Game Preview: University of Northern Iowa

The Jacks (4-1 and 1-1) enter week 3 of MVFC play coming off a big win over the Salukis of Southern Illinois.  This week is Hobo Week and Saturday is capped by the 105th  Hobo Day with the Jacks taking on the University of Northern Iowa Panthers (2-3 and 1-1).  UNI is always dangerous.  They are a proud program and usually are really physical on both sides of the ball.  UNI is coming off a tough loss to Western Illinois, 38-29, after earning a close win over SIU in week one of MVFC play.  Two years ago UNI spoiled Hobo Day with a 10-7 victory in a very frustrating game for the Jacks.

Last season the Jacks dominated the Panthers 45-24.  The Jacks offense was firing on all cylinders and the game was capped off by a very memorable Kellen Soulek interception and touchdown rumble.


Offense
The UNI offense has shifted from a power running game to more of a passing offense.  This season they are only averaging 72.6 rushing and only 2.4 per attempt.  The passing offense has been better and averages 295.8 yards per game.  However, they have tossed 8 interceptions on the season.  Even with their struggles running the ball, UNI is averaging 28 points per game.

At quarterback UNI is lead by #14 Eli Dunne.  Dunne became the starter mid-way through last season and is a very good passer.  He has thrown for 1479 yards on the season to go with 15 touchdowns and a 62% completion percentage.  However, he has tossed the 8 interceptions.  Dunne has a strong arm and has speedy weapons at the wide receiver position that allow him to show off that talent.  Last week against WIU, Dunne tossed  4 touchdowns and 342 yards on 25-41 passing.  Again, two of those incompletions were actually interceptions.    

The wide receiver position is a position of strength for the Panthers.  #10 Daurice Fountain, #83 Jaylin James, and #87 Jalen Rima are all back from strong 2016 campaigns.  On the season Fountain leads the way with 32 receptions for 452 yards and 4 TDs.  James (19 for 217, and 1 TD),  running back #25 Trevor Allen (16 for 123, and 2 TDs) along with 6-4 redshirt freshman  #80 Isaiah Weston (10 for 151, and 1 TD) provide plenty of talent for Dunn to pass the ball to.  They are joined by two strong tight ends in #86 Briley Moore and #85 Elias Nissen.  Moore has 20 for 186 yards and Nissen has 11 for 116 and 4 TDs.  Both tight ends are capable blockers and receivers.

The UNI offensive line has a good mix of experience and youth.  They are a big bodied line so it is surprising that they have done so poorly in the rushing attack.  At left tackle UNI starts senior #75 Cal Twait (6-5, 300) who is a 3rd year starter.  At left guard the Panthers return sophomore #74 Jackson Scott Brown (6-4, 312) for his second year of starting action.  At center #60 Lee Carhart (6-3, 301) has been a part time starter in the past.  Right guard #77 Bryce Sweeney (6-5, 323) missed the entire 2016 season due to injury but started all but one game in 2015.  The right tackle starter is redshirt freshman #76 Spencer Brown (6-8, 290).  Again, they haven't been great run blocking and have allowed 14 sacks so far this season.

At running back, #25 Trevor Allen returns for his sophomore season.  Allen has 256 yards rushing and 1 touchdown on the season and as previously stated, is a weapon in the passing game.  Other options in the running game are #34 J'Veyon Browning (39 attempts, 136 yards) and #21 Christian Jegen (28 attempts, 76 yards).  The Panthers don't use a typical fullback but do rely on the tight ends, Moore and Nissen to serve as H-backs.

Defense
The UNI defense is allowing 31 points per game.  They are allowing 177 yards per game on the ground and 272 through the air.  UNI has only reached the quarterback 5 times throughout the first few games.  The Panthers lost Buchanan Award winner Karter Schult to graduation so their pass rush has certainly suffered without his presence.

The strength of the defense is the linebacker unit.  The group is led by senior #46 Jared Farley.  On the season Farley has stuffed the stat sheet with 60 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 pass break-up, and 1 fumble recovery.  He is the heart of the defense and was named to the preseason MVFC team.  #39 Duncan Ferch is the second leading tackler from his OLB position with 40 total tackles.  #7 Rickey Neal leads the team with 2 sacks and has 14 total tackles on the year.

The defensive line is experienced and large.  Senior #99 Adam Reth (6-3 270), junior #98 Bryce Douglass (6-0, 304), senior #61 Preston Woods (6-0, 287), and sophomore #64 Hezekial Applegate (6-2, 281) comprise the experienced unit.  Reth is active for a defensive linemen having 37 tackles and a sack on the season along with 3 quarterback hits.  Douglass, Woods, and Applegate have 21, 19, and 12 tackles on the season and 1 total sack.

The secondary returns experience at the cornerback position but is breaking in two new starters at safety.  Senior #2 Malcolm Washington has two interceptions on the season and 24 tackles.  Washington was named to the MVFC preseason first team.  He is teamed with #1 Elijah Campbell, who was second team All-MVFC in 2016.  Campbell has 21 tackles and 7 pass break-ups on the season.  Again, this is a really good duo.  At safety, UNI starts a true freshman and a redshirt freshman in  #19 Suni Lane and #36 Korby Sander.  Lane has 22 tackles so far and 1 pass break-up and Sander has 18 tackles and 5 pass break-ups.  Their inexperience is covered up by Farley in the middle and the outstanding cornerbacks that UNI starts.

Special Teams
The UNI special teams return the dynamic #87 Jalen Rima who returned a 99 yard kick return against the Jacks in 2016.  This season he only has had 7 attempts for a 17 yard average.  He has also so far been contained on punt returns with just 4 attempts for 12 yards.

UNI punter, #92 Sam Kuhter, is having a great season averaging 45 yards per boot in 2017 along with 13 downed inside the 20 yard line and 11 kicks of over 50+ yards.  The kick-off unit has been with 10 touchbacks on 26 attempts with #58 Austin Errthum handling the duties.

The field goal unit looks like it has been a bit of an adventure.  They have used two different kickers in #62 Sam Drysdale and Errthum.  Drysdale is 3-6 on the season with all 3 makes coming from over 40 yards with a long of 45.  Errthum is 2-3 with a long of 42 yards.

Prediction
I never know what to expect when the Jacks meet UNI.  Last year the Jacks moved the ball at will against them.  Two years ago, they could barely move the ball.  I think this year is somewhere in the middle.  I'm excited to see how the Jackrabbit secondary responds to it's first true threat from a pass-first offense.  I'm predicting a Hobo Day victory for the Jackrabbits 37-17.

Go Jacks!
-Matt