CARBONDALE, Ill. — UNI football delivered a dramatic fourth-down touchdown to pull even late Saturday, October 24, but Southern Illinois answered with a field goal as time expired to hand the Panthers a 20-17 road loss.
Cyrus Courtney’s second touchdown catch of the afternoon survived a replay review and helped tie the game with 2:10 remaining. The Salukis then drove 52 yards in nine plays, finishing with a 31-yard field goal that sent UNI home with its second consecutive Missouri Valley Football Conference defeat.
The Panthers fell to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The setback followed UNI’s 35-22 loss at No. 6 Youngstown State a week earlier.
Courtney’s spectacular catch gives UNI a late chance
Trailing 17-10 in the fourth quarter, UNI got a needed defensive stop when Jackson Stortz sacked Southern Illinois quarterback DJ Williams on third-and-nine. The Salukis punted, giving the Panthers the ball with 8:40 remaining.
Jaxon Dailey connected with Taj Hughes for 37 yards to move into Southern Illinois territory. A 15-yard completion to Brady McCullough on fourth down kept the possession alive as UNI worked toward the end zone.
The drive came down to another fourth-down throw, this time to Courtney at the back of the end zone.
Officials initially ruled the pass incomplete because Courtney was out of bounds. Replay overturned the call, determining he controlled the ball with a shoulder blade down in bounds. Blake Pankratz added the extra point to tie the game at 17.
Southern Illinois used the remaining time to move into field-goal range and deliver the deciding kick.
Panthers strike first but trail at halftime
UNI’s defense made an early stand, stopping Southern Illinois on fourth-and-one at the Panthers’ 27-yard line. The offense then reached the Salukis’ 17, but a missed 35-yard field-goal attempt left the game scoreless.
Mekhi Toms immediately gave UNI another opportunity, intercepting Williams on the first play of Southern Illinois’ next possession.
The Panthers turned that takeaway into an 11-play, 65-yard touchdown drive. Courtney opened the possession with a 25-yard reception and finished it with a four-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-goal, the first touchdown of his collegiate career.
Pankratz’s extra point gave UNI a 7-0 lead and marked the first point of his college career.
After the teams traded punts, Williams tied the game with an 18-yard touchdown run.
UNI linebacker Andrew Price later stopped a Southern Illinois fake field goal, returning possession to the Panthers with 1:34 left before halftime. But an interception gave the Salukis another scoring opportunity, and they converted a 21-yard field goal as time expired to lead 10-7 at the break.
Terrell tops 100 yards as Panthers battle back
UNI converted another fourth down early in the second half when Dailey found Hughes for 17 yards from the Southern Illinois 47.
The Panthers reached the 15 before the drive stalled. Pankratz made a 32-yard field goal, the first of his collegiate career, to tie the game at 10.
Williams answered with his second rushing touchdown, scoring from seven yards out to put Southern Illinois ahead 17-10.
UNI’s next possession ended on an unsuccessful fourth-down attempt at the Salukis’ 42 with just under 12 minutes remaining. The Panthers then forced the punt that set up their tying touchdown drive.
Dailey finished with 240 passing yards and two touchdowns on 26 completions. Xavier Terrell became UNI’s first 100-yard rusher of the season, gaining 101 yards on 15 carries.
Courtney caught six passes for 49 yards and both UNI touchdowns. Calvin Jaworski led the defense with 13 tackles, including seven solo stops.
Toms’ first-quarter interception was his first takeaway as a Panther and the second interception of his college career.
Indiana State visits the UNI-Dome on Halloween
UNI returns home Saturday, October 31, to face Indiana State at the UNI-Dome. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central.
Brad Wells and Justin Surrency will call the game on ESPN+. Radio coverage will feature JW Cox and Scott “Petey” Peterson on 93.5 The Mix and the Panther Sports Radio Network.