UNI comeback stops Jacks

Saturday, September 16

Cedar Falls, Iowa

4 p.m.

South Dakota State University

0-3

Northern Iowa

2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota State

UNI

9/16/2006 5:00:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

CEDAR FALLS -- Twelfth-ranked Northern Iowa scored 24 second-half points to rally for a 27-17 victory over South Dakota State Saturday at the UNI-Dome.

UNI improved to 2-1, while the Jackrabbits fell to 0-3.

SDSU controlled the first half, scoring first on a 6-yard touchdown run by Cory Koenig with 2:15 remaining in the first quarter. That capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive in which Jackrabbit quarterback Andy Kardoes threw for 35 yards and ran for 34 more.

The Panthers trimmed the lead to 7-3 on a 43-yard field goal by Brian Wingert early in the second quarter, but the Jackrabbits countered with another scoring drive.

After Justin Kubesh intercepted an Eric Sanders pass and returned it 19 yards to the UNI 41, the Jackrabbit offense went back to work. SDSU put together a 10-play, 41-yard drive that ended on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Kardoes with 4:17 left in the quarter.

Moments later, the Jackrabbits appeared on the verge of breaking the game open as Brock Gentile intercepted a Sanders pass and returned it 25 yards to the UNI 3. A Jackrabbit penalty prior to the first play stalled the drive and SDSU had to settle for a 23-yard Parker Douglass field goal that put the Jacks up 17-3 heading into halftime.

In the second half, UNI rallied behind its running game. Corey Lewis, who gained 196 yards on just 16 carries -- an average of 12.2 yards -- tied the game at 17 with a 12-yard run with 5:49 to play in the third quarter. UNI had cut into the deficit with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Sanders to James Lindgren on the opening drive of the second half.

UNI gained its first lead with 12:34 remaining in the game as Wingert connected on his second field goal of the game, a 35-yarder.

Lewis then put the game out of reach as he scored from two yards out with 10:16 remaining, after breaking off runs of 12 and 22 yards earlier in the drive.

Turnovers hurt SDSU in the second half as Ryan Berry was intercepted in UNI territory in the third quarter and the Jackrabbits fumbled a pitch play away with just over four minutes remaining.

UNI totaled 378 yards of total offense with 299 coming on the ground. Backup Whitney Lewis added 66 yards on 14 carries.

Sanders finished the game 9-of-12 passing for 79 yards with the two interceptions and one touchdown.

For SDSU, Koenig tallied 52 yards on 17 carries, while Kardoes gained 49 yards on 18 carries. Kardoes also completed 17-of-26 passes for 173 yards and was sacked three times.

Dusty Snyders led Jackrabbit receivers with five catches for 47 yards.

Gentile led the SDSU defense with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops.

SDSU continues its stretch of road games Sept. 23 at Nicholls State (La.). Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. in Thibodaux, La.

Game Statistics