Multiple UNI football players have career days in 41-20 win over Missouri State

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa’s offense flexed its muscles in a 41-20 win over Missouri State Saturday at the UNI-Dome.

Mired in what’s now a five-game losing streak, Missouri State’s misfortunes began immediately, misplaying a short opening kickoff that had the Bears offense begin their first drive at the 1-yard line.

Two plays later, Stefan Black reeled in his first interception of the season on an errant Jason Shelley pass. Then, only 53 seconds into the game, UNI’s Dom Williams scored the first of a career-high four touchdowns on a 9-yard run.

“We’ve been emphasizing coming out faster, doing different things, trying to create the plays to start making plays,” UNI coach Mark Farley said. “I think it was a huge (win), because their quarterback is the (reigning) offensive player of the year. They’ve got a lot of great players on that team.”

Three more first-half scoring drives each featured signature throws from Theo Day and a productive two-headed run game that nearly put the Bears (2-5, 0-4) to sleep before halftime.

A 10-play, 73-yard drive quickly extended the UNI (4-4, 3-2) lead to 14-0 as Williams punched in his second touchdown from a yard out.

Sacks on back-to-back plays from Jevon Brekke and Cannon Butler on Missouri State’s following drive became two of a season-high five by the Panthers defense as Shelley struggled to keep his Bears offense on pace with UNI’s.

“Right now you can do things on defense because you know your offense has a possibility to score and get you points back. So you can be more aggressive on defense,” Farley said.

Meanwhile, Day — who completed 22 of his 37 passes for 291 yards and one touchdown — put forth his best campaign ad to be this season’s MVFC offensive player of the year.

A 15-play, 89-yard drive that ended with a 25-yard Matthew Cook field goal started a display of the junior’s pocket presence and ability to throw on the run.

“(Day is) getting better each week. You see his confidence (growing). The protection has been really good,” Farley said. “He’s got the confidence to stay in the pocket. He’s got the confidence and the courage to throw it and take the hit, yet he can run for first downs and he keeps his eyes downfield. So, he’s creating plays as much as making plays. He’s an excellent quarterback. He has become a real leader.”

After a 38-yard Naveon Mitchell punt return set up a 1-yard Trae Thompson touchdown run, Day went back to work. He completed passes of 16 and 10 yards to Logan Wolf and Alex Allen, before climbing the pocket, scrambling left and hitting Sergio Morancy in stride on third-and-15 for a 27-yard touchdown and 24-7 lead with four seconds left in the second quarter.

“They came out and got that score in the second half because of the punt return and that gave them a little momentum, but the key was when the offense went back and got the score back,” Farley pointed out. “Between Wolf’s catches on third-and-long, Sergio’s two catches — those were big third-down plays that got us out of big trouble to keep momentum.”

A pair of second-half Missouri State touchdowns were not enough to spark a comeback as Williams interrupted the Bears’ scores with touchdown runs of 2 and 10 yards.

“It feels great,” UNI running back Dom Williams said. “The offensive line was making holes and we just came out hard after what happened last (season). I felt like we came in with a lot of energy and came out fast and that’s what we needed.”

UNI’s offense totaled a season-high 521 yards. Wolf had a career-high 112 yards receiving on six catches.

“Logan’s been through heck and back and I wouldn’t even say he’s 100 percent right now,” Farley said. “But, the plays that he made, the catches that he made — when he’s 100 percent, and I don’t think anybody has seen Wolf 100 percent yet, I saw him 100 percent probably 2 1/2 years ago and he’s the real deal — he’s got a whole ‘nother gear and a half left in him.”

Butler and Cordarrius Bailey each finished with two sacks and one of Bailey’s sacks produced a Shelley fumble recovered by Spencer Cuvelier late in the third quarter with the Bears in the red zone.

“Right now if we just keep our heads one game at a time we can do anything,” Bailey said. “All 11 go to the ball, ain’t nobody can really mess with us.”

Bryce Flater registered a team-high eight tackles while Cuvelier and Edwin Dearman each finished with seven.

UNI travels to No. 17 Southern Illinois (5-3, 4-1) next Saturday.