After a four month layoff, for some reason, the UNI Panthers started back playing football with a tough show, visiting #3 Alabama Crimson Tide. "If we knew we were going to take a four month layoff, I definitely wouldn't have left us with a #3 team to play next when we haven't played in a while!" Coach Pelini said.
UNI looked rusty at times but they were the first to score and it was just 1:26 into the first quarter. It was back to the old stuff with a QB keeper for an 8 yd rush for a TD by QB Victor Welsh.
The rustiness came though for Welsh with only :25 left in the first quarter when he threw an interception for a 96 yd. return which had Alabama tying the game at 7-7.
UNI defense looked a little rusty as well as they got mis-matched for a play and allowed the quarterback to complete an 88-yard pass for a touchdown to put the Crimson Tide up 14-7 in the 2nd qtr.
It got worse as HB Steve Jackson fumbled the ball and Alabama returned that for a 34-yard TD to go up 21-7 with 3:24 left in the 1st half.
The Panthers started their comeback run and QB Victor Welsh pulled the team within 7 by scoring on a 9 yd. qb keeper, 21-14.
Panthers had some great clock management as they used their timeouts wisely while on defense and used hurry-up offense to tie the game with :08 left in 2nd qtr., 21-21.
The third quarter was all UNI all the time. Panthers started with a 71 yard rushuing touchdown by their Heisman leading candidate Steve Jackson to go up 28-21. Good defense helped UNI keep the lead and go up two possessions with a 29-yard field goal by kicker Scott Chance to put the game at 31-21 which would end up being the final score.