UNI sheds turnover trouble to drop SDSU

CEDAR FALLS - University of Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley beat the media to the first question in the post-game press conference.

"Does that feel like a huge thing is lifted off your shoulders?” Farley asked.

You tell us coach. Although, just about everyone already knew the answer.

The Panthers, who had been plagued by turnovers in the first three games and a two-game losing streak entering this week, won the turnover battle and snapped its skid with a 24-14 victory over South Dakota State University in front of 14,686 fans Saturday at the UNI-Dome.

“It was just such a relief right now,” Farley said. “That was a battle. One, battling ourselves, kind of the things that have happened to us, and, two, we battled a good football team.”

The Panthers (2-2, 2-0) committed 11 turnovers, losing seven of eight fumbles, through the first three games. Many of had come in the red zone, spoiling scoring chances. Protecting the ball was a big emphasis this week, as it had been the first three weeks. UNI didn't lose any of its two fumbles and threw only one interception.

“I think it's a big relief. The emphasis on this game was ball security,” UNI quarterback Tirrell Rennie said. “I think we did a good job as far as ball security-wise, and proving we can score in the red zone and move the ball and score at the same time. I think we did alright.”

There were shades of the Panthers from the first three weeks, turning the ball over in their own territory one play after forcing a and recovering a Jackrabbits fumble and fumbling near the goalline. They shook that off and finally broke through to perform to their capabilities.

“We just stayed the course,” Farley said. “We struggled a little bit early.Some of those things showed up. We kept grinding it and started making the plays we know we can make.

“It was a good day and a great effort by the whole team and coaching staff."

Some of those plays came after SDSU kicker Kyle Harris missed a 46-yard field goal after his good 41-yard attempt was negated by an illegal formation penalty, erasing what seemed to be the Jackrabbits' first first-half points this season.

On the next play from scrimmage, Rennie kept the ball and dashed 65 yards to the SDSU 6. Those tuirnover demons popped up when a snap hit a Panther player going in motion and landed on the turf. Rennie recovered and three plays later, with the Panthers facing 4th-and-goal from inside the 1, Rennie snuck it in to give UNI a 7-0 lead with 12:26 left in the second.

“I thought it was huge to get that ball in,” Farley said. “Then we got it down to the one-inch line or not far from it, we weren't going to leave it out there and I wasn't going to let them leave it out there. We were going to go for it."

SDSU displayed some of the tendencies UNI had the first three games when it marched down field and turned it over to the Panthers in the end zone right before the half. On 2nd-and-goal from the 8, SDSU quarterback Thomas O'Brien was pressured by a blitz up the middle and floated a pass that UNI's Andre Martin snatched, forcing a touchback. Martin grabbed a key interception in the end zone in the second half, stopping a Jackrabbit drive.

Martin praised everyone from the entire defensive to coaches.

“I didn't make the play,” Martin said. “I pretty much finished them. They put me in the right positions.”

Stopping a team in the red zone provides momentum and excitement to the team.Everyone feeds off it.

“That's what defense is about," Martin said. "It's about making stops, making plays and just give our whole team confidence."

SDSU answered with a touchdown on its opening drive of the second half. O'Brien hit Tyrel Kool for a 10-yard TD pass to even the score, 7-7.

Then the Panthers put together an 11-play, 67-yard drive that melted 5 minutes, 37 seconds of clock before Rennie aran in for his second TD of the game. The 8-yard scoring run made it 14-7.

Rennie finished the game with 121 rushing yards, 15 less than team-leader Carlos Anderson, and 69 through the air. He rotated with former Washington (Iowa) prep Zach Davis during most series. Davis came in and went 9 of 13 for 45 yards. Farley was pleased with the offense produced with both quarterbacks at the helm.

“The rhythm was actually good. We practice like that all the time,” Farley said. “Zach's very talented and Tirrell's very talented,” Farley said. “Both of them had to work through getting the monkey of their back and they did that. I'm pleased with the whole unit.”

SDSU (0-4, 0-2) made it interesting late when O'Brien's 6-yard TD pass to Colin Cochart made it 17-14 with 2:30 remaining.

The following onside kick went out of bounds giving UNI the ball on the SDSU 45. They didn't sit or grind time off the clock. On the second play from scrimmage, Rennie threw to Schutlar Oordt, who jumped and ripped the ball away from a defender, for a 44-yard TD just 14 seconds later.

"I wasn't surprised at all,” said Rennie, who was more surprised they didn't run it the first play. “Our coaching staff is a funny bunch. Coach (Bill) Salmon, our offensive coordinator, isn't going to hold anything back.

Farley said SDSU plays sound  football and letting teams eventually beat themselves. Something UNI made a habit coming into the game. Those demons were temporarily exorcised.

“We were fighting a lot of demons besides the ones that were on the field,” Farley said. “I thought our guys really came through because confidence is huge and we got that back.”

Now, No. 17 UNI travels to Carbondale, Ill., to face No. 13 Southern Illinois (2-3, 1-1). The Panthers will invoke the 24-hour rule, enjoying the win and then get right back to work to face the Salukis.

"“This is one win,” Farley said. “It's a long battle. All we need to do is enjoy this one. This will get the 24-hour rule and then we'll start working on Southern Illinois because that will be a big game down there.”