The Panthers have played a tough schedule so far this season, and that did not change this past weekend. On Saturday, Nov. 2, they traveled to Fargo, ND for a matchup against No. 1 ranked North Dakota State. UNI came into the game on a six game losing streak, and were hoping to get back in the win column. Unfortunately for the Panthers, North Dakota State showed why they are the top ranked team in the country, and defeated the Panthers 42-19.
The game got off to a terrible start for the Panthers, as Bison return man TK Marshall took the opening kickoff all the way back for a touchdown. It was a 100-yard return for Marshall, and the Bison took a quick 7-0 lead. The Panthers first drive of the game was 12 plays long, and ended in a 40 yard field goal to make the score 7-3. The Bison got the ball back, and had a nearly eight minute long drive that took up most of the rest of the first quarter. The drive ended with a Charmar Brown touchdown run with 58 seconds remaining in the quarter. The Panthers trailed 14-3 after one.
The Panthers had a promising drive going early in the second quarter, but had a crucial fumble all the way down at the North Dakota State 6 yard line. North Dakota State recovered the fumble, and it was all Bison the rest of the half. Their offense was on fire, with quarterback Cam Miller throwing two touchdown passes, one to Bryce Lance, and the other to Braylon Henderson. The elite offensive play by the Bison, mixed with the Panthers struggling offense, had UNI down 28-3 at the half.
The Panthers had the ball to start off the second half, but were stopped immediately. The quick stop gave the Bison great field position, and they wasted no time getting a score. It took them only two plays, and it was Barika Kpeenu who ran it in for the score. Early in the second half, the Bison led 35-3.
With the deficit seeming nearly impossible to come back from, the Panthers gave it their best shot. On the drive following the Bison touchdown run, Matthew Scheklman connected with Sergio Morancy for a 21 yard touchdown. The Panthers went for two, and got it on a Schecklman pass to Brady McCullough. The Panthers stopped the Bison on a fourth down on the next possession, and got the ball right back. They mounted another scoring drive, as Schecklman connected once more with Morancy for a 9 yard touchdown. This put the score at 35-19 with the entire fourth quarter left to play.
On the Bisons first drive of the fourth quarter, they put away any remaining hope in a Panther comeback. Kpeenu had his second touchdown run of the day, and the score was 42-19. There was no more scoring the rest of the game, and the Panthers lost their seventh game in a row, 42-19. They now have a 2-7 record, and are yet to win a game in conference play.
Schecklman threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, with Morancy catching both of the touchdowns and 102 of those yards. Tye Edwards led the way on the ground for the Panthers with 51 yards. Tate Sander led all Panther tacklers with 11.
The Panthers will be back in the UNI-Dome next saturday, Nov. 9 for a matchup against Illinois State.
