UNI Beats Texas State, 40-37, in overtime thriller
The University of Northern Iowa defeated No. 4 seed Texas State, 40-37, in the semifinals of the I-AA playoffs and will play in Friday's (Dec. 16) championship game in Chattanooga, Tenn. It's the first title game appearance for UNI after five previous semifinal trips without a win. It marks the fourth title game for a Gateway team since 1997.
Championship - Dec. 16
#4 Appalachian State vs. #6 UNI, 7 p.m. CST (ESPN2)
 Brian Wingert |
Appalachian State, also appearing in its first I-AA national championship game, beat Furman, 29-23, on Saturday, Dec. 9, to reach the title game.
UNI scored a touchdown with 1:27 remaining on a David Horne two-yard run and added a two-point conversion (Eric Sanders to Justin Surrency) to knot the game 37-37, then won the game in overtime, 40-37, following a Brian Wingert field goal and an ensuing interception on Texas State's possession. QB Eric Sanders had a career high with 417 passing yards and threw four TDs. He completed 24-of-31 attempts.
After the Panthers scored the game-tying TD to make it 37-37, Texas State had the ball and three timeouts with more than 70 seconds to play, but opted to take a knee and play for overtime. UNI lost the toss and was on offense first, with Wingert converting on a short field goal.
On its possession, Texas State moved the ball to the 12-yard line, but on third and 13 from the 15-yard line, Barrick Nealy threw his only interception of the game as Matt Tharp picked off the TSU QB to secure UNI's first-ever title-game trip.
As is customary with Sanders, nine different Panthers caught a ball, but Justin Surrency (8-123 and 1 TD) and Patrick Hunter (4-160 and 2 TDs) had the biggest days, receiving-wise. Horne led the Panther ground game with 73 yards, and the one TD, on 23 carries. Wingert had two field goals, including the game-winning 25-yarder. Tanner Varner led the team with 13 tackles.