UNI Stays Perfect: Iowa Time Machine November 24, 2007

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On November 24, 2007, the UNI Panthers football team captured a playoff win after completing a perfect regular season with a dramatic last-second 38-35 victory over New Hampshire. With just seven seconds to play, Montari Leonard caught a TD pass with seven seconds to play to propel the Panthers to a playoff win.

UNI football had long been a pillar of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, known for its gritty play and loyal following. The program had tasted success before in the form of playoff runs, conference titles, and NFL-bound players, but perfection had always proven elusive. In 2007, under the leadership of head coach Mark Farley, a UNI alumnus and former linebacker, the team found a rare rhythm. Behind a balanced offense and a defense that punished opponents, the Panthers began stacking victories. After a 24-13 win over Iowa State in Ames, UNI ran through the Valley to complete the regular season 11-0.

The Panthers hosted their opening-round game in the UNI-Dome, where they defeated New Hampshire 38–35 in a hard-fought battle that showcased their resilience and offensive firepower. In a back-and-forth game, New Hampshire QB Ricky Santos led a drive to take a 35-31 lead with just 1:16 left to play. The cats came roaring back, led on a 71-yard drive by QB Eric Sanders that culminated in a 24-yard TD pass to freshman Montari Leonard. That win extended their record to 12–0 and fueled dreams of a national championship run.

But in the quarterfinals, those dreams came crashing down. Facing Delaware, a battle-tested team led by future NFL quarterback Joe Flacco, UNI struggled to keep pace. Despite the home-field advantage, turnovers and big plays from the Blue Hens shifted momentum early. Delaware pulled ahead and never looked back, winning 39–27 and ending UNI’s perfect season in heartbreaking fashion. In the years since, UNI has continued to field strong teams, but the 2007 season remains a golden benchmark, the kind of perfection that athletes and fans alike chase but rarely catch. #Iowa #History #CollegeFootball #OTD #FCSfootball