The Jackrabbits (3-1) head to Cedar Falls, Iowa to take on the UNI Panthers (2-2). Both teams were on a bye this past week and they should be rested. I think both teams have some questions remaining after the non-conference portion of their schedule so previewing UNI is a bit challenging because of the competition they have faced. Their first two games weren’t non-scholarship Valparaiso and St. Thomas and their second two games were against Nebraska and Hawaii. How much can we really glean from any of those games?
UNI is again led by Mark Farley who has 180 careers wins in his 23 years as the head coach at UNI. We know he is a great coach but budget constraints and transfers have really hurt his program over the last handful of years.
Offense
The UNI offense is generating 15.5 points per game. They showed some explosiveness against Valpo scoring 35 points but since then they have scored just 17, 3, and 7 points. They are averaging a stellar 202 ypg on the ground but just 126 through the air. They are doing a good job of taking care of the ball only tossing 1 interception and losing 2 fumbles. Their offensive line, always a strength for UNI, has allowed just 3 sacks. On 3rd down they are converting at a very efficient rate of 44.23%. In the redzone they have scored on 8 of 11 trips with 6 being touchdowns.
The QB for the Panthers is #10 Aidan Dunne (6-0, 206) and he is replacing multi-year starter Theo Day. Dunne has completed just 56.32% of his passes for 436 yards (109 per game) for 3 TD. After a few years of really explosive play, they have a long pass of just 26 yards. Dunne is not a statue and can scramble as needed. He has 20 runs for a gross of 87 yards and 1 TD. #3 Matthew Schecklman (6-3, 205) has played in 3 of 4 games this year and has gone 7 of 15 for 68 yards. He has also ran the ball 8 times for 26 yards. Two of the games Shecklman played mop up duty but he did replace Dunne early against Hawaii after Dunne struggled. I’m guessing that maybe they’ll give Scheckelman a try if Dunne continues to struggle.
The rushing attack for the Panthers is again a strength with #2 Tye Edwards (6-4, 229) leading the way. The bruising back has 355 rushing yards (7.7 ypc average) for 2 TD. He missed the game last season against the Jacks so I’m sure he is looking to make his mark on the rabbit defense. #5 Amauri Pesek-Hickson (6-0, 225) has been a solid backup to Edwards and he has 278 yards (5.7 ypc) and 2 TD. He has also pitched in with 7 receptions for 74 yards and a TD. Pesek-Hickson is another Kansas transfer, a FBS program that UNI routinely lands transfers from. #32 Harrison Bey-Buie (5-10, 221) has missed 2 games this season, including the matchup with Hawaii, but has 74 yards on the ground.
UNI still has some quality pass catchers to keep an eye on and the wide receiver room is led by #21 Sergio Morancy (6-3, 189). He has 10 receptions for 125 yards and 1 TD this season. Opposite him is the physically gifted #18 Desmond Hutson (6-3, 218). The one time Iowa transfer leads the team with 12 receptions but for just 78 total yards. #13 Tysen Kershaw (6-3, 211) is a player the Jacks have seen in the past and he has 4 receptions for 33 yards. #16 Jaiden Ellis-Lahey and #14 JC Roque Jr. are two young wide receivers with high ceilings. Ellis-Lahey has had a quite start to the 2024 season with just 4 receptions for 46 yards but in 2023 he caught 14 passes for 255 yards and 1 TD. Roque Jr. has added 3 receptions for 31 yards. The TE group is led by a good one in #45 Layne Pryor (6-3, 260) who has 9 receptions for 68 yards and 1 TD. Pryor is also a good and willing blocker in the run game. #88 Derek Anderson (6-6, 260) brings some size to the group and has 3 receptions for 50 yards.
The Panther offensive line returns so good experience and has high end talent. It appears they are playing really well as the season starts off. From left to right they go. Again, they have given up just 3 sacks on the season (1 vs. Nebraska and 2 vs. Hawaii)
- #75 Jared Penning (6-6, 329, R-SR)
- #65 Blake Anderson (6-4, 304, R-JR)
- #51 Keean Kamerling (6-4, 280, R-JR)
- #71 Josh Volk (6-4, 329, R-SO)
- #78 Tristan Roper (6-5, 311, R-SR)
This is a really talented group and Penning and Roper have been fixtures on the line for a few years. Penning has buzz around him as an NFL prospect.
Defense
The Panthers have played a 4-3 defense this season but we know that they are always willing to switch to a 3-4 or 3-3-5 based on the matchup. They are allowing 21.75 ppg but again, this is a tricky number because they held Valpo to 7, St. Thomas to 10, but allowed 34 and 36 against their FBS foes. They have been solid against the run allowing just 112.3 ypg but 234 ypg through the air. Their rush defense is buoyed by their game against Valpo when they allowed just 29. Opponents convert on 38.46% of their 3rd down opportunities and are 10 of 12 in the redzone with 8 touchdowns.
The front 7 for UNI has a number of starters who have solid experience but the depth is certainly not what it once was. #96 Cannon Butler (6-6, 248) is a guy we have seen before and he came into the season with 8 career sacks. This year he has 19 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, and .5 sack with 2 more QBH. Opposite him is #42 Zach Mehmert (6-5, 255), a redshirt freshman, who has 7 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a QBH. Mehmert missed the two games against the FBS opponent but was listed on the two deep against Hawaii so maybe he will be back for this weeks game. The interior features two guys who have served in supporting roles the last few seasons but are now starters. #94 Carter Hewitt (6-6, 267) has 15 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, and 1 sack. #57 Jack Kriebs (6-3, 289) has 3 tackles and a .5 sack. #90 Bradley Vislisel (6-3, 247) provides some depth across the defensive line with 6 tackles and 2 QBH.
#29 Tucker Langenberg (6-2, 219) and #33 Ben Belken (6-2, 227) are a solid duo at linebacker for the Panthers and have played a lot of snaps over the past two seasons. They each have 25 total tackles the season and have combined for 6 TFL while Langenberg has and INT, a PBU, a QBH, and blocked kick. Belken has a QBH to his credit. They are joined by #1 Albert Nunes (6-2, 206) who is on his 4th program since 2020 with stops at Hutchinson CC, Garden City CC, and Eastern Kentucky. Nunes has pitched in with 7 total tackles and PBU. Nunes is listed on the depth chart as a linebacker but on the roster as a defensive back. He is likely playing the highbred role that most college programs have utilized the past few years. #31 Ethan Schoville (6-1, 194) is providing some quality depth and has 13 tackles, 1.5 TFL, .5 sack, and a QBH. Like Nunes, Schoville is listed on the roster as a defensive back. #37 Tyson Cooreman (6-4, 225) has recorded 3 tackles as a reserve linebacker. No other linebacker has recorded a statistic for the Panthers.
The secondary for UNI has been busy but has made some plays as well. The starting corners are #6 Fletcher Marshall Jr. (6-2, 207) and #4 Robbie Peterson Jr. (6-1, 180). Fletcher Marshall provided depth for the Panthers last year after transferring in from East Carolina and has had a solid start to his 2024 with 11 tackles, 1 INT, and 2 PBU. Peterson Jr. transferred to the Panthers after a standout career at Division III Aurora where he played football and twice qualified for the NCAA D3 outdoor T&F championships in high jump. He has 14 tackles, 1 INT, and 1 PBU this season for the Panthers. #20 Keith Moko (6-0, 165) has 8 tackles and a PBU while #7 Alonzo Morgan III (6-3, 170) has 3 tackles and PBU in reserve roles.
#8 Jonathan Cabral-Martin (5-9, 196) transferred to UNI prior to the 2023 season and only saw the field in 3 games. Prior to arriving in Cedar Falls he was a standout at Central Connecticut State where he earned All-NEC honors. This season he leads the team with 33 tackles and has a PBU. Opposite him is #3 JJ Dervil (6-3, 192) who has 18 tackles, 1 TFL, and 2 PBU. Dervil joined the Panthers after a solid 3 seasons at New Mexico State. #12 Tate Sander (6-0, 205) provides experienced depth at the position. He played in all 11 games last season and recorded 32 tackles. Sander’s brother Korby played safety for the Panthers for a number of years.
Special Teams
For years, we knew that Matthew Cook would be handling the kicking duties for UNI. He has finally used all his eligibility and we get to learn a new name. That name is #95 Caden Palmer and he has hit on 2/4 field goals with a long of 31 yards. He also handles the kickoff duties and on 14 attempts he has a 64.4 yard average with 9 touchbacks. Opponents are averaging 26.5 yards per return with a long of 36.
#91 Noah Pettinger is back as the starting punter and he has a 42.88 yard average on 16 punts. He has a long of 61 yards, just 1 touchback, forced 4 fair catches, and landed 5 inside the 20. He is a good one! Just 4 have been returned and for an average of 9 yards including a long of 21 yards.
The Panthers have the athletes to have a solid return game. #14 JC Roque Jr. has 6 returns for a 9 yard average and a long of 15. On kickoffs, #21 Sergio Morancy has 8 returns for 161 yards (20.13 avg) and a long of 36.
Prediction
The Jackrabbits have not played their best football yet. The Panthers are coming off of a disappointing trip to Hawaii where they were embarrassed by a bad FBS team. I fully expect Farley to throw a curve ball at the Jackrabbits either in their defensive formation or through personnel changes, especially at QB. I think we’ll learn something about these two teams this week and I think we see the Jackrabbits breakout. The one thing that is on my mind is that the UNI-Dome is a tough place to play. The crowd is loud and it is family weekend so it should be a good sized crowd. However, the Jackrabbits are ready to play a complete game after the bye week.
Jackrabbits 35- Panthers 10
Go Jacks,
Matt
