Daurice Fountain, UNI in playoff mode ahead of crucial game with South Dakota

CEDAR FALLS - With their backs against the proverbial wall, Northern Iowa's players are looking to their coaches and senior leaders for guidance.

To keep their playoff hopes out of the hands of the FCS playoff committee, the Panthers need to win their three remaining regular season games to finish 7-4 and lock up an at-large bid.

One of the UNI seniors being looked to for leadership is Daurice Fountain. The wide receiver is in the midst of his best season at UNI with 44 receptions, 668 yards and seven touchdowns, ranking among some of the best receivers in FCS.

Fountain has moved into 10th all-time at UNI for career receptions and eighth all-time in career touchdowns.

'It's a blessing. I definitely have got to thank God,” Fountain said. 'I didn't even know about any of those (records) until after the (NDSU) game, so it was just really exciting.”

Fountain's focus certainly isn't the records he's breaking. As a senior he's well aware of how rugged the Missouri Valley Football Conference can be. He's also familiar with the situation the Panthers find themselves in, having to go into 'playoff mode” during the regular season.

'Our mental approach is (the) playoffs are now,” Fountain said. 'We've actually been telling ourselves that if we win out we're making the playoffs, so unfortunately (the playoffs) have to start now for us. We're going all out. Leaving everything on the line. It is my senior year and I just know personally that if this season would end right now, it would suck. I'm willing to do anything and everything to make sure this season goes as long as it can.”

As a captain and senior leader the Madison, Wis., native hasn't let a tough loss last week to North Dakota State bring him down. By nature, Fountain is a high-energy guy who's constantly communicating with his teammates.

'We tell the (young) guys to stay focused and confident,” Fountain said. 'I tell them not to do anything different than they've done all season. As long as we stay composed we know we'll be fine. We just (have) to execute better. Really, I'm just trying to push these guys to their full potential.”

Potential is something Fountain has talked about since the spring with this Panther team. There's been moments where the team looked to be performing at or near full potential, like the 38-18 Week 7 win over then-No. 7 South Dakota State, or the 19-14 win in Week 8 over then-No. 9 Youngstown State.

However, Fountain said this team hasn't come close to its full potential. When that happens he says it'll be a 'scary” moment for opponents.

'North Dakota State, that loss was really tough, but I'm still confident in the team,” Fountain said. 'I think we can go all the way. I think this team is definitely championship-caliber. We've been in this position before, actually in 2015, so like I said, as long as we have that focus and that mentality - that dog, that aggressive mentality - I think we'll be a scary team to play in the playoffs.”

Northern Iowa (4-4, 3-2) will be looking to keep its playoff hopes alive Saturday at 1 p.m. when it hosts No. 6 South Dakota (7-1, 4-1).