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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Eastern Illinois had the momentum in the opening quarter, Northern Iowa took the momentum the final three quarters as UNI beat EIU, 53-17, in the opening round of the FCS playoffs.
EIU ends the year at 7-5. UNI improved to 8-4 and will play next Saturday at Portland State.
Northern Iowa took the momentum from one play in the second quarter to take control of the game as they scored 23 points in the quarter to take a 23-7 lead at the half.
With EIU leading 7-3 and preparing to punt and pin UNI deep inside its own territory, EIU muffed a punt and turned the ball over to UNI at midfield. Aaron Bailey connected with Daurice Fountain for a 32-yard pass giving UNI its first lead of the game with 7:22 to play in the opening half.
The EIU Panthers defense was able to hold on three other drives limiting UNI to field goals of 37, 22 and 30 yards by Michael Schmadeke. UNI's other second quarter touchdown was on a 2-yard run by Tyvis Smith after EIU had one of two first half turnovers.
EIU scored in the first quarter on a
Devin Church one yard run with 6:44 to play in the first quarter. The score was set up on a 33 yard pass from
Jalen Whitlow to
Anthony Taylor. Whitlow was 27-of-49 for 252 yards in the game.
EIU took advantage of a fumbled punt to open the second half as
Nick Bruno knocked home a punt. UNI quickly responded as Bailey had a 52-yard touchdown strike to Charles Brown putting them back in front 30-10 with 12:28 to play in the third quarter.
Whitlow and Taylor hooked up again early in the third quarter to put the EIU Panthers in business. The drive ended with Whitlow hitting
Addison Bounds on a short pass. EIU cut the lead to 30-17 with 10:44 to play.
The offense continued in the third quarter as Bailey had another long touchdown pass to Fountain before Savon Huggins extended the UNI lead to 43-17 with 1:43 to go in the third quarter. Bailey finished the day 7-of-11 for 162 yards.
EIU's defense was led by
Jourdan Wickliffe with 10 tackles.
Kamu Grugier-Hill had eight tackles including a sack.
Smith had 147 yards rushing for UNI. UNI added a late field goal and interception return for touchdown for the final margin.
