The U.N.I. Panthers will prepare for the FCS playoffs this weekend when they host Lehigh. The Panthers closed out the regular season with a 7-4 record after a 30-14 loss at Western Illinois.

U.N.I linebacker Jamar Thompson says they are just happy to have a home game as he says with the home crowd in the UNI-Dome that is something that is good to see. He says while the Panthers were hoping for a first round bye the home game will have to do and to get a bye you have to win more games.

U.N.I. coach Mark Farley is glad to have this game in the UNI-Dome, as he says it is important for the team to be at home as they have been on the road a lot. Farley says a lack of motivation was not a factor in Saturday’s loss. The Panthers had already clinched a playioff spot and the Missouri Valley title heading into the game at Western Illinois.

Farley says they weren’t complacent, they just didn’t play well and Western did and that was the difference in the game.

By Scott Fenzloff KCNZ Cedar Falls