Game Preview: University of Northern Iowa
The 2018 UNI team comes in very balanced on both sides of the ball. The Panthers play solid defense and have a balanced approach on offense. The UNI Dome is also a challenging place to play and the crowd may be extra amped up because of homecoming.
Offense
The UNI offense comes in averaging 31 points per game in 2018. Their running game (129 ypg) hasn't quite clicked yet this season but the passing offense (240.5) has been surprisingly explosive in 2018. This is an experienced group as they have returned 7 players who started last years playoff match-up.
#14 Eli Dunne has been the starting quarterback for the Panthers for 2.5 seasons. He is solid and doesn't make a ton of mistakes. In 2018, he has been outstanding. He had a very good game against NDSU passing for 362 yards and 3 TDs. On the season he is completing 62.7% of his passes with just 2 interceptions to 12 touchdowns. Compared to the last few quarterbacks the Jacks have faced, Dunne is not a threat to run the ball with 22 attempts on the season resulting in -20 yards. He has been sacked 10 times on the season but this doesn't seem to phase the veteran signal caller.
The running backs are the same group who faced the Jackrabbits twice last season. #8 Marcus Weymiller is a name that Jackrabbit fans won't forget anytime soon. In the regular season match-up Weymiller plowed for 174 yards and 2 TDs on 42 carries. However, he was held in check in the playoff matchup with just 13 carries for 60 yards. This season he has yielded to #25 Trevor Allen who has rushed for 420 yards and 3 TDs and a 4.5 average. Weymiller on the other hand has 83 attempts for 310 yards with just a long of 17 yards. Last week, USD held both of these backs in check and allowed just 121 total rushing yards. Last year the Panthers pulled Weymiller out of nowhere to have a career day against SDSU so don't be surprised if they have some weird wrinkle they use again this season.
The UNI receiving corp lost a NFL draft pick in Daurice Fountain but is still plenty talented. None of these guys scare you but collectively they are a solid group. The group is lead by a very talented tight end in #86 Briley Moore. Moore leads the team with 23 receptions for 317 yards and 3 TDs. Moore is a big body who can really run. The Panthers have a freshman slot receiver in #4 Deion McShane who has exploded onto the scene with 22 receptions for 290 yards and 2 TDs. The Panthers use him similar to how the Jackrabbits use Cade Johnson. He is dangerous in the open field and they like to get him the ball early to get the defense on their heels. On the outside the Panthers line up with #83 Jaylin James (15 rec, 156 yards, 2 TDs), #87 Jalen Rima (9 rec, 151 yards), and #82 Nick Fossey (14 rec, 144 yards, 3 TDs). The other tight end is #85 Elias Nissen (7 rec, 86 yards, 2 TD). Trevor Allen is a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield (19 rec, 193 yards) and the Jackrabbits must account for him as Dunne's outlet receiver.
The Panther offensive line brings back some experience but is also breaking in a couple of new starters. From left to right they go #75 Cal Twait (6-5, 305) senior, #74 Jackson Scott-Brown (6-4, 31) junior, #79 Ezrah Szcyrbak (6-4, 299) senior, #78 Tyler Putney (6-6, 302) senior, and #76 Spencer Brown (6'8, 290) sophomore. This is a solid group without any all-stars or all-conference type of players. They have allowed 10 sacks on the season but have also struggled to create a lot of room in the running game so far. Twait is one of the better offensive linemen in the MVFC and he and Scott-Brown and Brown have plenty of big game experience.
Defense
The UNI defense was expected to be down in 2018 after losing so many long time starters to graduation. However, the four starters they are returning have been joined by a number of new faces that have contributed to another solid Panther defense. They allow 24.67 ppg, and 161.3 yards per game rushing, while surrendering just 218.67 through the air. They have also sacked the quarterback 12 times, 5 coming last week against a struggling USD offensive line. Last year during the regular season matchup against the Jacks, UNI unveiled a 3-4 defense. They bounce between that and a 4-3 that keeps the defense on their toes.
The group is lead by a really good secondary. #9 Xavior Williams is a really athletic cornerback and has 26 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 breakups in 2018. Opposite him is #1 Roosevelt Lawrence, a transfer from Iowa Central CC, who comes in with 24 tackles and 1 interception. #21 Christian Jegen, a former running back, plays a hybrid safety/linebacker role for UNI and has 11 tackles in just 3 games . The safeties are #23 A.J Allen and #5 Korby Sander. Allen and Sander each have 38 tackles and Allen has 2 interceptions. UNI's pass defense is always good. I think the 2018 version is no exception.
The best player on the UNI defense is #7 Ricky Neal (6-1, 241) a senior defensive end. He is very disruptive and comes in with 4.5 sacks and 5 quarterback hurries along with 25 tackles. He was recognized as a 2nd team All-MVFC player in 2017 and will likely be on the first team in 2018. The Jackrabbit tackles will again have their hands full. Opposite him is new starter #92 Seth Thomas (6-5, 262) who has 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The interior is manned by big #98 Bryce Douglass (6-0, 204). Douglass is more than just a block eater, he is 5th on the team with 35 tackles, 6 for loss, and 1.5 sacks. #91 Brawntae Wells (6-2, 261) also sees significant time and has 16 tackles in his sophomore season. #44 Jared Brinkman (5-11, 290) is another player to watch with 16 total tackles and 2 sacks. #64 Hezekiah Applegate (6-2, 285) is seeing playing time again this year but only has 9 tackles so far in 2018.
The linebacker group is without a Farley for the first time in many years but the quality of play is still present. #48 Chris Kolarevic leads UNI in tackles with 65 tackles and has 1 interception and 4 breakups. He is banged up and may not go on Saturday. This would be a huge loss for the UNI defense if he is unable to play. Returning starter #39 Duncan Ferch has pitched in with 55 tackles, 2 INTs and 5 breakups and #41 Blake Thomas has 16 tackles. Ferch and Thomas are Seniors but Kolarevic is looking like the next stud in a long line of UNI linebackers. Also seeing action is #31 Jevon Brekke (17 tackles) a true freshman from Minneapolis.
Special Teams
UNI typically fields a sound group of special team performers. 2018 is no exception. #43 Austin Errthum handles the kicking duties and is 8 of 10 on field goals and 21 of 21 on extra points. He is averaging 63 yards on his kickoffs and has forced 20 touchbacks on 36 attempts. The punting responsibilities are taken care of by #88 Michael Kuntz who has a 43 yard average on 18 attempts. Kuntz has only played in three games and was out for a stretch between Iowa and USD. He appears back to health as he punted 7 times against USD and finished with a 39 yard average and landed 5 inside the 20.
The kick returners are dangerous in Xavior Williams and Deion McShane. The Jackrabbit coverage units have been excellent in 2018 and will have to be at their best on Saturday. They don't have a great average so far this year but they both have great speed and are elusive enough that they could cause problems. On punt return, the Panthers have decided to go with sure-handedness over elusiveness with Marcus Weymiller handling the job.
This will be a tough game for the Jackrabbits. The Jackrabbit depth is being tested more than it ever has. So far it has responded positively. The UNI dome is tough place to play and the Jackrabbit defense will have to be ready to play from the first whistle on. I think the Jackrabbit offensive line will be able to create some lanes against the UNI defense and I like the SDSU secondary against the UNI wide receivers. It will come down to how SDSU manages the power run game that UNI is likely to deploy and how SDSU handles Briley Moore. I think they figure out a way and the Jacks win 38-31.
Go Jacks!
Matt
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