No. 1 ranked No. Iowa unbeaten

The Panthers will play host to YSU Saturday at a sold out UNIDome.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — The University of Northern Iowa is undefeated (7-0) and ranked No. 1 in the Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision poll.

The Panthers, who play host to Youngstown State Saturday at the UNIDome in Cedar Falls, are also in first place in the Gateway Football Conference standings with a 3-0 record.

There are plenty of reasons for the Panthers’ success this year, but one of the key reasons has been the play of senior quarterback Eric Sanders.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Sanders, a three-year starter, has been almost perfect this season, completing passes at a rate of 77.1 percent.

In seven games Sanders has completed 128-of-166 passes for 1,484 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s been intercepted four times.

For his career at UNI, Sanders is 605-of-877 (69 percent) for 7,654 yards, 61 TDs and 21 interceptions.

One of the reasons for Sanders’ success is the Panthers’ running attack. Last week, in a 42-3 win over Western Illinois, Sanders threw just eight passes and completed them all, while the Panthers rushed for 355 yards on 66 attempts.

Junior tailback Cory Lewis (6-0, 197) is the key man in the rushing game as he’s gained 821 yards on 140 carries and scored eight touchdowns.

“We’ve enjoyed a great balance offensively this season,” said Panthers coach Mark Farley, in his seventh season.

Farley and the Panthers have also enjoyed great success against the Penguins, winning six straight overall in the series and three in a row at the UNIDome.

“We’ve had some success against Youngstown State in the past, but one thing that I’ve learned is that you never take the Penguins for granted, because that is just too good of a football program,” Farley said.

“We know Youngstown is going to come in here ready to play and if we’re not ready we’re not going to win,” he added. “I think this football team has remained focused at the task at hand all season and I don’t see them losing that focus in a big game like this one.”

The Panthers are 156-40-1 all-time in the UNIDome and have seven undefeated seasons there since 1990. Northern Iowa officials announced Wednesday a sellout crowd of more than 16,000 is expected for Saturday’s game.

The Panthers are not just about offense. Their defense ranks as the best in the Gateway Conference, allowing 89 rushing yards and 13 points per game. Their rushing defense is ranked sixth in the country, while the offense (435.2 per game) is ranked 15th in FCS.

Heading up the UNI defense is senior free safety Clifford Watters (6-0, 203), with 47 tackles, an interception and a blocked punt.

Junior linebacker De’Veon Harris (6-1, 215) has 45 tackles, four for losses, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

Junior cornerback Darrell Lloyd (6-0, 191), senior linebacker Brandon Carter (6-3, 233) and senior safety Chris Parsons all have three interceptions. The Panthers have picked off 12 passes and hold a plus-10 edge in turnover margin.

The Panthers lost their outstanding kicker from a year ago, Brian Wingert, but redshirt freshman Billy Hallgren has made 20-of-20 PATs and 10-of-15 field goals, with a long of 53 yards.

Saturday’s game will be televised by WFMJ (21), with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m.

mollica@vindy.com