For the second straight week, the UNI Panthers showed complete dominance in all aspects of the game defeating the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech 50-7.
The game started off innocently enough with Michael Schmadeke making two of his record-tying five field goals in the first quarter. Include a three and out by the defense and it was a very timid opening quarter, with UNI up 6-0 but TTU could still challenge.
The second quarter saw a shift as Sawyer Kollmorgen threw his first of three touchdown passes in less than three minutes, this one was caught by Braden Lehman.
A few three and outs later and the UNI defense showed its worth when Deiondre’ Hall scored a pick six after the receiver had slipped on an en-route. To follow the pick, the defense forced another three-and-out which set Kollmorgen in good position to throw his second strike to Brett LeMaster.
The defense proved strong with yet another three and out which set the stage for Kollmorgen’s third and last touchdown to Kevin Vereen. A fitting end to the half saw the defense force their sixth three-and-out of the game. David Johnson ran the clock out on the half and finished the half 143 yards rushing.
The second half started with the Panthers forcing and recovering a fumble on the kickoff, setting up a Brion Carnes scamper into the endzone 1:38 later. The backup defensive players forced more three-and-outs and held strong until an 84-yard rush by Radir Annoor put TTU on the board. Thanks to that one rush, the Golden Eagles finally had real yardage as the stingy Panther defense had allowed only two net yards at that point in the game, they finished with 92 to UNI’s 528. Schmadeke made two more field goals and UNI ended the quarter up 47-7.
In the fourth quarter, Schmadeke tied the UNI record for most field goals made in game and broke the record for most points in a game by an individual with 20 points. His 28-yard boot with nine minutes left was the last score of the game.
UNI held TTU under 100 yards while recording 11 tackles for a loss and six sacks.
“I think they got a shot to win it all,” said TTU head coach Watson Brown.
The Panthers start conference play next weekend as they travel to Vermillion, S.D. to take on South Dakota. Kickoff will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
