The UNI Panthers got a homecoming they won’t forget for a while, defeating Northern Colorado 46-7. 

Panthers took control early and never gave up the reigns. UNI scored on a three-play drive in 1:12 as Sawyer Kollmorgen found Kevin Vereen for a 39-yard touchdown reception.

Up 7-0 the defense flexed its muscles, forcing UNC’s first drive to be a three and out. On the ensuing drive, UNI marched down the field in 12 plays and 40 yards but settled for a Michael Schmadeke 33-yard field goal. 

Schmadeke put UNI up 13-0 in the second quarter with a career-long 43-yard field goal.

The Panthers picked up a safety after Deiondre Hall blocked the UNC punt at the back of the end zone for a safety.

David Johnson scored his first rushing touchdown of the season from 41-yards out just seconds later, giving UNI a 22-0 lead with 11:10 left in the second quarter. Johnson finished the game with 173 yards rushing.

After forcing UNC to punt for the third time, Johnson’s counterpart Darrian Miller got to see some action as he rushed for a 10-yard touchdown with five minutes left in the half. 

Once more the defense dominated at the line as Xavier Williams recorded his second sack of the game and forced a three and out. Kollmorgen threw a 14-yard touchdown strike to Miller to finish the half and put the panthers up 36-0. 

UNC scored their only touchdown on a four-yard run from Darius Graham late in the third quarter.

Brion Carnes scored the final points of the contest with 2:29 to go, finding the end zone on a three-yard touchdown run. UNI finished the game with 473 yards on offense, including 310 on the ground.

The Panther defense held the Bears under 200 offensive yards while holding them to less than two yards per carry.

UNI returns to the field on Saturday for their last non-conference game of the season as they take on Tennessee Tech at 4 p.m.