A total of 16,890 fans were in attendance to see the No. 2-ranked University of Northern Iowa football team knock off the No. 17-ranked Indiana State Sycamores for Homecoming. The UNI defense forced three Sycamore turnovers and held ISU to just nine points in a hard-fought 23-9 victory. With the win, UNI sits alone atop the Missouri Valley Football Conference standings with a 3-0 record in conference play.

“That was a great, hard-fought football game,” said UNI head coach Mark Farley. “That was a very good Indiana State team and I’m very pleased with how our team played a complete game.”

UNI senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie connected with junior receiver Terrell Sinkfield on a 36-yard pass play to extend the Panther lead from four points to 11 points at 20-9 with just 4:13 remaining in regulation.

“Offensively, we knew we have to give our defense a break,” said Rennie. “That throw to Sinkfield was a big change in the game for us and that gave our defense a cushion.”

UNI (4-1, 3-0 MVFC) would add a 21-yard field goal with 2:49 remaining to make the final score 23-9 in favor of the Panthers.

“Hats off to Coach Farley and (UNI) for a great performance. They’ve got an outstanding football team. They play very well, especially at home. They’re a big, physical team with excellent skill and they deserved to win today,” said Indiana State head coach Trent Miles.

Indiana State (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) put points on the scoreboard first as they drove 54 yards on their opening drive and connected on a 44-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. However, that would be the only bright spot on the day for the Sycamore special teams and kicker Cory Little. Little was just one-for-three on field goals for the day, missing a 46-yard attempt and a 27-yard attempt. Little also missed his only extra point attempt.

“Any time you play here, it’s tough enough. When you put the ball on the ground with a chance to go ahead in the fourth quarter and you miss seven points’ worth of kicks playing a team that is No. 2 in the nation, you’re not going to win on the road,” said Miles.

“It always comes down to special teams and turnovers when two very good football teams (play),” said Farley. “The two (missed) kicks were very critical at the time and kept them at bay and of course, the interceptions are what sealed the game for us.”

UNI responded to the ISU field goal by adding one of their own as sophomore kicker Tyler Sievertsen connected on a 48-yard field goal attempt with 3:12 remaining in the first quarter.

The Panthers would take the lead for good at 10-3 when redshirt freshman running back David Johnson found the endzone from five yards out with 13:58 remaining in the second quarter. Johnson was just eight yards shy of his third consecutive 100 yard rushing game, carrying the ball 20 times for 92 yards and one touchdown.

Sycamore running back Shakir Bell, who entered the game with the most rushing yards in the Football Championship Subdivision, compiled 145 yards on 14 carries in the first half before leaving with a concussion.

“(Bell) got dinged up … I think it was a helmet-to-helmet (hit), but I couldn’t really tell. We held him out (of the second half),” said Miles. “I believe he could have played, but I will never jeopardize one of my players’ health for anything.”

Indiana State would find the endzone just before half time, but the missed extra point by Little kept the score at 10-9 in favor of UNI heading into the locker room.

Sievertsen would add a 37-yard field goal with 10:35 remaining in the third quarter to extend the UNI lead to 13-9. The game would not feature another score until Rennie connected with Sinkfield late in the fourth quarter.

Rennie completed 10 of his 14 pass attempts for 142 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 17 times for 93 yards.

Senior linebackers L.J. Fort and Jordan Smith led the UNI defensive effort with 12 tackles and 10 tackles, respectively. Fort and Smith each forced a turnover in the game, with Fort forcing a fumble and Smith intercepting a pass. Senior defensive lineman Ben Boothby recorded seven tackles and two sacks for UNI.12