Lopsided win gives UNI football reserves a chance to shine

CEDAR FALLS — Executing a fast start and subsequently creating the opportunity to evaluate more players were Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley’s biggest takeaways from the Panthers’ 50-6 win Saturday against Western Illinois.

Watching the film, Farley pointed out how it’s one thing to pursue a fast start in a football game where you’re a heavy favorite, and it’s another thing to actually execute that plan.

“That’s a challenge to come out fast the way you want to come out. It’s always (looking) good in the playbook and a good (looking) plan, but do you execute it (and) we came out well.” Farley said Monday during his weekly news conference. “Secondary — which was just as important, is the second half — because the second half we really got to see some players that we didn’t have the opportunity to really get a great evaluation on in live situations early in the season due to our schedule.”

Farley went on to point out a number of players who have developed and played well with their opportunity to get more snaps in the lopsided win.

Defensive tackle Cartez Crook-Jones and defensive end Warren Peeples — both first-year transfers — combined for a sack and Peeples had another himself against the Leathernecks. Defensive line is UNI’s deepest position on its defense, but Farley seemed to indicate the two will see more snaps the rest of the season.

“(Peeples) has got great speed off the edge and you can see that (Crook-Jones) can really run,” Farley said. “They needed a game for me to gain trust in them in that pass rush and they went out there and they rushed hard and well in that third and fourth quarter.”

Tight end was another position where a pair of players took advantage of increased snap counts Saturday.

Liam McComas had two catches for 25 yards and Derek Anderson had one catch for 20. Farley complimented the blocking of both and with Layne Pryor (appendix) having an uncertain timeline to return, trust was gained.

“Derek is a big man,” Farley said. “He’s really come along at tight end. He has the size to do some things at the tight end position that you need to do to be able to rush the football, yet he can run and catch balls.

“McComas may not be as big, but he has the motor to overcome size. Those were two tough catches and he made some really nice blocks to move the line of scrimmage.”

Saturday’s game didn’t include Josh Volk at right guard. The Iowa transfer had been rotating at the position nearly all season with Keean Kamerling and it seems evident now why Volk never became the full-time starter.

“Josh had surgery last week and whether we get him back or not it’s one of those three to six week (timelines) — just keep him in the doubtful category,” Farley said. “It’s more (about) the individual, how they heal and what they can handle.”

UNI (6-3, 5-1) travels to Missouri State (3-6, 2-4) Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.