Happy Hobo Day! The Jackrabbits take on the Panthers of Northern Iowa on Saturday; which also happens to be Hobo Day. The Jackrabbits (5-0, 1-0) are coming off of a big win to the start of MVFC play while the Panthers (2-3, 0-1) are coming off a big home loss to UND. UNI has a new head coach as Mark Farley has now retired. In his place is former Drake head coach, Todd Stepsis and an entirely new coaching staff. UNI has had budget issues for years and they are finally working to update their facilities, including the UNI-Dome. UNI has struggled the past few years under Farley and it will take some time to rebuild the roster. However, as we continue to emphasize. There are no easy days in the Valley and the Jacks will need to be ready from the jump for a once proud program that would love nothing better than to spoil Hobo Day again.
Offense
The UNI offense has struggled to get out of neutral in 2025. They are scoring just 15.6 points per game rushing for 115.8 yards per game and passing for 213.2 yards per game. They have a 50/50 run/pass split. They are controlling the ball to the tune of 33 minutes per game and are converting on 44% of their 3rd down opportunities. In the redzone they have struggled scoring on 9 of 13 attempts with just 5 being touchdowns. Kind of shockingly, they have just 2 rushing touchdowns on the season. They’ve lost 3 fumbles, tossed 4 interceptions and allowed 12 sacks.
The offense is led by #3 Matthew Schecklman (6-3, 210) who played some in 2024. So far this season he is completing 63% of his passes for 1,041 yards and 7 TDs. He has tossed all four INTs. He may not be a true dual threat quarterback but he isn’t a statue either and is mobile enough to get away from pressure. He has a gross 95 yards and a long of 21. The Jacks should be able to get some pressure on Schecklman but it will be important to not open escape lanes for him. The quarterback who split time with Schecklman in 2024 was #10 Aidan Dunne (6-0, 206). He has played sparingly this season and has just 5 attempts on the season.
The leading rusher is #32 Harrison Bey-Buie (5-10, 215) who has 234 yards (3.4 ypc) and 2 TD this season. He has also added 5 receptions for 43 yards. Bey-Buie had a terrific freshmen campaign for Eastern Illinois in 2021 before transferring to UNI but in his three seasons as a Panther he has struggled to stay healthy. We’ll see what he can do on Saturday. The backup running back is #1 Bill Jackson (5-9, 197) who transfers in from Tulsa where he rushed for 919 yards across 3 seasons. This season he has 169 yards rushing (4.8 ypc) with a long of 21 yards while catching 11 passes for 43 yards.
At wide receiver the Panthers have some experienced talent for Schecklman to rely on. #13 Tysen Kershaw (6-3, 211) feels like he has been around forever. It feels that way because this is his 6th season of college football but also because he made his first two receptions of his career as a true freshman against the Jacks in the spring of 2021. Last year was his best collegiate season with 12 receptions for 193 and a TD. This season he is off to a strong start with 16 receptions for 270 yards and 2 TD with a long of 79 yards. Opposite him is Iowa transfer #2 Ayden Price (6-0, 198) who happens to be the older brother of Jackrabbit freshman linebacker Andrew Price. Ayden did not record any stats at Iowa but he has been very productive at UNI so far with 12 receptions for 251 yards and 2 TD. Yes, that is a whopping 20.92 yards per reception. Wow! In the slot is the diminutive #0 JC Roque Jr. (5-9, 178). The Panthers are using him as an extension of the run game and spamming him with the ball. He has 26 receptions for 204 yards and 1 TD. #19 Graham Friedrichsen (6-1, 207) is a key reserve and has 7 receptions for 57 yards. He also transferred in from Iowa but did not record any stats across three seasons. At tight end, #88 Derek Anderson (6-6, 260) is one of the better TEs in the league. He has 12 receptions for 116 yards and 2 TD.
The offensive line looks like a UNI offensive line; big and strong. They have pretty good experience returning as well. From left to right they go:
LT: #65 Blake Anderson (6-5, 315, RSr): starter for the past 2 seasons and was on the Phil Steele Preseason All-MVFC 3rd Team.
LG: #62 Jack Hearne (6-2, 300, RSo): 1st year starter
C: #51 Keean Kamerling (6-4, 290, RSr): contributor and depth piece for the past two seasons
RG: #71 Josh Volk (6-4, 329, RSr): Starter in 2024. Transferred in from Iowa in 2023.
RT: #70 Gavin Proudfoot (6-7, 300, RJr): 1st year starter
Defense
The Panther defense has played pretty well, overall, in 2025 allowing just 22.8 ppg. Opponents have found some success on the ground rushing for 174 yards per game but it has been a bit more difficult in the passing game where they are allowing 178.6 yards per game. UNI does have 3 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries and 6 sacks. UNI has struggled a bit on 3rd down where they allow opponents to convert 45% of the time. In the redzone they get a little more stout. Opponents have scored on 13 of 18 attempts with just 11 touchdowns. That will be a good test for the Jackrabbit offense where they are improving in the redzone after a slow start to the season. The Panthers play a 4-3 defense after a number of years running a 3-4 or a 4-2-5.
Upfront they are pretty stout as #2 Jack Kriebs (6-3, 295,RSr) is one of the best defensive tackles in the MVFC when healthy. He has 15 tackles, a TFL, and a forced fumble on the season. He’s a big man and hard to move off the line of scrimmage. Next to him is #92 Jackson Stortz (6-4, 285 (RSo). Stortz has outproduced Kriebs this season and has 16 tackles, a TFL, and 2 PBUs. One of the starting ends is #55 Owen Ostroski (6-2, 266, RSr) who was committed to the Jacks after transferring from Tulsa before flipping to UNI after the coaching change. He’s having a disruptive season with 16 tackles of his own along with 4 TFL, 3 sacks, an INT, and 2 PBU. His brother is the offensive line coach for UNI. Opposite Ostroski is #16 Jamarion Augustus (6-3, 240 RJR) who started his career at North Alabama before spending last season at Highland Community College where he racked up 21 tackles and 6 sacks. This season he has 14 total tackles and 2 sacks. #95 Jaylen Pettus (6-3, 255) is a reserve end who has 4 tackles and 2 TFL on the season. Defensive tackle #90 Ryan Kuennen (6-4, 280, RSo) has 8 total tackles, 1.5 TFL and a PBU and QBH on the season.
The linebackers for UNI are experienced and can really run. This is a quality group of backers! #6 Ryan Crandall (6-2, 223) leads the team in stops after transferring over from WIU. In three seasons for the Leathernecks, he recorded 186 tackles and made plays all over the field. For the Panthers he has 42 stops, 5.5 TFL, and a forced fumble. In the middle is #29 Tucker Langenberg (6-2, 225) who led the team in tackles in 2024 with 82 stops. This is his 3rd year in starting lineup and that experience shows as he is second on the team with 37 total tackles and 1 QBH. The 3rd linebacker is also a returning starter in #17 Caleb Frazer (6-2, 223) and he is third on the team with 31 stops and 3.5 TFL. #47 Kolben Miller (6-2, 220), #36 Braden Mcshane (6-2, 225), and #33 John Powers (6-2, 233) are the primary reserves and have combined for 16 tackles on the year.
The Panther secondary also has some experienced talent. The starting cornerback duo of #5 Fletcher Marshall Jr. (6-2, 203) and #8 Jonathan Cabral-Martin (5-10, 202) have been playing at a high level for a number of years. Cabral-Martin tested the portal waters but opted to return to UNI. He has 24 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 5 PBU, and 2 forced fumbles. He’s playing at high level! Marshall Jr. has 14 tackles and 2 PBU to his credit. #3 Joe Hall III (6-0, 208) is the top backup and he has 15 tackles, 1 INT, and 1 PBU on the season. Hall transferred in from Kansas State where he appeared in 8 games across three seasons. #9 Mo Olowo (6-1, 198) starts at on safety spot and has 28 total tackles and 3 PBUs. Next to him is #1 Jordan McClom (6-2, 203) who is seeing his first action as a Panther this season. He has 17 stops and 1 PBU. #31 Ethan Schoville (6-1, 203) has 16 tackles and a forced fumble as a key reserve. #12 Tate Sander (6-0, 210) has pitched in 6 tackles and also has forced a fumble.
Special Teams
The Panther special teams is solid but no spectacular. The kickoff specialist is #38 Caden Popp. He has a 62 yard average on 9 attempts. 2 have been touchbacks and 1 was booted out of bounds. Opponents have not had much success on kick returns with just a 16 yard average and a long of 24. The punter is #91 Noah Pettinger and he has a 42 yard average on 21 attempts. He has a long of 55 and has forced 5 to be faircaught, landed 7 inside the 20 and has not had a single touchback on the year. Opponents have had some success on their returns with 10 returns for an 8.5 yard average and a long of 12. The field goal duties are handled by #0 Max Bartachek and he has gone 5 of 6 with his lone miss coming from between 40-49 yards and his long for the season is from 46 yards.
Wide receiver JC Roque Jr. has 6 punt returns for a 5.5 yard average. He has a long return of 12 yards. UNI has utilized a variety of kick returns by #85 Jaden Hodge has settled in as the guy. He has 4 returns for a 15.5 yard average and a long of 25. #2 Ayden Price does have 3 returns and a 21 yard average.
Predictions
The Jackrabbits and the Panthers have a long history of playing on Hobo Day. It hasn’t always been pretty and sometimes it has been downright disappointing and ugly. The Jacks hopefully received a bit of a wake-up call against YSU last week and will come out ready to pound UNI on Saturday. I think they do.
Jackrabbits 34- Panthers 0
Go Jacks!
Matt
