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UD football team to host Northern Iowa in playoffs

3:39 p.m., Dec. 1, 2003--The University of Delaware will host a quarterfinal round game in the NCAA Division I-AA football playoffs, with the University of Northern Iowa visiting on Saturday, Dec. 6. Kickoff will be at 12:05 p.m.

The 12-1 Fightin’ Blue Hens advanced to the quarterfinals after a convincing 48-7 first round win over Southern Illinois University, which shared the Gateway Conference championship with Northern Iowa.

Northern Iowa is 10-2, with losses to Iowa State University and Western Kentucky University. Head coach is Mark Farley.

The Panthers, whose colors are purple and gold, advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Montana State University 35-14 in Cedar Falls. They racked up 260 yards rushing and another 207 passing for the victory.

Northern Iowa defeated Southern Illinois 43-40 on Nov. 15, coming back from a 28-7 halftime deficit to gain a share of the Gateway title and earn home field advantage in the first-round NCAA playoff game.

The Panthers are averaging 31.9 points per game and allowing just 17.4. They feature a balanced attack, having rushed for 2,652 yards and having passed for another 2,315 this season.

Sophomore Terrance Freeney, a 5-foot 10-inch, 220-pound tailback, has rushed for 1,215 yards, averaging more than 110 yards a game, and junior Richard Carter, a 5-4, 178-pound tailback, has rushed for 849 yards. Freeney has scored 16 touchdowns and Carter four.

Like UD quarterback Andy Hall, Freeney is a candidate for the Walter Payton Award as the finest offensive football player in NCAA Division I-AA.

Junior quarterback Tom Petrie, 6-3, 210 pounds, has completed 156 passes in 275 attempts for 2,305 yards and 18 touchdowns. His primary receivers are senior Eddie Galles, who has 39 receptions for 765 yards and four touchdowns, and senior Marlus Mays, who has 30 receptions for 493 yards and five touchdowns.

On defense, senior free safety Justin Sandy and senior linebacker Jonathan Harrell have more than 50 tackles. Freshman defensive back Dre Dokes has four interceptions, and Sandy has three.

UD, the Atlantic 10 Football Conference co-champion, is having an outstanding season under second-year Head Coach K.C. Keeler, himself a former Hen linebacker.

Hall was named the conference offensive player of the year, and defensive end Shawn Johnson was named the conference defensive player of the year. Johnson is also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in NCAA Division I-AA.

Against UD, opposing defenses have a lot to worry about because Hall can either throw (205 completions in 321 attempts for 2,386 yards) or run (642 yards on 141 carries). And, when he isn’t throwing or running, he is giving the ball to backs Germaine Bennett (1,239 yards on 247 carries) and Antawn Jenkins (525 yards on 128 carries).

Both schools have sent All-Pro quarterbacks to the National Football League, UD having produced Rich Gannon of the Oakland Raiders and Northern Iowa having produced Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Rams.

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