First look: EWU vs. Northern Iowa
Time: 5:05 (PST) Saturday.
TV: None.
Where: UNI Dome, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Records: EWU 7-4, UNI 8-3.
Rankings: Eastern is No. 15 in The Sports Network Poll and No. 10 in the Gridiron Power Index. Northern Iowa is No. 10 and No. 7.
Common opponent: Northern Arizona. The Eagles were dominant in a 42-17 win on Oct. 8. UNI beat the visiting Lumberjacks 41-17 last Saturday, forcing six turnovers.
Past meetings: Eastern is 0-4 against the Panthers with all games on the road. Twice it lost 17-14 in the playoffs, and it lost regular-season games in 1989 (47-21) and 1994 (27-17).
The future: The winner faces the winner of No. 24 Colgate (8-3) at No. 1 and top-seeded New Hampshire (10-1) and could only host a second-round game if UNH loses.
EWU playoff history: EWU is in the playoffs for the fifth time and has a 4-4 record. Last year the Eagles won their opener at Southern Illinois before losing to Sam Houston State. The 1997 team reached the semifinals. In 1992 the Eagles lost at Northern Iowa in the opening round and in 1985 lost at UNI in the second round after beating Idaho.
UNI playoff history: The Panthers are making their 12th appearance. Only three times have they failed to reach the second round and five times they’ve made the semifinals but have never been to the championship game. They are 10-2 in the Dome and 5-3 against the Big Sky.
UNI coach: Mark Farley has a record of 41-19 in his five seasons with just one losing record. He was a walk-on linebacker at UNI and ended up leading the team in tackles three years.
The Panthers: UNI lists five senior starters on offense and defense and 15 seniors on its two-deep roster. The Panthers average 30 points a game on offense and allow 22 on defense. (EWU scores 35 a game and gives up 22.)
UNI offense: The Panthers are balanced, rushing for 1,954 yards and passing for 2,436 with an average of 399.4 a game. Eastern’s numbers are 1,541 rushing and 3,714 passing, 477.7 a game. UNI has a good 1-2 punch at running back with Terrance Freeney, 5-10, 225 pounds, and Nebraska transfer David Horne (6-0, 210). The two seniors have combined for 1,268 yards and 19 touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Eric Sanders, a former walk-on who missed two games with a high ankle sprain, has an efficiency rating of 174.78, higher than Eric Meyer’s 170.37 for EWU. Sanders has completed 68 percent of his 185 passes with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. The receiving corps has seniors Justin Surrency (26 catches, 412 yards, 5 TDs), Jamie Goodwin (25-514-4) and Patrick Hunter (26-428-3). Four 300-pounders start of the offensive line. They have allowed 25 sacks, but EWU has just 16.
UNI defense: Then Panthers have allowed 1,187 yards rushing and 2,489 passing for an average of 334.2 a game. Eastern’s numbers are 1,745 rushing, 2,107 passing and 350.2 a game. Senior linebackers Darin Heideman and Brett Koebcke have 90 tackles apiece. UNI has 10 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries for a plus-2 turnover margin. EWU is plus-4 with 12 interceptions.
Special teams: Brian Wingert is 8 of 15 on field goals for the Panthers and 40 of 41 on extra points. Adam Kos has averaged 40.6 yards a punt. Eastern’s Sheldon Weddle is 10 of 15 on fields goals and 41 of 42 on extra points. Ryan Donckers averages 38.5 yards a punt.
Dave Trimmer