THE COACHES
UNI head coach Mark Farley is in his 11th season at the helm of the Panther sideline. Farley has posted a mark of 97-39 in 11 seasons, which includes six trips to the NCAA FCS playoffs. Farley has notched a record of 59-20 in MVFC play, which ranks him No. 1 on the all-time league wins chart.
     Brock Spack is in his third season at the helm of the Illinois State program. Spack has posted a mark of 19-13 for the Redbirds.
TELEVISION
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Scott Warmann (play-by-play), Danan Hughes (analyst) and Mick Shaffer (sideline) will handle the broadcast.
RADIO
The game will be broadcast on the Panther Sports Radio Network. Gary Rima (play-by-play) and Scott Peterson (analyst) will call the action.
UNI PANTHERS INSIDE ACCESS
Panther fans will be able to view most of UNI's home football games on www.UNIPanthers.com through UNI Panthers Inside Access. For a nominal fee, fans can get live streamed audio and video of most home games of UNI volleyball, football, men's basketball, women's basketball and wrestling 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 Panthers Inside Access link on the front page.
PANTHER POINTS
ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS
Illinois State comes into Saturday's game riding a five-game winning streak. After starting the season at 2-3, the Redbirds have rattled off wins over Missouri State, South Dakota, Indiana State, Southern Illinois and Western Illinois to improve their record to 7-3. At 5-2 in the MVFC, Illinois State sits in third place behind North Dakota State and UNI.
     Illinois State is 5-0 at home this season. Over their current five-game winning streak, the Redbirds are scoring 30.4 points per contest.
REDBIRD NOTABLES
Illinois State leads the MVFC and is ranked No. 5 in the nation in rushing defense, allowing only 81.3 yards per game on the ground.
     The Redbirds have a remarkable ratio of 35 defensive sacks to only six sacks allowed on the season.
     Along with rushing defense, Illinois State leads the MVFC in total defense, sacks and tackles-for-loss.
     Junior defensive lineman Nate Palmer leads the MVFC with 9.0 sacks.
     Senior running back Ashton Leggett leads the Redbirds with an average of 96.6 rushing yards per game.
FORT PILES UP THE STOPS
Senior linebacker L.J. Fort, the nation's fourth-leading tackler, is climbing up UNI's Top-10 career tackles list. With 10 stops against Southern Utah (11/12), Fort moved into seventh place on the all-time list.
UNI's Top-10 Career Tackles List
1. Ryan Doak (1997-2000) 453
2. Matt Pedersen (1996-99) 426
3. Joe Anderson (1979-82) 380
4. Andre Allen (1991-94) 358
5. Paul Wolf (1991-94) 327
6. Reed Hunemuller (1975-78) 303
7. L.J. Fort (2008-present) 301
8. William Freeney (1989-92) 300
9. Bryce Paup (1986-89) 298
T10. Jason McCleary (1991-94) 296
T10. Casey Tierney (2000-03) 296
A SEASON FOR THE RECORD BOOKS?
Fort has posted at least 10 tackles in each of the Panthers' ten games for a total of 129 tackles this season. He is poised to enter the Top-10 list for most tackles in a season in UNI history.
UNI's Top-10 Season Tackles List
1. Joe Anderson (1981) 170
2. Peter Burns (1992) 163
3. Adam Vogt (2001) 160
4. Matt Pedersen (1999) 150
T5. Reed Hunemuller (1978) 141
T5. William Freeney (1992) 141
7. Josh Mahoney (2008) 139
8. Ryan Doak (2000) 138
9. Darin Heideman (2005) 137
10. Matt Pedersen (1998) 133
L.J. Fort (2011) 129
35 CONSECUTIVE KICKS
Since Sept. 24 against Western Illinois, UNI sophomore kicker Tyler Sievertsen owns a streak of 35 consecutive kicks made. Sievertsen is 14-of-15 on field goal attempts and a perfect 32-of-32 on PATs this season. Sievertsen has also connected on seven field goal tries of 40 yards or longer this year.
RUSHING RENNIE
Senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie is 70 yards shy of 2,000 rushing yards for his career at UNI. Rennie has racked up 1,930 yards in only 21 career games, and he is averaging 5.5 yards per carry for his career.
     Rennie is eighth on the UNI career rushing touchdowns list with 23.
INTs ARE KEY
With 18 interceptions on the season, UNI leads the MVFC in pass efficiency defense at a rating of 115.13. The Panthers are tied for fifth in the nation and first in the Valley with an average turnover margin of plus-1.4.
27 UNANSWERED
Facing its largest deficit of the season at 21-7 with 12:57 left in the second quarter against Southern Utah (11/12), UNI scored 27 unanswered points to win 34-21.
     The 14-point deficit was the largest faced by the Panthers since Nov. 20, 2010, when they trailed Western Illinois 30-0.
LARGEST MARGIN OVER SUU
UNI's 34-21 victory over Southern Utah on Nov. 12 is the only time this season that SUU has been defeated by more than 6 points.
FORT FLIPS SIDES
Senior linebacker L.J. Fort made his debut on the offensive side of the ball for the Panthers against Southern Utah. Fort entered at running back in goal-line situations on two different occasions, each time carrying for a one-yard touchdown run.
RETURN OF THE GROUND GAME
After rushing for a total of 83 yards in its last two contests combined, UNI broke out for a season-high 284 rushing yards in a 34-21 win over Southern Utah (11/12). Junior Carlos Anderson led the attack with 115 yards, quarterback Tirrell Rennie had 86, and redshirt freshman running back David Johnson added 82.
ALL-PURPOSE PERFORMER
Redshirt freshman running back David Johnson has recorded 100 or more all-purpose yards in seven of UNI's 10 games this season.
SENIORS HONORED
UNI honored 18 seniors prior to the Nov. 12 game against Southern Utah.
     The Panther seniors include: offensive lineman Kaleb Admire (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), defensive lineman Ben Boothby (Clinton, Iowa), offensive lineman Sean Boren (Mount Vernon, Iowa), defensive lineman Darren Branch (Twinsburg, Ohio), defensive back Tre'Darrius Canady (Sioux City, Iowa), wide receiver Josh Collins (Sioux City, Iowa), linebacker James Conley (Des Moines, Iowa), defensive lineman Will Eilert (Grinnell, Iowa), linebacker L.J. Fort (Waynesville, Mo.), linebacker Shawn Gerard (Eldridge, Iowa), defensive lineman August Hadenfeldt (Solon, Iowa), wide receiver Jarred Herring (Burlington, Iowa), defensive back Montari Leonard (DeLand, Fla.), quarterback Tirrell Rennie (North Lauderdale, Fla.), linebacker Jordan Smith (Humboldt, Iowa), offensive lineman Jay Teply (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), tight end Austin Wells (Norfolk, Neb.) and offensive lineman Justin Wissler (Wall Lake, Iowa).
NO. 4 IN SCORING DEFENSE
UNI ranks No. 4 in the nation in scoring defense by giving up only 15.80 points per game.
     UNI trails Sam Houston State (12.50 points/game), North Dakota State (14.30 points/game) and Norfolk State (15.45 points/game) in the national scoring defense rankings.
SECOND HALF SHUTDOWN
UNI has been especially stingy in the second half of games when it comes to giving up points this season. UNI has given up only 53 second-half points this season for an average of 5.3 points/game.
     UNI has allowed 13 total points in the third quarter of games and 40 total points in the fourth quarter of games.
SINKFIELD GIVES ‘EM THE DOUBLE BOOM
Junior wide receiver Terrell Sinkfield doubled up his touchdown total for the second time this season in a 21-17 win over Youngstown State (11/5).
     Sinkfield caught scoring passes of 32 and 31 yards in the first half vs. the Penguins.
Earlier this season, Sinkfield caught two touchdown passes in a win at South Dakota State (10/15).
     Sinkfield leads the Panthers with six touchdown receptions this season.
FRESH FROSH
A pair of UNI freshmen played key roles in the Panthers' 21-17 win over Youngstown State (11/5).
     Redshirt freshman quarterback Jared Lanpher made his first career start and passed for 238 yards and two touchdowns.
     Redshirt freshman running back David Johnson scored the game-clinching touchdown from 1 yard out with 1:59 on the clock.
LANPHER NAMED MVFC
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jared Lanpher has been named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Newcomer of the Week for his play against Youngstown State (11/5).
     Lanpher (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs HS) made his first career start and led the No. 6-ranked Panthers to a 21-17, come-from-behind victory over Youngstown State in the UNI-Dome. He connected on 16-of-28 passes for a career-high 238 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
     Lanpher hit Terrell Sinkfield for a 32-yard scoring strike in the first quarter to put UNI on top 7-3. Following a Penguin touchdown with 27 seconds left in the first half, Lanpher put together a two-play, 61-yard scoring drive that resulted in a 31-yard touchdown pass to Sinkfield.
     Lanpher also conducted a 10-play, 63-yard drive in the fourth quarter that gave UNI the victory when David Johnson rushed in from one yard out with 1:59 remaining.
In all, Lanpher completed six passes of 25 yards or longer on the day.
CALL IT A COMEBACK
For the second straight season, UNI used a touchdown in the final two-plus minutes of the game to defeat the YSU Penguins.
     In 2010, Tirrell Rennie scored on a 19-yard touchdown run with 2:08 left in the game to provide the Panthers a 34-30 victory.
     This season it was David Johnson scoring on a 1-yard plunge with 1:59 left in the game to push UNI to a 21-17 win over the Penguins.
     Prior to the two comebacks against the Penguins, UNI's previous fourth quarter comeback win came in the first round of the 2007 NCAA FCS playoffs in a 38-35 win over New Hampshire - the winning points coming on a 24-yard pass from Eric Sanders to Montari Leonard with seven seconds left in the game.
SMITH, SCOTT LEAD IN PICKS
Senior linebacker Jordan Smith intercepted his fourth pass of the season on Nov. 5 against Youngstown State to take over the team lead, but junior safety Garrett Scott tied the race for the top spot one week later with a game-clinching interception against Southern Utah.
     Since making the move to Division I football, only two times has a Panther linebacker led the team interceptions - Mark Farley (5 INTs in 1985) and Brannon Carter (5 INTs in 2007).
FARLEY PERFECT AGAINST THE PENGUINS
UNI head coach Mark Farley moved to 11-0 all-time vs. Youngstown State with a 21-17 win over the Penguins in the UNI-Dome (11/5).
     The 11 straight wins is the most consecutive wins over an opponent in a series in the history of UNI football.
DUAL WEAPON
Redshirt freshman running back David Johnson leads UNI in both rushing yardage and receptions this season through ten games.
     Johnson has rushed for 727 yards and eight touchdowns. As a receiver, he has tallied a team-best 28 receptions for 402 yards and three scores.
     Johnson has 11 total touchdowns and ranks second on the team with 66 points through ten games.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
The Panthers are 113-53 against non-conference teams since 1985.
     UNI's two non-conference wins so far this season are a 34-23 road win at Stephen F. Austin (9/10) and a 34-21 home victory over Southern Utah (11/12).
SIEVERTSEN ON A ROLL
Sophomore placekicker Tyler Sievertsen is on a quite a roll, as he has made 10 straight field goals and is a perfect 32-for-32 on extra point attempts.
     He is the only placekicker in the MVFC to have connected on 100 percent of his extra point attempts this season.
     Sievertsen leads the Panthers with 74 points scored.
HIGHLY ACCURATE
UNI placekicker Tyler Sievertsen ranks No. 5 in the FCS in regard to field goal accuracy through ten games.
     Sievertsen has converted 93.3 percent of his field goal kicks this season by making 14 of 15 three-pointers.
     Brian Mitchell holds the UNI single-season record of highest field goal percentage at 96.3 percent (26-of-27 FGs) in 1990.
Kicker (School) FG-FGA Pct.
Adrian Mora (Ga. Southern) 12-12 1.000
Chris Rogers (Sacred Heart) 11-11 1.000
Ryan Estep (Norfolk State) 20-21 .952
Kienan Cullen (Murray St.) 15-16 .938
Tyler Sievertsen (UNI) 14-15 .933
(minimum of 11 made FGs)
courtesy NCAA stats
FARLEY RANKS NO. 2 AT UNI
UNI head coach Mark Farley moved into sole possession of second place on the Panthers' all-time win list following a 21-17 win over Youngstown State.
     Farley's 96 wins pushed him past former coach Clyde Starbeck, who notched 95 wins from 1936-42 and 1945-57.
     Farley now trails only Stan Sheriff's 129 wins, which he accomplished from 1960-82.
FARLEY AGAINST THE BEST
Since taking over as UNI head coach before the 2001 season, UNI head coach Mark Farley holds a record of 13-11 against Top-10 teams and a mark of 31-19 against Top-25 teams.
UNI's last win vs. a top-10 team was a 36-34 win over No. 10 New Hampshire on Dec. 6, 2008, in the NCAA FCS quarterfinals.
UNI AGAINST THE BEST
UNI has the most wins in MVFC history against ranked FCS opponents, with a 66-42 mark all-time.
     The Panthers are 2-1 this season against ranked FCS opponents with victories against No. 16 Stephen F. Austin and No. 17 Indiana State.
BALANCED RECEIVING
Seven different Panthers have led UNI in receptions in a game this year.
     Darion Howard, Josh Collins (twice), Jarred Herring (three times), Brett LeMaster, David Johnson (twice), Terrell Sinkfield (three times) and Kevin Vereen Jr. have all either led UNI or tied for the team lead in catches in a game this season.
NEARLY FLAWLESS IN RED ZONE
UNI is No. 2 in the nation in Red Zone scoring efficiency. The Panthers are 32-for-34 (94.1 percent) in Red Zone scoring opportunities this year. UNI has scored 24 TDs and has kicked eight FGs in the Red Zone.
     Last season, UNI converted 67 percent (30-of-45) of its trips in the Red Zone, including 38 percent for TDs (17-of-45).
NO. 5 IN TURNOVER MARGIN
UNI is tied for fifth in the nation in average turnover margin with a mark of plus-1.40 per contest.
     The Panthers have 26 takeaways (18 INTs, 8 fumble recoveries) and have only turned the ball over 12 times this season.
     UNI finished the 2010 season with 22 total takeaways and 24 turnovers.
TOP OF THE VALLEY TO YA!
UNI head coach Mark Farley took over the all-time Missouri Valley Football Conference lead in victories with his 55th in the Panthers' 42-7 win at Missouri State (10/1).
     Farley and Missouri State head coach Terry Allen entered the UNI-MSU game tied at 54 apiece. Farley has posted a league mark of 59-20 in 11 seasons.
     Farley is also 6-0 in head-to-head matchups vs. the Panthers' former head coach Allen.
DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING
UNI is 68-5 in the Mark Farley era (2001-present) when holding the opposition to 20 points or less.
UNI when holding the opp. to 20 or less
2001: 7-0
2002: 2-0
2003: 6-1 (lost to Iowa St 17-10)
2004: 4-1 (lost to Western Kentucky 17-10)
2005: 6-0
2006: 5-0
2007: 10-0
2008: 10-0
2009: 6-1 (lost to Iowa 17-16)
2010: 6-1 (lost to Lehigh 14-7)
2011: 6-1 (lost to Iowa State 20-19)
TOTAL - 68-5 (3 of the losses against FBS schools)
GETTING OFFENSIVE
UNI is 65-3 in the Mark Farley era (2001-present) when scoring 30 or more points in a game.
UNI when scoring 30 or more points
2001: 6-0
2002: 2-0
2003: 6-0
2004: 6-1 (lost to Southern Illinois 40-36)
2005: 7-0
2006: 6-1 (lost to North Dakota 35-31)
2007: 9-0
2008: 8-0
2009: 6-0
2010: 4-1 (lost to Southern Illinois 45-38)
2011: 5-0
TOTAL - 65-3 (2 of the losses against Southern Illinois)
HOME SWEET DOME
UNI is 182-45-1 (.799) in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers have gone undefeated at home in a season seven times since 1990.
     Prior to 1998, the Panthers had two consecutive undefeated seasons in the Dome. The Panthers have posted three perfect home seasons under head coach Mark Farley, including 2001 (6-0), 2003 (6-0) and 2005 (7-0).
     Prior to a September 24, 1994, loss to McNeese State, UNI had won 29 straight regular-season games in the Dome dating back to the 1989 season when it lost 22-14 to Mankato State in the first game of the year.
     The Panthers are 72-13 in home Missouri Valley Football Conference games, leading the league in home conference victories.
     UNI went 4-0 in league home games in the 2011 season with victories over Western Illinois, Indiana State, Southern Illinois and Youngstown State.
PANTHER SPEED
Three members of UNI's honorable mention All-America 4x100 sprint team will play extensive action this season for the Panther football team.
     Running back Carlos Anderson, wide receiver Jarred Herring and defensive back Wilmot Wellington qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championships last spring.
RENNIE IN MVFC PLAY
In six MVFC games this season, senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie is a combined 83-of-117 passing for a 70.9 percent completion rate. He has thrown for 1,123 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception in conference play.
JOHNSON COMFORTABLE IN THE ENDZONE
Redshirt freshman running back David Johnson has racked up 11 touchdowns in his first ten career games. David Horne owns the UNI record for touchdowns in a season with 19 in 2005.
BIG-PLAY POTENTIAL
The Panthers have three players averaging more than 17 yards per catch in 2011.
     Senior Jarred Herring (23-400; 17.4 avg), freshman Chad Owens (5-91; 18.2 avg) and junior Terrell Sinkfield (24-435; 18.1 avg) lead the UNI receiving corps in that category.
NOSE FOR THE BALL
UNI senior linebacker L.J. Fort ranks No. 2 the nation with five forced fumbles in ten games, and he is tied for No. 7 among active FCS players with seven forced fumbles in his career.

ABOVE AVERAGE
UNI senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie is averaging 5.47 yards per carry for his career - a mark that ranks him No. 9 among all active FCS players.
     Running back Carlos Anderson owns an average of 5.40 yards per carry over 31 career games, putting him No. 13 on that same list.
AT THE CENTURY MARK
UNI quarterback Tirrell Rennie ranks No. 14 among all active FCS players with a career average of 91.9 rushing yards per game. Of the top 20 players on the list, Rennie is the only quarterback.
JOHNSON LATCHES ON TO 10 PASS RECEPTIONS VS. BISON
Redshirt freshman running back David Johnson caught a career-high 10 passes for a career-best 114 receiving yards in a 27-19 loss at No. 3-ranked North Dakota State.
     It marked the most catches for a UNI player since running back Corey Lewis also caught 10 passes for 164 yards on Sept. 15, 2007, at South Dakota State.
     Johnson scored both touchdowns for the Panthers as he scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter and a 16-yard reception in the fourth quarter against the Bison.
INT STREAK HALTED
Senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie's school-record streak of pass attempts without an interception came to a halt against North Dakota State (10/29).
     Rennie had thrown 171 passes between interceptions before his pick against the Bison.
HERRING, BOOTHBY EARN ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS
On Nov. 10, the UNI football team had two seniors named to the Capital One Academic All-District first team in District VI. Defensive lineman Ben Boothby claimed first-team All-District honors for the third-consecutive season, while receiver Jarred Herring was recognized for the first time.
     With this honor, Boothby becomes the only Panther football player in school history to be selected first-team Academic All-District on three different occasions.
     For being selected to the first team, Herring and Boothby will appear on the ballot for consideration for the honor of Academic All-American.
     After posting a 3.89 cumulative grade point average on his way to graduating with a degree in movement and exercise science in May 2011, Boothby is currently pursuing a master's degree in kinesiology. Through nine games in 2011, he has recorded 54 tackles and leads UNI with 11.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks.
     Boothby (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) is also a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. He was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy this season and earned Academic All-America second-team recognition in 2010.
     Herring (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington) owns a 3.61 grade point average with a double major in psychology and family services. He has 22 receptions and a team-leading 394 receiving yards through nine games. Herring also leads UNI with 353 kick return yards on the season.
     The Capital One Academic All-District team honors student-athletes who excel both on the playing field and in the classroom. Selections are open to student-athletes who have reached sophomore academic standing and carry at least a 3.30 GPA. The awards are sponsored by and voted on by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Game Week: Youngstown State (5-3, 3-2) At Northern Iowa (6-2, 5-1)

Youngstown State will face their toughest test of the Eric Wolford Era this Saturday when they travel to face a very talented Northern Iowa team.  The Panthers had a showdown with North Dakota State last week in a matchup of conference unbeatens, but came out on the short end of the stick, 27-19, and may have lost their best weapon on offense in the process.  Wolford knows that his team has to put their best effort on the field for four quarters to win a game against a team like Mark Farley‘s Panthers.

Tirrell Rennie (#10, above), as of this writing on Thursday night, is still listed as questionable.  I doubt Rennie is playing because when he got hurt at the start of the fourth quarter in last week’s game, he was unable to put any weight on his injured leg.  In a game that important, Rennie would limp around and play through pain unless he was too injured to do so.  My gut instinct is that Farley is just trying to keep everybody off-balance and guessing on the status of his quarterback, last year’s Missouri Valley Football Conference Player of The Year.

Unfortunately for the Penguins, this is a very good team, showing tremendous balance on both sides of the ball.  Senior LJ Fort is second in the nation in tackles and made 15 of them last week.  Fort is a good linebacker because of the stunts that Northern Iowa runs.  Fort would also be the first to credit players like Ben Boothby, a three-technique down lineman, for keeping blockers off of him and allowing the playmaker to get to the ball.  The Panthers defense ranks fourth nationally and gives up an average of less than ten points per game against conference opponents.

Youngstown State is currently ranked second in the nation in offense, averaging about 40 points per game.  While the skeptics would argue that blowout wins against Valpairaiso and Saint Francis are the only reason that average is so high, keep in mind that YSU only put up six against Michigan State, and that works against a 40-point average.

Kurt Hess is loaded with weapons and has done a fantastic job of moving the ball around. Jamaine Cook is currently third in rushing yards nationally and he has skipped about five quarters due to decided outcomes.  The offensive line knows that the Panthers defense is a handful, but can rise to the challenge.

“It starts with our line”, said Hess, who has been praising the big men all year.  ”They have to communicate and pick up all of the twists and stunts that make their defense so dangerous.  I think they are smart enough to handle the assignments.”

Hess also commented on what this game means to his team.  ”This is the biggest game for me since I have been here.  In order to make the run to the playoffs, I said three weeks ago that we would need six, and we got three of them so far.  We must play 60 minutes against Northern Iowa, and I enjoy playing in that kind of loud environment.  If we do what we are capable of and play that full 60 minutes, we are believing that we can do something really special.”

The YSU offense facing off against the Northern Iowa defense is a matchup made in heaven.  Something has to give, and it will come down to who wants it more.  The X-Factor in this contest will be the youthful Penguins defense.  Leaders have emerged in the last three weeks and everybody seems to be playing better than the first four weeks of the season.  Aronde Stanton has been a beast lately and Teven Williams seems to be emerging as a big-time linebacker.

The past is something that cannot get into the young minds of the YSU players.  UNI has defeated the Penguins ten times in a row, the longest active streak in the league.  The Panthers lead the all-time series 19-6, including last season’s 34-30 win over the upset-minded Penguins.  The last time YSU won at Cedar Falls was in 1999.

I don’t think the Penguins players and coaches care too much about past statistics and records.  Their focus is squarely on the 2011 Northern Iowa team that they face Saturday, period.  If Rennie is unable to play, it does not guarantee anything for YSU, but it definitely takes a dual-threat all-star out of the mix and enhances the upstart Penguins odds of winning this war.