The Northern Iowa football team defeated Indiana State 41-34 on Saturday, concluding a 24-year coaching stint for head coach Mark Farley.
The game was high scoring. Panthers senior wide receiver Segio Moracy played a huge part in that on both offense and special teams. Towards the end of the first quarter Morancy returned a punt 63-yards for a touchdown, giving the Panthers a 10-7 lead. Morancy wasn’t on the punt return unit for most of the season until this game.
“We made that move late this week,” said Morancy. “I always told him (Coach Farley) just give me the ball and we can go to work, and I proved it to him.”
It wasn’t long until he scored again. Early in the second quarter Quarterback Aidan Dunne found Morancy on a screen pass for a 24-yard touchdown. The Panthers regained the lead 17-14.
At the halfway point of the second quarter, the Panthers regained possession after recovering a fumble on a fake punt attempt by the Sycamores. On the first play from scrimmage, Dunne found Morancy wide open down the field for a 69-yard touchdown to extend the Panther lead to 24-14.
The Panthers continued to pour it on the Sycamores offensively. On the second play of the third quarter, running back Tye Edwards rushed for a 75-yard touchdown to extend their lead to 31-17.
After the Sycamores cut the lead to 34-31 the Panther offense drove right down the field. Morancy struck once again, scoring his fourth touchdown of the game on a 13-yard catch. The Panthers took a 41-31 lead with 7:44 to go in the game.
The Sycamores added a field goal but ultimately came up short. The Panthers went on to win.
The Panthers finish the 2024 season 3-9 (1-7 in Missouri Valley Conference play).
When looking back on Mark Farleys legacy, it’s safe to say he’s the greatest football coach in program history.
“I came here in 2001 hoping to get through year three,” said Farley. “I remember driving down Hudson and seeing the roof of the dome. It’s an image that sticks with you of all the possibilities that are here and what you have to do to earn those accomplishments.”
Farley will retire as the winningest coach in Northern Iowa and Missouri Valley Football Conference history.
He led the Panthers to 29 wins against top-10 teams and produced 40 student-athletes to the NFL.
In 2001, Farley took the job as Head Coach of Northern Iowa after four seasons with Kansas. In his first season with the Panthers, he led the team to an 11-3 record with a 6-1 record in conference play.
Farley coached Northern Iowa to 13 playoff appearances, advancing to the quarterfinals five times. (2003, 2007, 2011, and 2019). He also led the Panthers to the FCS National Championship in 2005.
“This community and this state has always supported me,” said Farley. “For that I really appreciate it.”
