Upper Iowa Set For Battle With Southwest Minnesota State [Audio]

It's been a half-century since the Upper Iowa football team last recorded three-consecutive winning seasons. The Peacocks will end that drought with a victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday (Oct. 24, 2015).

Upper Iowa (5-2 overall, 2-1 NSIC South) is also seeking to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Mustangs (5-2 overall, 1-2 NSIC South) in a game that features two of the top passing units in the nation.

The Peacocks are throwing for nearly 321 yards per game, a total that ranks 10th in the country and second in the Northern Sun Conference (NSIC). Southwest Minnesota State ranks 21st nationally and is third in the league, passing for nearly 291 yards per game.

The Mustangs, who average 202 rushing yards, are more balanced than Upper Iowa. With 493 total yards, they currently have the 17th-best offense in the nation.

Both teams are averaging over 30 points per game.

Defensively, the numbers favor Upper Iowa. The Peacocks' rush defense currently ranks 16th among all Division II teams (second in the NSIC), while their scoring defense in the 22nd best in the country (third in the NSIC).

Southwest Minnesota State leads the all-time series with Upper Iowa, 9-2. The last four games, three of which were played in Marshall, Minn., were decided by just 12 points combined.

Winnings seasons have been rarity for Upper Iowa in the 120-year history of the football program. A win on Saturday would guarantee the Peacocks their third-straight winning season and 37th overall.

The last time Upper Iowa experienced the success its currently having was the early 1960s under legendary coach Everett "Eb" Eischeid. Under his leadership, the Peacocks had three-straight 6-3 seasons from 1961 to 1963. They finished the 1964 season at 8-1.

Kick-off is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Harms-Eischeid Stadium in Fayette.

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 to begin at 5:30 p.m.

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.