By: Howie Thompson, Director of Sports Communication
Box Score (HTML version)
Crookston, Minn. - The Peacock football team opened their 2013 campaign in impressive style on the road with a 47-0 victory at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Upper Iowa took a 27-0 lead into halftime and kept the intensity up thanks to tough defense and explosive offense in the second half.
Cole Jaeschke threw for 292 yards and 5 touchdowns on 17 completions in 26 attempts. The touchdown count for Jaeschke matched his career high which came last year at the University of Sioux Falls.
Lucas Hefty was the main target as the tight end pulled in 6 catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Shay Gutman pulled in four receptions for 90 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, UIU picked up 122 yards from junior back
Chris Smith; Smith crossed the goalline twice to account for the final two UIU touchdowns.
As potent as the offense was, the Peacock defense set the tone on the night pitching the team's first shutout since Sept. 14, 1994 when UIU shutout the Spartans of the University of Dubuque 30-0. UMC's offense gained only 61 yards of total offense while being held to -43 yards on the ground.
UIU's defense recorded 14 tackles for loss including 6 sacks against the Golden Eagle offense.
Tate Thompson (7 tackles and .5 tackles for loss), Branden Owen (6 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss),
Ethan Douglas (5 tackles and 1.5 sacks) adn
Thomas Lueck (5 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss) led the way, while
Jerrod Watkins intercepted a pass and
Alex Wahl recovered a fumble. The front line and linebackers for UIU kept the heat on the UMC quarterback for all four quarters.
The Peacocks will now return home to host the #11 Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth at Harms-Eischeid Stadium in Fayette next Saturday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. Upper Iowa will be celebrating Take A Kid to the Game, an NCAA Football initiative that will allow all kids under the age of 14 to attend the game for free. Gates will open at 4 p.m. and youth day activities will begin at that time and run until kickoff.