Northern Iowa Panthers
Missouri Valley
Since the middle of October, Northern Iowa has been playing for their playoff lives. The Panthers started the season falling at Iowa and at Hawaii in a couple of close contests. After a couple of easy victories, UNI lost 20-19 at Indiana State and two weeks later lost their fourth game of the year against South Dakota State. Sitting there with a 3-4 record and some tough MVFC opponents yet to come, Northern Iowa was in trouble. One more loss and this team would be staring at a 7-5 record at best and that is probably not good enough for the playoffs, despite the brutal schedule. But Coach Mark Farley rallied his team each and every week and the Panthers won their last five games of the year, including wins over Illinois State and North Dakota State.
2014 Record: 8-4, 6-2
Coach: Mark Farley
Big Wins: 11/1 Illinois State (42-28), 11/8 North Dakota State (23-3)
Bad Losses: 10/4 at Indiana State (19-20), 10/18 South Dakota State (28-31)
Strengths:
The Panthers defense is occasionally susceptible through the air, but the unit as a whole is one of the best in the country. They have allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards and 20 points per game. Linebacker Jake Farley is a superb playmaker in the middle of the field and leads the team with tackles. Brett McMakin, Xavier Williams, Isaac Ales and Ronelle McNeil are all great linemen who are capable of wreaking havoc in the opponent’s backfield. Those four alone have accounted for 29 sacks and 52 tackles-for-loss. That makes life easy for the secondary and explains why they are among the best in the FCS when it comes to intercepting passes. Tim Kilfoy, Max Busher, Ray Mitchell and Deiondre’ Hall all have at least two interceptions on the year and Kilfoy has returned two for touchdowns.
Weaknesses:
It is tough to call an offense that has David Johnson a weakness. The senior back has had an amazing collegiate career and has rushed for 1,353 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. But he is not getting much space to operate at times with inconsistencies at quarterback for UNI. Coach Farley has run a two-quarterback system at times this year, rotating between senior Brion Carnes and junior Sawyer Kollmorgen. But it is Carnes who has led the team during the season ending winning streak. On the year he has thrown for just 941 yards and five touchdowns, with five interceptions, but his ability to make plays with his feet is something Kollmorgen cannot do. It really does open up options for Coach Farley in many situations. No longer can the opposition key in on Johnson in short yardage situations.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: David Johnson, RB, 1,353 yards
Passing: Sawyer Kollmorgen, QB, 1,401 yards
Receiving: Brett LeMaster, WR, 399 yards
Tackles: Jake Farley, LB, 100
Sacks: Brett McMakin, DL, 8.5
Interceptions: Tim Kilfoy, DB, 4; Deiondre’ Hall, DB, 4
2014 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 160.7 (66th in nation, 7th in conference)
Passing Offense: 198.2 (79, 8)
Total Offense: 358.9 (84, 8)
Scoring Offense: 31.7 (37, 3)
Rushing Defense: 94.5 (5, 1)
Pass Defense: 202.2 (49, 5)
Total Defense: 296.6 (11, 2)
Scoring Defense: 18.5 (13, 3)
Turnover Margin: 0.91 (7, 2)
Sacks: 3.82 (2, 1)
Sacks Allowed: 1.82 (47, 5)
Recent Playoff Appearances:
2011 Second Round Defeated Wofford
2011 Quarterfinals Lost to Montana
2010 First Round Lost to Lehigh
2008 First Round Defeated Maine
2008 Quarterfinals Defeated New Hampshire
2008 Semifinals Lost to Richmond
2007 First Round Defeated New Hampshire
2007 Quarterfinals Lost to Delaware
2005 First Round Defeated Eastern Washington
2005 Quarterfinals Defeated New Hampshire
2005 Semifinals Defeated Texas State
2005 Championship Lost to Appalachian State
2003 First Round Defeated Montana State
2003 Quarterfinals Lost to Delaware
2001 First Round Defeated Eastern Illinois
2001 Quarterfinals Defeated Maine
2001 Semifinals Lost to Montana
1996 First Round Defeated Eastern Illinois
1996 Quarterfinals Defeated William & Mary
1996 Semifinals Lost to Marshall
1995 First Round Defeated Murray State
1995 Quarterfinals Lost to Marshall
1994 First Round Lost to Montana
1993 First Round Lost to Boston University
1992 First Round Defeated Eastern Washington
1992 Quarterfinals Defeated McNeese State
1992 Semifinals Lost to Youngstown State
1991 First Round Defeated Weber State
1991 Quarterfinals Lost to Marshall
1990 First Round Lost to Boise State
1987 First Round Defeated Youngstown State
1987 Quarterfinals Defeated Arkansas State
1987 Semifinals Lost to Louisiana Monroe
1985 Quarterfinals Defeated Eastern Washington
1985 Semifinals Lost to Georgia Southern
*all team stats through 11/15
