UNI football trying to stay positive after rough start

CEDAR FALLS — For just the second time in Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley’s 24-year tenure, the Panthers find themselves on a five-game losing streak.

This past Saturday’s 31-7 loss at then-No. 9 North Dakota that continued UNI’s woes provoked Farley to offer perspective at Monday’s weekly news conference. He pointed to his team’s sixth-toughest schedule in the FCS that’s featured two FBS opponents, three top-10 FCS opponents and just one home game in the past seven weeks.

“It’s kind of a perfect storm with a lot of things that had nothing to do with this team, but has (a) result (on) this team because of decisions made in the past,” Farley said. “I don’t view being in this situation in the future. Whether it be scheduling — all those types of things — because I see the people in the background rectifying all the things that need to be rectified. I can lean on that, but I care about what happens with these (players) this week, not so much what happens with things in the future.”

When it comes to what happens with UNI (2-5, 0-3) this week, Farley pointed toward the old saying that “you’re never as bad, or as good, as you think you are.”

Despite the Panthers’ defense allowing more than 30 points for a fifth straight game, the game film wasn’t as unnerving as anticipated.

“Honestly, I thought the defense played super hard,” Farley said. “I was looking for problems for the defense, or challenges for the defense, (but) I thought they really outplayed what I believed (and) initially what I thought on the football field.”

North Dakota converting nine of 16 third downs and two of three fourth downs is ultimately what proved most costly for UNI’s defense.

The Panthers’ struggles also could be attributed in part to a number of injuries that include defensive tackle Jack Kriebs, defensive ends Zach Mehmert and Jackson Stortz and defensive back Fletcher Marshall Jr. Tight end Derek Anderson played both ways as a result of the waning depth, filling in at defensive end, while edge rusher Naran Buntin played both ways, as well, getting snaps at wide receiver.

Farley did acknowledge he’s considered playing a three-man defensive front due to the current injury situation, but their opponents’ offenses make that easier said than done.

“Definitely thought about it, but my problem is who you play,” Farley said. “So right now we’re playing in a power league. So you got to get size in there to plug up the middle.”

UNI’s offense is what looked most troublesome for Farley when watching film. Quarterback Matthew Schecklman completed 16 of 26 passes for 178 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the loss. The Panthers’ run game struggled, totaling just 36 yards in 18 attempts.

“We had all the opportunities in the world in the third quarter,” Farley said. “Experience should bring about a more savvy player (in Schecklman), but it also brings about a more savvy (opponents) plan, too.”

UNI hosts Missouri State (5-2, 3-0) Saturday at 4 p.m. in its annual homecoming game (ESPN+).