Bobcats Fall in Playoff Tilt
11/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Northern Iowa battered Montana State on the ground Saturday night, but broke the Bobcats’ back with a lightning strike.
With the game tied at 14-14 early in the third quarter, Panther quarterback Tom Petrie hit Eddie Galles on a 75-yard touchdown pass, the longest play surrendered by the Bobcat defense this year, to give UNI a lead it wouldn’t surrender.
“The score is timed and we gave up a 75-yard bomb,” said MSU coach Mike Kramer. “That really took a lot out of us.”
Northern Iowa scored on two of its next three possessions to salt the game away. “They ran the ball on us extremely well today,” said Bobcat senior safety Kane Ioane. “We knew coming in that if they could run it on us it would be a long night.”
Richard Carter carried 10 times for 92 yards for UNI, and scampered 43 yards to set up the Panthers’ final, game-clinching score. Terrence Freeney carried 25 times for 80 yards, and scored two touchdowns. Petrie was 10-for-19 with an interception and a touchdown, and threw for 207 yards.
MSU senior Bruce Molock fell just short of a 1,000-yard season. He carried 12 times for 75 yards. Travis Lulay was 21-for-43 passing for 191 yards, with an interception and a TD. MSU’s most impressive drive was the first drive of the second half, when Lulay marched the ‘Cats 68 yards to tie the score at 14. Lulay scored on an 11-yard run, and was 4-for-4 passing on that drive with completions to four different receivers.
The Panthers scored early in the first quarter on a 27-yard field goal by Wingert. The Panthers had marched 69 yards to the Bobcat nine, so UNI scoring three points instead of seven buoyed the Bobcat defense. UNI converted a 49-yard field goal early in the second quarter after taking over on the MSU 44-yard line, capping another solid stand by the Bobcat defense.
As in last week’s Big Sky Championship win over Montana, the Bobcat offense started in sluggish fashion. MSU didn’t gain a first down until its third possession of the game, which came early in the second quarter. Travis Lulay completed a 13-yard third-down pass to Demetrius Willams for the team’s initial first down, then earned a new set of downs three plays later when Bruce Molock scampered 20 yards for a first down.
Corey Smith fumbled inside the UNI 10 two plays later, but Ray Sebestyen recovered a fumble on the Panthers’ first play of the ensuing drive. Scott Turnquist caught a 13-yard touchdown pass on the next drive -- the 13th of his career -- to give MSU a 7-6 lead.
The Bobcats forced Northern Iowa into a three-and-out possession on its next drive, and took over at the Panther 36 after a shanked punt. Plagued by a pair of penalties, the Bobcats punted on that possession, failing to capitalize on a significant opportunity.
On its final real drive of the half, Northern Iowa marched 40 yards after a short Travis Lulay punt and scored on a two-yard reverse by tight end Andy Thorn, and the two-point conversion gave UNI a 14-7 halftime cushion.
With the game tied at 14-14 early in the third quarter, Panther quarterback Tom Petrie hit Eddie Galles on a 75-yard touchdown pass, the longest play surrendered by the Bobcat defense this year, to give UNI a lead it wouldn’t surrender.
“The score is timed and we gave up a 75-yard bomb,” said MSU coach Mike Kramer. “That really took a lot out of us.”
Northern Iowa scored on two of its next three possessions to salt the game away. “They ran the ball on us extremely well today,” said Bobcat senior safety Kane Ioane. “We knew coming in that if they could run it on us it would be a long night.”
Richard Carter carried 10 times for 92 yards for UNI, and scampered 43 yards to set up the Panthers’ final, game-clinching score. Terrence Freeney carried 25 times for 80 yards, and scored two touchdowns. Petrie was 10-for-19 with an interception and a touchdown, and threw for 207 yards.
MSU senior Bruce Molock fell just short of a 1,000-yard season. He carried 12 times for 75 yards. Travis Lulay was 21-for-43 passing for 191 yards, with an interception and a TD. MSU’s most impressive drive was the first drive of the second half, when Lulay marched the ‘Cats 68 yards to tie the score at 14. Lulay scored on an 11-yard run, and was 4-for-4 passing on that drive with completions to four different receivers.
The Panthers scored early in the first quarter on a 27-yard field goal by Wingert. The Panthers had marched 69 yards to the Bobcat nine, so UNI scoring three points instead of seven buoyed the Bobcat defense. UNI converted a 49-yard field goal early in the second quarter after taking over on the MSU 44-yard line, capping another solid stand by the Bobcat defense.
As in last week’s Big Sky Championship win over Montana, the Bobcat offense started in sluggish fashion. MSU didn’t gain a first down until its third possession of the game, which came early in the second quarter. Travis Lulay completed a 13-yard third-down pass to Demetrius Willams for the team’s initial first down, then earned a new set of downs three plays later when Bruce Molock scampered 20 yards for a first down.
Corey Smith fumbled inside the UNI 10 two plays later, but Ray Sebestyen recovered a fumble on the Panthers’ first play of the ensuing drive. Scott Turnquist caught a 13-yard touchdown pass on the next drive -- the 13th of his career -- to give MSU a 7-6 lead.
The Bobcats forced Northern Iowa into a three-and-out possession on its next drive, and took over at the Panther 36 after a shanked punt. Plagued by a pair of penalties, the Bobcats punted on that possession, failing to capitalize on a significant opportunity.
On its final real drive of the half, Northern Iowa marched 40 yards after a short Travis Lulay punt and scored on a two-yard reverse by tight end Andy Thorn, and the two-point conversion gave UNI a 14-7 halftime cushion.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
