CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — UNI football opened the 2025 season inside the UNI-Dome on Saturday, August 30 against the Butler Bulldogs. After what proved to be an even first half, the Panthers went to work and shut out the Bulldogs in the second half en route to a 38-14 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Northern Iowa opened the 2025 on the defensive side of the ball. The Panthers forced a quick three-and-out by Butler to bring out the UNI offense for the first time. The offense was able to record a first down, but stalled out and was forced to punt the ball back to the Bulldogs. After a Butler first down, Caleb Frazer recovered a fumble on the Butler 24 yard line to give the Panthers great field position. A six-yard passing touchdown from Matthew Schecklman to Derek Anderson was the first score of the season and, after a PAT from Max Bartachek, put the Cats up 7-0.

Butler knotted things at seven apiece with a 10-play, 75-yard drive for their first points of the contest. UNI responded with a 36-yard field goal off the foot of Bartachek which was set up by a 49-yard reception by Tysen Kershaw to set up the field position for the kick. The Bulldogs opened the second quarter with a nine-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Regean Andrew to take a 14-10 lead.

A pair of 21-yard rushes, one by Bill Jackson and one by Schecklman, spotted UNI on the one yard line. Harrison Bey-Buie bounced to the outside and scored the Panthers' second touchdown of the day to give UNI a 17-14 lead. Butler looked to answer before Jonathan Cabral-Martin dashed the Bulldog hopes with UNI's first pick of the game at the one yard line. After a punt by Northern Iowa, the Bulldogs looked to knot things at 17 heading into halftime before their field goal doinked off the right post with time expired. The Panthers took a 17-14 lead into the halftime break.

Out of the break, the Panthers scored a touchdown on their first drive of the half. The drive saw a 12-yard reception from JC Roque Jr. and a pass interference penalty drawn by Tay Norman to set up a 16-yard touchdown reception by Tysen Kershaw to give UNI a 24-14 lead after a PAT from Bartachek. The defense made a splash in the UNI redzone on the following Butler drive as newcomer Joe Hall III picked off a high pass from the Bulldogs at the UNI 15 yard line.

The next two Panther possessions ended in the endzone with a 26-yard reception for a touchdown from JC Roque Jr. and a 25-yard reception for a touchdown by Ayden Price. The Panthers held the Butler defense scoreless in the second half and opened the season with a 38-14 victory inside the UNI-Dome.

Matthew Schecklman was efficient through the air, recording 214 passing yards and four touchdowns on 15 completions for a 184.7 quarterback rating. On the ground, the duo of Bill Jackson and Harrison Bey-Buie combined for 157 yards and one touchdown on 12 rushing attempts each. Tysen Kershaw led the Panther receiving room with 65 yards on two receptions with one touchdown. On defense, Tucker Langenberg led the Cats with 12 total tackles and one QB hurry. 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The Panthers start the season 1-0 for the second straight season and are now 10-1 in season openers inside the UNI-Dome since 1990.
• Head coach Todd Stepsis picked up his first victory as the head coach of the UNI program with the 38-14 victory.
• Matthew Schecklman's four passing touchdown performance is the first time a Panther QB has thrown for four touchdowns since Theo Day did it against Youngstown State in 2023.
• The last time UNI recorded two picks in a single game was last season in Hawaii.

UP NEXT

The Panthers head to Wyoming to take on the Cowboys in Laramie on Saturday, September 6. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. CT. Streaming of the game will be available on the Mountain West Network as well as audio streaming available on the Panther Sports Radio Network.



UNI football action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Football), X (@UNIFootball) and on Instagram (@unipantherfootball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.