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#3/#4 University of Northern Iowa (1-1, 0-0 MVFC) vs.
Saint Francis (Pa.) University (1-1, 0-0 NEC)
Game #3 • Sat., Sept. 19, 2009 • 4:05 p.m. (Central)
Cedar Falls, Iowa • UNI-Dome/Stan Sheriff Field (17,324/MondoTurf)

Series vs. SFU: First Meeting
Television: None
Radio: Panther Sports Network

THE GAME
The nationally-ranked University of Northern Iowa football team (1-1 overall) will matchup Saturday in the UNI-Dome against the St. Francis (Pa.) University Red Flash (1-1 overall).

The first 12,000 fans through the UNI-Dome doors will receive a one square-foot piece of the old UNI-Dome turf. Four five-yard rolls of the AstroTurf have been cut into one-foot by one-foot squares so Panther fans can own a piece of history. The surface was replaced with MondoTurf Ecofill Star before the start of the 2009 season.

THE SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the first meeting between UNI and St. Francis on the football field.

THE COACHES
UNI head coach Mark Farley is in his ninth season at the helm of the Panther sideline. Farley has posted a mark of 76-29 in eight seasons, which includes five trips to the NCAA FCS playoffs.
Saint Francis head football coach Dave Opfar returns for his eighth season at the helm of the Red Flash with most of his starters returning and a talented freshmen class hungry for starting spots. Opfar is 16-60 as the head coach at SFU.

RADIO
The game will be broadcast on the Panther Sports Network. Gary Rima (play-by-play) and Scott Peterson (analyst) will call the action.

UNI PANTHERS GAMEDAY
ONLINE
Panther fans will be able to view most of UNI's home football games on www.UNIPanthers.com through UNI Panthers GAMEDAY Online. For a nominal fee, fans can get live streamed audio and video of most home games of UNI volleyball, football, men's basketball and women's basketball as well as some road contests. To sign up, please go to UNI's official athletic website at www.unipanthers.com and click on the Live Video link on the front page.

UNI FOOTBALL QUICK HITS
• The first 12,000 fans through the UNI-Dome doors on Sept. 19 for a matchup with Saint Francis (Pa.) University will receive a one square-foot piece of the old UNI-Dome turf. Four five-yard rolls of the AstroTurf have been cut into one-foot by one-foot squares so Panther fans can own a piece of history. The surface was replaced with MondoTurf Ecofill Star before the start of the 2009 season.

• UNI's 66-7 victory over South Dakota marked the largest victory margin ever for the Panthers over a Division I opponent. The previous record was a 68-14 victory over Indiana State in 2007 in the UNI-Dome.

• With two tackles for a loss against South Dakota, senior defensive end James Ruffin moved closer to the top of the Panthers' all-time list. Ruffin now has 31 tackles for a loss in his career, trailing Matt Mitchell's 37 TFL (2000-2003) and William Freeney's 35 TFL (1989-1992).

• One week after setting a career high mark for passing with 270 yards at Iowa, senior quarterback Pat Grace smashed his own record, throwing for 445 yards against South Dakota. Grace completed 24 of his 32 attempts with no interceptions. He also found four different receivers for one touchdown each.

• UNI head coach Mark Farley is entering his ninth season at the helm of the Panther program. Farley has posted a mark of 76-29, which puts him in third place on the Panthers' coaching victory. Farley trails Clyde Starbeck (95 wins) and Stan Sheriff (129 wins). Farley is the Panthers' all-time postseason wins leader with nine (9-5 all-time in the playoffs).

HI54UNI wrote:• UNI's 66-7 victory over South Dakota marked the largest victory margin ever for the Panthers over a Division I opponent. The previous record was a 68-14 victory over Indiana State in 2007 in the UNI-Dome.

Kind of. USD is not a full-fledged Div. I opponent. They're still provisional.

JayJ79 wrote:

HI54UNI wrote:• UNI's 66-7 victory over South Dakota marked the largest victory margin ever for the Panthers over a Division I opponent. The previous record was a 68-14 victory over Indiana State in 2007 in the UNI-Dome.

Kind of. USD is not a full-fledged Div. I opponent. They're still provisional.

They count as a D-I opponent.

I won't be here to post on the game thread.

I think UNI will continue to prove that they are one of the teams to beat in 2009.

St Francis' 10 point loss at UNH was a fluke. UNH offense is off to a slow start. They didn't even score an offensive TD in that game.

My predicition:
UNI 45
St. Francis 10

....and it might be worse.

UNI will take what their D gives us. If they try to stuff the run we will torch them through the air like we did USD. If they try to play balanced or play the pass we will put up over 300 yards on the ground.

I think UNI will be up over 600 yards of offense, unless St Francis has a lot of turnovers. I would guess they'll have at least 2.

I won't be here either but


UNI 48
St. Francis 6

UNI football: St. Francis improved from last season

Forget about it.

That's Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley's advice to fans and Panther followers who look at the 0-11 mark Saturday's 4 p.m. foe St. Francis (Pa.) recorded last season, and promptly etch a 'W' into his third-ranked team's ledger.

"It's an improved football team - and an eye-opener (came) when they played so well against New Hampshire at New Hampshire (a 24-14 loss)," said Farley, whose Panthers seek their 15th straight regular season win at the UNI-Dome.
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This year's version of the Northeast Conference Red Flash stands 1-1 after a 31-0 triumph last Saturday over the Pioneer Football League's Morehead State.

Farley said St. Francis spreads the field a la South Dakota, a team the Panthers humbled 66-7 last weekend when Pat Grace totaled seven touchdowns.

The Red Flash's John Kelly, a freshman, passed for two touchdowns and ran for another against Morehead State.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... /909190317