Turnovers too much for UNI to overcome in 41-6 loss at No. 1 South Dakota State

Five first-half turnovers squashed Northern Iowa’s hopes of upsetting No. 1 South Dakota State on Saturday afternoon, as the Jackrabbits cruised to a 41-6 win at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

After punting the ball away on its first drive and allowing a Jackrabbits (6-0, 3-0) touchdown eight plays later, UNI’s (3-3, 2-1) next five drives ended with a turnover.

Wide receiver Naran Buntin committed the first, fumbling after getting stood up on a reverse and giving the ball back to SDSU at the UNI 35.

Two plays into its next drive, UNI running back Harrison Bey-Buie — starting in place of an injured Tye Edwards — fumbled after suffering a big hit on an 11-yard run. He left the game with an upper-body injury and did not return.

Trailing 14-0, the Panthers moved the ball into Jackrabbits territory for the first time early in the second quarter, but the turnover bug bit again on the drive’s 13th play as Theo Day was intercepted by Jason Freeman.

Defensive back Woo Governor mustered a response, forcing and recovering a Mark Gronowski fumble on the SDSU quarterback’s third-down scramble on the ensuing drive. The feeling of relief didn’t last, though, as Panthers running back Josh Jenkins had the ball ripped away on the very next play by SDSU’s Logan Green and the Jackrabbits extended their lead to 21-0 four plays later with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Gronowski to Jadon Janke.

Despite its turnovers, UNI briefly got back in a position on its next drive to suggest the game wasn’t out of reach, as Day completed a 33-yard pass to Logan Wolf on third-and-9 to the SDSU 45. However, two plays later the senior quarterback’s late throw on an out route intended for Sam Schnee was picked off by DyShawn Gales.

The Jackrabbits — who scored on all of their first-half drives besides the two that ended in fumbles — proceeded to turn Day’s second interception into three points with a 42-yard Hunter Dustman field goal. UNI managed a three-point answer before halftime, going 55 yards in four plays to allow Matthew Cook to convert a 38-yard field goal for its first points.

The Panthers’ bad situation only got worse after halftime as South Dakota State scored touchdowns on its first three drives of the second half.

Day finished the game 16-of-24 with 210 yards and the two interceptions, while the Panthers’ banged-up backfield combined to rush 16 times for just 49 yards.

Meanwhile, the Jackrabbits racked up 460 yards of total offense, led by Gronowski’s 291 yards passing and three touchdowns.

UNI returns to action next Saturday against North Dakota (4-2, 2-1) for its annual homecoming game. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. (ESPN+).