The UNI defense will try to slow down another outstanding quarterback when the Panthers host Delaware in the quarterfinal round of the F-C-S national playoffs. After going up against New Hampshire’s Ricky Santos in the opening round the Panthers will contend with Blue Hen quarterback Joe Flacco, who has passed for more than 33 hundred yards this season.

Panther coach Mark Farley says Flacco is 6-6 240 pounds and is really playing well with a strong arm. Farley says Santos was more of a runner in the option style, while Flacco is a more pro-style, drop back thrower. UNI opened the playoffs with a thrilling, last second victory over New Hampshire and Farley believes it is the type of game the Panthers needed.

Farley says he felt after watching the tape that they didn’t have to be that competitive for four quarters for weeks, and Farley feels that hurt their conditioning. He says they were going down with cramps like they had at the start of the season, and going full out for a game really helped.

Farley says Delaware was impressive in a 44-7 opening round victory over Delaware State. He watched the first part of the game, and says it was sealed early and you could see the more talented team. These teams met in the 2003 playoffs with Delaware claiming a 37-7 victory in a game that was played in a winter storm.

Farley says on the opening kickoff, Bennie Sapp tried to bring the ball out of the endzone, and they could never get out of the wind and always trailed. Farley says it’s a similar team, but his team is more experienced, and Faley says he knows the weather will be a little better this time, referencing the game being in the UNI-Dome.

This game will be played in the UNI-Dome and Delaware coach K.C. Keeler says it will be a new experience for his team. Keeler says they have a fieldhouse that they’ll put a sound system in to try and create the same type of load crowd.

Delaware has an extra day to get ready after playing its first round game last Friday. Keeler says there was a lot of emotion in the game and the crowd was intense, so he says the extra day was an advantage to get ready. Keeler says the UNI offense has a number of weapons but says it all starts up front with the big offensive line, but he say the line is still athletic.