Iowa State football vs. UNI: 5 Panthers to watch in Saturday’s game

AMES — It is never easy.

Those four simple words aptly describe how difficult it is to win consistently at Iowa State — as well as the Cyclones’ recent bouts with Northern Iowa.

ISU has won the past three meetings, but three of the latest four matchups have been decided by six or fewer points.

So expect streams of sweat and stress to coalesce during Saturday’s 1 p.m. season-opening clash between the Cyclones and Panthers — and not just because of the sweltering forecast.

ISU absolutely needs to start the 2023 season off with a win if it hopes to rebound from a disappointing 4-8 finish in 2022. Doesn’t matter if it’s easy or hard, but falling to an FCS foe, even one as talented as UNI, simply can’t happen if the Cyclones are to banish the memories of their first losing season since 2016.

“You take every opponent the same way,” ISU senior defensive tackle J.R. Singleton said. “Play hard, prepare the right way and I think the outcome will be what you want it to be.”

To wit, here are five (of many) Panthers to watch on Saturday:

QB Theo Day

The 6-foot-5, 231-pound former transfer from Michigan State checks all the boxes one requires from a pro-style quarterback.

He’s accurate, poised and precise on both screen passes and deep balls. He threw 26 touchdown passes to just six interceptions last season and his completion percentage (65 percent) helped make him the Missouri Valley Football Conference leader in passing efficiency.

Day’s sturdy frame also makes him a considerable threat as a runner in short-yardage situations. He’ll also be one of the best all-around quarterbacks the Cyclones will face this season, so ISU’s seasoned and high-performing secondary will face a strong early test.

K Matthew Cook

It’s not particularly often a football team votes to put a kicker among its list of captains, but Cook is “that guy” in terms of both leadership and production.

He drilled 14 of his 17 field goal attempts last season through the uprights and as Panthers head coach Mark Farley noted recently, “you put him down as three points if you get in that red zone.”

Cook, a Cedar Falls native, has converted on 67 of his career 83 field goal attempts (80.7 percent) — and almost single-handedly (or is it “footedly?”) beat ISU in 2019. Cook went 4-for-4 on field goals in that tension-tinged season opener the Cyclones won, 29-26, in triple-overtime.

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WR Sam Schnee

The converted running back and Dubuque native became Day’s most reliable target in 2022, hauling in 48 catches for a team-best 764 yards.

Schnee did his best work between the 20s, but also caught three touchdown passes and can stretch the field — as he proved with a five-catch, 143-yard performance in a win over Utah Tech.

The 5-10, 195-pound redshirt senior also worked his way up in the receivers room by making a mark on special teams. His production has shot up considerably each season and he’s flanked by explosive fellow receives such as Sergio Morancy.

CB Woo Governor

Governor, a 6-0, 190-pound senior from Plant City, Fla., racked up four interceptions last season — with two coming in a win over Western Illinois.

Governor toted both of those picks into the end zone, so his play-making ability is as impressive as his fundamental coverage skills. The former Central Michigan transfer and second-team all-MVFC selection also broke up seven passes in his first season as a starter.

DE Cordarrius Bailey

ISU fans are certainly familiar with Bailey, who battled injuries as a Cyclone before transferring to UNI.

And here’s a fun fact: Bailey was a true freshman (and redshirt) when ISU started its string of five consecutive winning seasons in 2017. So he’s obviously been around for a long time — and his persistence is paying off.

The 6-3, 243-pound graduate student was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team last season after recording 31 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and two sacks. Bailey also forced a pair of fumbles last season, so the Cyclones’ mostly young running backs and quarterbacks should be well aware of his presence.

Comments: robgray18@icloud.com