The U-N-I football team hopes the sixth time is the charm when the Panthers visit Texas State tonight in the semifinal round of the 1AA national playoffs. This will be the sixth time U-N-I has played in the semifinals but the Panthers are still searching for their first trip to the national championship game. Coach Mark Farley says this is the crucial game and they need to do the best they can to overcome the past.

The Panther defense has another tough challenge trying to contain Texas State quarterback Barrick Nealy who has combined to pass and rush for more than 37 hundred yards. He says they’ll end up playing the three best quarterbacks in this division. He says Nealy is probably as strong and faster than the other two.

Farley says the Panther offense will need to sustain drives to keep the Bobcat offense off the field. He says the offense could be the best defense, as it has been the past month. The winner advances to the 1AA championship game next week in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Tonight’s game will be televised by ESPN2.