Courtesy: UNI Athletics Communications –
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The No. 4 University of Northern Iowa football team fell to the Southern Illinois Salukis in overtime, 24-17. The Panthers are now 4-2 overall and 0-2 in MVFC play.
Senior placekicker Tyler Sievertsen knocked in a 30-yard field goal to tie the game 17-17 with 4:33 left in the fourth quarter. After a missed field goal by SIU kicker Thomas Kinney, the game was sent into overtime.
The Salukis were able to score on its first possession off a five-yard rush from Malcolm Agnew to put SIU up 24-17. UNI was unable to convert on its overtime possession, and fell to the Salukis in overtime.
Sawyer Kollmorgen finished the game 16-23-0 for 184 yards and one touchdown. Kevin Vereen Jr. notched 91 yards through the air and one touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, Max Busher and Xavier Williams both grabbed 11 tackles and Deiondre’ Hall finished with a career-high 10 tackles.
Both teams were held scoreless in the first quarter with UNI and Southern Illinois only combining for a total of five first downs. Logan Bieghler was forced to punt three times, but was able to put SIU in poor field position after launching two punts within the SIU 20-yard-line.
Southern Illinois put the first points on the scoreboard after SIU quarterback Kory Faulkner found Josh Sullivan for a six-yard touchdown pass. The score put SIU up 7-0 with 9:20 left in the second quarter, burning 7:35 off the clock for 14 plays and 93 yards.
The Salukis struck again with 16 seconds left in the half when Faulkner linked up with LaSte McKinney for a five-yard passing touchdown. The drive took 2:26 off the clock for 10 plays and 82 yards, giving SIU a 14-0 lead.
In his first start of the season, Busher led the Panther defense at halftime with seven tackles. Kollmorgen finished the first half 9-14-0 for 72 yards.
With 7:50 left on the clock in the third quarter, Ray Mitchell notched his first interception of the season after Faulkner was looking down field. Mitchell returned the interception for 53 yards, but SIU’s John Flantz was able to force a fumble on the play.
Deiondre’ Hall was right there to recover the fumble, giving him credit for his own interception return for 29-yards to put UNI on the scoreboard. The defensive play cut SIU’s lead to 14-7.
On the next offensive play for the Panthers, Kollmorgen found Kevin Vereen Jr. for a 52-yard touchdown reception to tie the game with 4:51 left in the third quarter. The drive took 1:49 off the clock for four plays and 65 yards.
The Salukis jumped back on the board with 13:41 left in the fourth quarter when Thomas Kinney knocked in a 32-yard field goal to give SIU a 17-14 lead. The scoring drive took 3:01 off the clock for seven plays and 37 yards.
Sievertsen’s tying 30-yard field goal sent the game into overtime, but the Panthers were unable to match SIU’s overtime touchdown, eventually falling to the Salukis.
