FAYETTE, Iowa – Missouri S&T was cruising along Saturday afternoon, jumping out to a 13-0 lead and driving for another score early in the second quarter. But a fumble at the goal line – one of four turnovers in the first half by S&T – swung the momentum of the contest as Upper Iowa scored 31 unanswered points and went on to beat the Miners 38-26.
S&T had five turnovers on the afternoon and the host Peacocks were able to parlay them into 24 of their 31 points scored in that stretch.
The Miners, who had the first of the four first half turnovers on their first play from scrimmage when a long pass by
Tyler Gioia (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison) was intercepted deep in Upper Iowa territory, scored on their next two possessions to take the early 13-point advantage.
Cameren Smith (Claymont, DE/Concord) got the scoring started for S&T with a four-yard touchdown run, then the Miners added to the lead when Gioia connected with
Blaize Klossner (Rolla, MO/Rolla) on a 23-yard scoring pass in the final minute of the opening period. S&T was inside the Peacock five-yard line as it was on the cusp of extending that lead, but the Peacocks forced the fumble that turned the tide of the game.
Upper Iowa (2-1) drove 80 yards to get into the end zone, capped by a touchdown pass from Marcus Orr to Eddie Burgess to cut the lead to 13-7. The Peacocks then got possession at their own 42 following a Miner punt and aided by a Miner penalty, moved in front when Orr -- who came into the game in the second quarter -- connected with Mante Morrow on a 20-yard scoring pass with 2:13 to play in the opening half.
Then the turnovers reared their ugly head for the Miners (0-3), as a pair of interceptions set up two more scores for Upper Iowa before the half ended.
The first came when John Butsch picked off a deflected pass at the Miner 14-yard line, then Orr threw his third scoring pass of the half two plays later to Chandler Georgie. Moments later, Tyler Owen picked off a Gioia pass to allow the Peacocks another opportunity with under a minute to go in the half. Following a 24-yard completion to Jayden Mitchell to get into S&T territory and a pass interference call on the Miners on the next play, Mitchell caught a pass that was initially broken up just outside the goal line and took it in to make it 28-13.
S&T committed another turnover with a fumble on the first play of the second half, which the Peacocks turned into points as well on a 47-yard field goal by Thomas Forte before the Miners broke up the scoring run with a 72-yard touchdown drive.
The drive was highlighted by a 39-yard connection between Gioia and CJ Jarmon, then S&T reached the end zone two plays later as the S&T signalcaller fired a 16-yard touchdown pass to
CJ Wiggins (Yuma, AZ/Gila Ridge).
The Miners missed a field goal on their next possession, but scored immediately after forcing an Upper Iowa punt as Smith broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run on the next play to get the Miners back to within five at 31-26 after the extra point was blocked.
However, Upper Iowa answered back as it converted on a pair of third down plays to keep its drive alive before Orr – being pressured deep in the pocket – lofted a pass to the end zone that was hauled in by Burgess for a 24-yard touchdown to add to its lead with 11 minutes remaining.
S&T drove into Upper Iowa territory when it got the ball back, but had a fourth down pass fall incomplete. It got another chance when
Zatyvion Miller (Los Alamitos, CA/Los Alamitos) picked off a pass near midfield with 1:44 remaining, but the Miners had to surrender the ball on downs again after four incomplete passes.
The Miners outgained the Peacocks 394-319, but had the five turnovers to just the one for UIU. Gioia finished with 254 passing as he completed 20-of-31 passes, as Wiggins had 106 yards on six receptions and Klossner had five catches for 57 yards. S&T also ran for 140 yards, 72 of them coming from Smith.
Orr was 21-of-31 off the bench for 234 yards and five touchdowns, which were thrown to four different receivers.
Justin Gniedziejko (Chicago, IL/Taft) led the Miner defense with 10 tackles, while
Carson Prenger (Jefferson City, MO/Blair Oaks) finished the afternoon with eight.
Missouri S&T will play its next three contests at Allgood-Bailey Stadium, starting with its final non-conference game of the season next Saturday against Wayne State (Neb.) at 6 p.m.
