Photo courtesy/upperiowaathletics.com

Photo courtesy/upperiowaathletics.com

A confident Upper Iowa football team opens the season on Thursday night with a visit to Bemidji State in Northern Sun Conference play. The Peacocks finished 6-5 in 2015, their third straight winning season. The program only had a total of three winning seasons between 1966 and 2013.

“Our guys think when they go into a ballgame they have a chance to win and it does not matter who we are playing”, said sixth year head coach Tom Shea. “In the past when we first got here is was more like let’s hope we can get a win.”

Senior quarterback Dimitri Morales returns after passing for more than 2,200 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. The California native suffered a season ending injury in a week eight victory over Winona State.

“He can read defenses and he throws so doggone quick. He can get rid of the ball quick and when you do that it makes everybody’s job a little bit easier.”

Bemidji State is coming off a 7-4 record in 2015.