FAYETTE, Iowa -- Missouri S&T finished out their 2024 season with a loss to the Upper Iowa Peacocks on the road.
After a low-scoring first quarter that saw Upper Iowa take a 3-0 lead, the Miners found their first points of the game halfway into the second. The Peacocks furthered their lead to 6-0 on the first drive of second quarter, but the Miners answered with a 9-play, 65-yard drive that
Tyler Gioia (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison) capped off with a 16-yard rushing yard touchdown to give S&T the 7-6 lead. The Peacocks would retake the lead in the final minutes of the quarter, scoring 17 points in just over three minutes to go into halftime with a 23-7 lead.
Upper Iowa added another touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, with quarterback Darryl Overstreet Jr. connecting with RJ Wells on a 45-yard touchdown to put the Peacocks up 30-7. Gioia would throw an interception on the second play of their next drive, leading to another Upper Iowa touchdown two plays later. A three-and-out by S&T would set up another UIU touchdown on the Peacocks' next drive, putting the home team up 44-7 before the end of the third quarter.
The final score of the game would come from the Peacocks on their first drive of the fourth quarter, leading to a 51-7 final score in favor of Upper Iowa.
While the Miners passing attack struggled against Upper Iowa, Gioia rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown to lead the Miners in rushing.
Carson Prenger (Jefferson City, MO/Blair Oaks) led the team in tackles again, this time with nine, while the rest of the defense combined for seven tackles for loss.
The Miners end their 2024 season with a 4-7 record for the second consecutive year, but improved upon their home record this season... going 3-2 at Allgood-Bailey Stadium.
