Redbirds Look to Continue Momentum as They Face UNI in Week 11

Image Courtesy of Redbird Athletics

NORMAL, Ill. – Redbirds used their off-week to perfection, coming off that bye with a 23-16 over Youngstown State at home. The Birds have played well at home so far this season, with a 3-2 record at Hancock Stadium, but ISU will take to the road this week and take on the Panthers from UNI. Coach Spack said in his Tuesday Press Conference, “It is tough to play on the road in MVC, no matter who you play.”

The team they will head to face, Northern Iowa, has played an absolute gauntlet of a schedule. The Panthers are coming off their 7th straight loss to the #1 team in the country in FCS the North Dakota State Bison. Their gauntlet of schedule started in Week 3 when they travelled to take on the then #23 ranked Huskers from Nebraska. After playing another FBS team in Hawaii at their place, they would have to go through the always tough Dakota teams. The Panthers would only be able muster up 46 total points against the 4 Dakota teams, scoring the most last weekend in a 42-19 loss to NDSU.

In light of this losing streak, the Panthers may have found their answer at Quarterback. After making the switch from Junior Quarterback Aidan Dunne to Sophomore Matthew Schecklman, the Panther offense seems to be finding somewhat of a groove. After making his 4th start Schecklman has now thrown for 1,103 yards, 7 TDs, and only 2 INTs. The drop in turnovers has led the UNI offense to trust their new QB, and after his 270 passing yards and 3 TDs against Missouri State in a 7-point loss, they seem to have confidence in the Sophomore.

The Redbirds have seemed to find their stride again in the run game, rushing for almost 200 yards (193) in last week’s win over Youngstown State. Junior Wenkers Wright took point for the rush attack with 104 total rushing yards on just 10 carries. Freshman Matt Lawson added 68 more, while Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse scored the only rushing touchdown for the Redbirds. Rittenhouse also added 2 passing touchdowns to give him 3 on the day, one going to Wright and the other going to Senior Tight End Javon Charles.

Coach Spack enjoyed the way his team played coming off the bye, “we played with tons of energy and were very fundamentally sound.” The Redbirds will have to continue to play well heading into the final 3 games of the year, especially if they are looking to secure a playoff spot. This Week 11 matchup consists of a 6-3 Redbird team who may be finding their stride at the right time and a 2-7 UNI Panthers team who just got out of the toughest stretch of games anyone in the FCS will see this year. Kickoff is set for 1 pm in the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.