Blaine Kinsey

GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Sycamore football team fell just short of going undefeated during the 2010 home season as they fell 30-20 to No. 17 Northern Iowa Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

The Sycamore offense took little time before putting points on the board as it took just 3:39 before senior Darrius Gates ran in a two yard touchdown run to put the Sycamores up 7-0.

The Panthers answered the Sycamores call with a touchdown of their own just over three minutes later to knot the score at seven a piece.

Following a Sycamore punt the Panthers moved the ball down the field to the ISU 2 yard line before stalling and settling for a 19-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead.

Quarterback Ronnie Fouch then got picked off on the ensuing Sycamore drive setting up another Panther field goal, extending their lead to 13-7.

The Sycamores got back into the game when UNI quarterback Tirrell Rennie was picked off by junior defensive back Alex Sewall.

The Sycamores marched down the field and capped off the drive with a Gates's second rushing touchdown of the game. Freshman place kicker Cory Little's PAT was blocked, however, tying the score at 13 with just 49 seconds left in the first half.

The Panthers then moved into field goal position and kicked a 40-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired to give the Panthers a 16-13 halftime lead.

The Panthers picked up in the second half right where they left off in the first half and moved the ball down the field before punching in a 3-yard rushing touchdown.

 The Sycamores did not give up though, as they were stopped on 3rd and long so the lined up to punt. The punt was blocked but for the second time this season, the Sycamores recovered the punt and rushed for a first down.

Fouch threw used the momentum to his advantage with his first touchdown pass of the game on a 25-yard strike to junior wide receiver Justin Hilton to bring the Sycamores to within 3 at 23-20.

The Sycamores moved the ball down to the UNI 23 yard line late in the fourth quarter but were stopped and turned the ball over on downs, leading to a UNI touchdown.

The Sycamores could not overcome the deficit and fell at home for the first time all season 30-20.

Fouch led the team going 17-36  for 200 yards with a touchdown and interception. This marks the sixth consecutive game Fouch has thrown for 200 yards. The school record for consecutive 200 yard games is seven.

Sophomore linebacker Jacolby Washington had 17 tackles and 13 of them were solo.

For the Panthers Rennie went 9-14 for 163 yards with an interception and also had 192 yards on the ground.

As a team the Sycamores earned 321 total yards and gave up 503 yards of total offense with 340 on the ground.

The Sycamores will return to action next weekend on the road at Youngstown State at 1 p.m.