1-2
Northern Iowa
2-1
Northern Iowa Earns 34-20 Non-Conference Win Over Cal Poly
9/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Quarterback Aaron Bailey led a balanced offensive attack, scoring twice on the ground and throwing for another score, as No. 9 Northern Iowa jumped to a 21-point halftime lead and rolled to a 34-20 non-conference football win at No. 17 Cal Poly on Saturday night.
Before the seventh sellout in the nine-year history of Alex G. Spanos Stadium, the visiting Panthers compiled 204 yards on the ground and 233 more through the air, improving their record to 2-1.
Cal Poly, which amassed just 10 fewer yards than Northern Iowa but turned the ball over three times, fell to 1-2.
Bailey scored on runs of 25 and 2 yards and hit Braden Lehman with a seven-yard scoring pass to lead Northern Iowa offensively. He was 15 of 25 through the air and rushed for 57 yards on 11 carries.
Tyvis Smith added 88 rushing yards on 13 carries, scoring on a one-yard run to cap Northern Iowa's 21-point first-quarter explosion. Savon Huggins opened the scoring with a seven-yard run less than two minutes into the game.
Cal Poly senior quarterback Chris Brown scampered 42 yards early in the second quarter to close Northern Iowa's advantage to 21-7, but the Mustangs were held off the scoreboard until the final six minutes.
Brown and fullback Jared Mohamed both scored on two-yard runs to complete the scoring.
Cal Poly produced several other potential scoring drives. The first was to the Northern Iowa 12 before Deiondre' Hall intercepted a Brown pass. In the second half, the Mustangs were stopped on downs at the UNI 10- and 15-yard lines.
Brown compiled his ninth career 100-yard game and second this season, rushing 26 times for 184 yards and a pair of scores. Redshirt freshman Alex Suchesk added 70 yards on eight trips, including a 24-yard romp late in the game, setting up the final Mustang score.
Brown was 12-for-21 passing for 77 yards and was intercepted twice. DJ Peluso and Kori Garcia both grabbed three receptions.
Daurice Fountain caught eight passes for 123 yards to lead the Northern Iowa receiving corps.
Mustang junior safety B.J. Nard made nine tackles while Kevin Griffin, a sophomore safety, added eight tackles, including a sack, and intercepted a Northern Iowa pass. Linebacker R.J. Mazolewski also earned a sack.
Northern Iowa's Brett McMakin made 15 tackles, Jared Farley added 13 and D'Shawn Dexter and Hall both had interceptions. Isaac Ales recovered a Mustang fumble.
Cal Poly opens Big Sky Conference play next Saturday at Montana State.
Photo of Cal Poly quarterback Chris Brown courtesy of Matt Brown | Matt Brown Photography
Team Stats
UNI 7, CP 0
UNI - Huggins, Savon 7 yd run (Schmadeke, M. kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:35
UNI 14, CP 0
UNI - Bailey, Aaron 25 yd run (Schmadeke, M. kick), 7 plays, 87 yards, TOP 2:50
UNI 21, CP 0
UNI - Smith, Tyvis 1 yd run (Schmadeke, M. kick), 7 plays, 52 yards, TOP 2:38
UNI 21, CP 7
CP - Chris Brown 42 yd run (Stephen Pyle kick), 6 plays, 86 yards, TOP 1:38
UNI 28, CP 7
UNI - Lehman, Braden 7 yd pass from Bailey, Aaron (Schmadeke, M. kick) 5 plays, 36 yards, TOP 1:07
UNI 34, CP 7
UNI - Bailey, Aaron 2 yd run (Schmadeke, M. kickblocked), 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:46
UNI 34, CP 13
CP - Chris Brown 2 yd run (Stephen Pyle kickfailed), 8 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:01
UNI 34, CP 20
CP - Jared Mohamed 2 yd run (Stephen Pyle kick), 11 plays, 72 yards, TOP 3:13
