This past weekend on Sept. 21, the UNI Panthers traveled to Hawaii for a matchup with the Rainbow Warriors. The Panthers came into the game with a record of 2-1, while the Rainbow Warriors had a 1-2 record. In the Panthers last game before the start of the Missouri Valley Conference schedule, they fell to Hawaii 36-7.
The Panthers started the game with a solid drive, but running back Amauri Pesek-Hickson fumbled the ball in Hawaii territory. The Rainbow Warriors took full advantage and put the first points of the day on the board when Braden Schager connected with Jonah Panoke for the 24-yard score. Schager continued to cause problems for the UNI defense when he threw two more touchdowns on Hawaii’s next two possessions. The first one to Pofele Ashlock and the second to Nick Cenacle. With just over nine minutes left in the first half, Hawaii led 22-0.
Late in the first half the Panthers mounted a scoring drive of their own, as Aidan Dunne ran in for the three yard score. UNI got an interception on the next Hawaii drive, but were unable to get anything going offensively following the turnover. Hawaii got the ball back with about a minute left in the half, and it looked like they might get a field goal before the end of the half. The UNI defense held them off with another interception, and the score stayed 22-7 in favor of the Rainbow Warriors.
The Panthers came out and got a stop on the first possession of the second half, but after a quick three and out the ball was right back in Hawaii’s hands. The Rainbow Warriors had a six minute drive that ended in Schager throwing his fourth touchdown of the day, to Cenacle who caught his second. Matthew Schecklam came in at quarterback late in the third quarter, and put together a solid drive. Unfortunately, it continued to show it was not the Panthers day when Layne Pryor fumbled the ball in Hawaii territory at the 26 yard line. Hawaii would have one more score on a six yard run by Landon Sims, and the Panthers would lose 36-7.
For the Panthers, Dunne threw for 104 yards and had a touchdown run, while Pesek-Hickson led the way on the ground with 43 yards. Sergio Morancy led all UNI receivers with 38 yards. For Hawaii, Schager threw for 374 yards and four touchdowns. Cenacle had 63 yards receiving and two touchdowns, while Sims ran for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Following the loss to Hawaii, the Panthers are now 2-2. The Panthers have a bye week coming up, so they will not be back in action until Oct. 5. The Panthers will use the bye week to get extra prep for the conference opener against #1 South Dakota State in the UNI Dome.
