UNI's quick start drops 'Birds; Grigsby claims ISU tackle mark      

[NOV. 15, 2004]  CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Northern Iowa scored on its first five possessions and handed Illinois State a 41-14 loss at the UNI-Dome on Saturday night in the final Gateway Football Conference game for both teams, while senior linebacker Boomer Grigsby surpassed his position coach and former Redbird great Galen Scott's school career tackle record.

Grigsby led the 'Birds with 10 tackles and now has 580 in his storied career, but it wasn't enough to stop the Panthers from winning their fifth straight game.

Northern Iowa's (6-4, 5-2) first two drives resulted in a pair of Terrance Freeney touchdowns. UNI took the opening kickoff and went 62 yards in five plays before Freeney scampered into the end zone from 20 yards out. After ISU's Yance Vaughan's first interception on a tipped pass, Freeney gave UNI a 14-0 lead on a 4-yard pass from Eric Sanders.

After an ISU punt, Sanders found Patrick Hunter in the middle of the field on the first play from scrimmage for a 74-yard touchdown and a 21-0 UNI lead. Brian Wingert tacked on a 44-yard field goal, and Richard Carter scurried 33-yards for another UNI touchdown and a 31-0 advantage.

The Redbirds (4-6, 2-5) narrowed the gap right before intermission, when Vaughan connected with Laurént Robinson from six yards out, capping a 10-play, 88-yard drive.

UNI rounded out its scoring with 10 more tallies in the third quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by Reggie Brown and a 19-yard field goal by Wingert, for a 41-7 lead.

ISU added a late touchdown when Vaughan found Pierre Jackson in the corner of the end zone from 3 yards out.

Vaughan finished with 168 yards on 17-for-38 passing but threw four interceptions, including three to UNI's Dré Dokes. Brian Thompson led the ISU rushing attack with 71 yards on 15 carries, while Robinson was the leading receiver with six grabs for 31 yards.

The Redbirds close out the 2004 season next Saturday, when they travel to Florida Atlantic.

[Todd Kober, assistant athletics director, media relations,
Illinois State University]

LDN sports sponsored by: