UNI Runs to 'Ship: Iowa Time Machine December 9, 2005

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On December 9, 2005, UNI advanced to the FCS championship game with a 40-37 overtime win over Texas State. The deepest playoff run in school history, fifth-year Head Coach Mark Farley put together a season that Panther fans continue to remember today.

The Panthers started the season with a pair of dominant wins over Drake and Minnesota-Duluth before stumbling on the road at Kinnick Stadium. Entering the conference schedule, the Panthers' up-and-down campaign continued as they started the Missouri Valley slate 2-2. Three consecutive-21 to set up a showdown in San Marcos, Texas, with Texas State.

UNI entered the national semifinal for the sixth time in program history, having come up empty-handed five times before. The Panthers raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and led 23-17 at halftime. However, as the second half unfolded, it appeared UNI might fall short of playing for a national title once again. Even after the UNI defense stood tall to get the ball back to the Panthers with 5:30 to play down just 30-29, punt return man Johnny Gray muffed a punt to give North Texas the ball at the UNI 6-yard line. After the Bobcats scored to extend the lead to eight, UNI QB Erik Sanders led a 10-play, 72-yard drive to tie the score. After a two-point conversion and two Texas State kneel-downs, the game headed to overtime.

With the ball first in OT, UNI ended up kicking a field goal to pull ahead by 3. Texas State looked poised to score after a 13-yard run on the Bobcats’ first play took them to the UNI 12. However, on what ended up as the game’s final play, Panther Matt Tharp got his first career interception to seal a UNI win. Despite falling to Appalachian State in the championship by a score of 16-21, the 2005 UNI Panthers football fans in the Cedar Valley had a season to remember. #Iowa #OTD #History #Football #CollegeFootball