Upper Iowa Ready To Host Minnesota-Crookston [Audio]

With just two starters back on offense and eight All-Conference players gone from last season, 2015 had all the makings of a rebuilding year for coach Tom Shea and the Upper Iowa football program. So far, so good.

Led by junior college transfer Dimitri Morales at quarterback along with a veteran and stingy defense the Peacocks are 2-0 heading into their home game against Minnesota-Crookston Saturday night (Sept. 19). Morales has passed for 795 yards and five touchdowns in the first two games.

“He’s a good leader and the kids have elected him as one of the captains,” said Head Coach Tom Shea, now in his seventh season at Upper Iowa. “The other thing he brings to the table is he has the ability to run the ball and has very good speed. He brings a different dimension than we are used to and can buy time with his feet.”

The defense has been as good as expected. The Peacocks are giving up only 92 yards on the ground per game and have yielded one touchdown in two games.

Minnesota-Crookston enters Saturday’s 6 p.m. game with a record of 0-2 after losses to Wayne State and Sioux Falls. The Golden Eagles are 0-7 all-time against Upper Iowa and are seeking their first win in the series.

Upper Iowa football can be heard throughout the 2015 season on AM-950 KOEL with play-by-play announcer Joe Stasi, who's entering his 13th season as the "Voice of the Peacocks." For the fourth consecutive year, Stasi will be joined on the broadcast by Zach Carlyle, a recent graduate (2015) of Upper Iowa. The pre-game show is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

Story By: Radio Iowa

For more insight on Saturday's game, click on the audio below. Upper Iowa football play-by-play announcer Joe Stasi previews the game with KOEL Sports Director Elwin Huffman.