UIU Faces Tough Road Test At No. 4 Sioux Falls [Audio]

The Upper Iowa Peacocks face a tough road test when they play at Sioux Falls on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5, 2016).

Kick-off is scheduled for noon at Bob Young Stadium in Sioux Falls, S.D. Pre-game coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. on AM-950, KOEL.

The No. 4 Cougars (9-0 overall, 5-0 NSIC South) rank third in NCAA Division II in total offense and second in rushing. They are enjoying their best season as a member of the Northern Sun Conference (NSIC) and are looking to continue that success against the Peacocks.

There is plenty at stake for Sioux Falls (USF). A victory will earn the Cougars a share of their first-ever Division II regular season league title in any sport. A win would be USF's first DII conference crown and 20th overall (19 at the NAIA level). Sioux Falls would also claim the NSIC South title outright, reach 10 wins in a season for a 16th time and pick up the program's 50th win at the DII level.

The Cougars are 43-10 in NSIC games and 49-15 in all DII games since the transition in 2011. USF clinched a 23rd-straight winning season three weeks ago, a streak that is unmatched in Division II and the fifth-longest across all divisions.

Both teams enter play Saturday after wins last week. The Cougars picked up a 24-14 road victory against Minnesota State-Mankato, their first over the Mavericks since 1937. Upper Iowa edged Wayne State, 35-30, as quarterback Dimitri Morales threw for 265 yards and had four total touchdowns in the home win. Derrick Portis rushed for 164 yards. Jalen Amis had 10 receptions for 167 yards and a TD.

The Peacocks (3-6 overall, 2-3 NSIC South) have found success in the ground game this season on both sides of the ball. They are ranked 44th nationally and 5th in the NSIC in rushing offense and 48th and 4th, repectively, in rushing defense.

Sioux Falls holds a 3-1 lead in the series, which began just four seasons ago. The Cougars have raced out to huge leads the last two years en route to controlling victories. They beat Upper Iowa, 45-21, in Sioux Falls in 2014 and left Fayette with a 69-20 win last year.

Upper Iowa football can be heard throughout the 2016 season on AM-950 KOEL with play-by-play announcer Joe Stasi, who's currently in his 14th season as the "Voice of the Peacocks" and 16th overall.

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.