The #3 UNI Panthers suffered a setback at home on Saturday at the hands of the #15 Montana Grizzlies, 20-14.  Coming off of a game in which they forced four turnovers, the UNI defense was unable to get the same productivity, with no turnovers forced against the Grizzlies.  

The defense did, however, only give up 206 total yards of offense.  Montana jumped out to a 7-0 lead right away in the first quarter, and added three more points a few minutes later.  

Late in the first quarter, Tyvis Smith was able to punch it in the end-zone for UNI from a yard out to get the Panthers within three.

In the second quarter, Montana’s punt returner Jerry Louie-McGee returned a punt 81 yards to put the Grizzlies back up by 10, 17-7.  After adding another field goal, UNI went into halftime down 20-7.  

In the second half, UNI was much stingier on defense, not allowing a single score.  With eight minutes left in the game, quarterback Aaron Bailey fired a pass to receiver Daurice Fountain for a 28 yard touchdown to get the Panthers within six.  

However, UNI was never able to take advantage of consecutive three and outs to score again. Mistakes piled up for the Panthers.

UNI finished the game with 351 yards of total offense, but had two turnovers in the losing effort.  They were led by Bailey’s 194 passing yards.  Smith also contributed 130 yards on the ground, while Fountain finished with 97 receiving yards.  

Defensively, the Panthers were lead by Karter Schult’s 10 tackles and 5.5 tackles for a loss.  Both of those stats were game-highs for Schult.  

After the loss, the Panthers fall to 1-1 on the season. Next week, they will travel to Eastern Washington to take on the #8 ranked Eagles. Eastern Washington is coming off of an overtime loss to top-ranked North Dakota State.  

That game kicks off at 6pm and can be listened to on the Panther Sports Radio Network (1540-AM).