CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Missed opportunities cost the Indiana State football team (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) a chance at knocking off No. 2 Northern Iowa (4-1, 3-0 MVFC) on the road on Saturday as they fell to the Panthers by a final score of 23-9 in front of 16,890, the third highest crowd at UNI-Dome.

The Sycamores had two field goal misses from 26 and 46 yards, a missed PAT, two interceptions and a costly fumble which proved to be too much to overcome.

The Sycamores got things started early on as they drove down the field on their opening drive as they drove all the way down to the 27 yard line before the drive stalled. The Sycamores took an early lead off a 44 yard field goal by Cory Little.

The Panthers responded on the ensuing possession as they marched down the field to the ISU 31 yard line before the Sycamore defense came up with a stop and forced the Panthers to kick a field goal. The Panthers connected on a 48 yard field goal to tie the game at three.

The Sycamores tried to respond but senior quarterback Ronnie Fouch was picked off by the Pantehrs and that set up a four play, 43 yard Panther touchdown and gave the Panthers their first lead of the game at 10-3.

A scary moment came for the Sycamores in the second quarter when sophomore tailback Shakir Bell went down on the field after rushing for a first down. Bell left the game with a concussion and did not return.

The Sycamores had opportunities as they drove down to the 29 yard line but missed the 46 yard field goal attempt.

Two possessions later the Sycamores turned the ball over on downs on the UNI 11 yard line, however, on the first Panther play they fumbled the ball and ISU recovered on the 11 yard line setting up a six yard touchdown pass from Fouch to senior wide reciever Justin Hilton. Little pushed the PAT wide right so going into the locker room for halftime the Sycamores trailed the Panthers 10-9.

After halftime the Panther offense came out of the locker room and marched down the field 60 yards off 10 plays before the Sycamore defense forced them to kick a 37-yard field goal to extend the Panther lead to 13-9.

The Sycamores had another opportunity late in the third quarter to cut the UNI lead to one after their drive stalled on the nine yard line. Freshman Tanner Fritschle came on to kick but pushed the field goal wide right, the third missed kick of the game for the Sycamores.

The Panthers offense then moved the ball to the goal line but a four play goal line stand kept them from scoring and gave the Sycamores the ball on their two yard line. 

The legs of sophomore running back George Cheeseborough carried the Sycamores down to the Northern Iowa 20 yard line but a forced fumble recovered by UNI shattered the Sycamores momentum. The Panthers took advantage of the Sycamore mistake and drove 79 yards in six plays for a touchdown to extend the advantage over the Sycamores to 20-9.

The Sycamore offense could never recover and turned the ball over on downs and was intercpeted leading to a UNI field goal to sink the No. 17 Sycamores on the road 23-9 to the No. 2 Panthers.

The loss marks the first loss in Missouri Valley Football Conference play for the Sycamores this season.

Bell, despite missing the entire second half, led the Sycamore rushing attackt with 145 yards on 14 carries. Fouch finished the game 12-24 with a touchdown and two interceptions.

The Sycamores will return to action Saturday when they return to Memorial Stadium to host Western Illinois on Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m.