Northern Iowa was looking to stop the bleeding against the #18 Missouri State Bears, but was unable to stop the Bear offense. Northern Iowa opened the game on offense. After gained a rushing first down they were forced to punt after an incomplete pass intended to Sergio Morency. Missouri State faced a fourth down and one yard to go deep in their own territory. Jacob Clark was able to sneak forward to gain the new set of downs. On the next play Jacardia Wright ran for a 37 yard gain to the UNI 26 yard line. Two plays later Jayden Becks took a hand off 11 yards for the first score the game. The score capped an 88 yard drive that covered 3:43 of game clock.
On UNI’s second drive Tye Edwards ripped off a 22 yard run to spur the Panther offense into Bear territory. After Morency 14 yard catch and another Edwards run UNI was set up with a 1st and goal at the Missouri State nine yard line. Amauri Pesek-Hunter capped the drive with a 1 yard touchdown dive to tie the score at seven.
The Panther defense held and took a punt at there own 8 yard line. On a third and ten play Matthew Schecklman found Jaiden Ellis-Lahey for a 27 yard pick up as the first quarter game to an end. On the second play of the second quarter the Panther faithful’s hearts stopped when there was an apparent interception for a touchdown by Missouri State, but was ruled incomplete after review. On the next Missouri State drive it took three plays for the Bears to cover 79 yards and score on a 54 yard Becks run to make the score 14-7 with 12:08 remaining in the second quarter.
UNI countered with a drive of there own, with the benefit of 35 yards worth of Missouri State penalties, to score the equalizer on another Pesek-Hickson touchdown run. This time he skittered to the left for nine yards and the score to knot the score at 14-14 with 7:38 remaining. Missouri State answered quickly, scoring when Jacob Clark hit James Black-Strain for a five yard touchdown. The Panthers immediately answered with a drive of their own, moving 53 yards on three plays to set themselves up at the Bear 21 yard line at the 2:00 minute timeout. Morency picked up a critical third down taking the ball to the seven yard line with 1:17 left in the half. UNI capped it off with an Edwards three yard dive into the endzone. After the Caden Palmer extra point the game was tied 21-21. The score held until the break. UNI rushed for 171 yards in the first half, but were nearly matched by Missouri State’s 157 yards rushing…