YSU FOOTBALL UNI's late losses overshadow skill

The Panthers have lost three straight close games.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Northern Iowa might be the best 1-4 football team in I-AA.
Until last week the Panthers were ranked among the top 25 teams in national polls, but a 17-10 loss to No. 6 Western Kentucky dropped the Panthers out of the rankings.
Saturday, UNI comes to Youngstown State for the Penguins' homecoming game at 4 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Panthers have won three straight from the Penguins, including a 47-9 rout last year at the UNI-Dome.
UNI began this season with a 23-0 loss to Iowa State. Then, after a 43-0 win over Minnesota State, a Div. II school, the Panthers have lost three straight. In all three games, UNI has had a chance to win or tie in the final minute.
Against No. 13 Stephen F. Austin, the Panthers drove to the SFA 45 before losing 24-21 with 36 seconds remaining.
Two weeks ago, against No. 1 Southern Illinois, backup quarterback Eric Sanders drove the Panthers to SIU's 20-yard line before being intercepted in the closing seconds of a 40-36 loss.
Last week, against Western Kentucky, Sanders was again intercepted in the end zone with eight seconds remaining.
Four-year starting quarterback Tom Petrie suffered a fractured left clavicle with 10 minutes remaining against Southern Illinois. The Panthers led 20-0 in the first half of that game.
Sanders, a 6-foot-1, 188-pound redshirt freshman, led UNI to a touchdown before being intercepted at the 2-yard line on the final play of the game.
He has completed 26-of-44 passes for 281 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions.
Leaders
The Panthers' running attack is led by junior tailback Terrance Freeney (5-10, 223) who has 290 yards on 77 carries, while senior Richard Carter (5-5, 182) has 170 yards on 47 tries. The Panthers have scored only three rushing touchdowns -- two of them by Petrie before he got hurt -- and Sanders has the other one.
The top receiver is junior Justin Surrency (6-0, 182) who has 24 catches for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Andy Thorn and wide receiver James Lindgren have two touchdown receptions each.
Defensively, senior linebacker Danny Triplett (6-3, 248) leads the team with 25 tackles, including four for losses, while sophomore cornerback Dre Dokes (5-9, 168) and middle linebacker Brett Koebcke (6-1, 220) each have made over 20 tackles.
UNI has a strong kicking game, led by sophomore Brian Wingert, who is 6-of-7 in field goals, including a long of 43 yards, while senior Cory Henke is averaging over 40 yards per punt.
The Panthers are coached by Mark Farley, who is in his fourth season with an overall record of 27-16.