Box Score FAYETTE, Iowa. – Time and time again, Minot State University put itself in position to earn its first-ever Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win.

Time and time again, the Beavers couldn't capitalize.

Upper Iowa built a 19-7 lead and held off Minot State to win 26-20 in NSIC football Saturday at Harms-Eischeid Stadium.

Minot State pushed into Peacocks' territory on its final seven possessions, but came away with no points on five of those trips. MISU had two drives inside the UIU 10 but couldn't convert as the Beavers turned the ball over on downs in the second quarter and fumbled inside the 10 in the third quarter.

The final miscue was an interception that went off a receiver's hands and into the Peacocks' DaeJohn Love's hands at the UIU 40 with about a minute remaining, spoiling a drive that began at the MISU 6.

The Beavers (0-4 overall, 0-0 NSIC North) had about as good of an opening as you can ask for as Glyn Borel (WR, Jr., San Jose, Calif.) returned the opening kick-off 98 yards for a touchdown, his first career return for a TD as a Beaver.

The offense, however, took some time to get going and UIU built a 19-7 lead as Cole Jaeschke hit Keaton Hosch for a 48-yard TD, Steven Sandoval connected on a pair of field goal (23 and 21) and Hosch returned a punt 93 yards for a score.

Minot State did not go away, however, as Zac Cunha (Fr., QB, Rocklin, Calif.) found Porter Sturm (R-Fr., WR, Roy, Mont.) on a 20-yard pass play to make it 19-14. Both Sturm and Cunha had career days as Sturm caught 11 passes for 199 yards and two TDs. Cunha was 23 for 38 for 320 yards and two TDs, but was intercepted four times.

The Beavers had a shot to take the lead early in the fourth quarter as they drove to the UIU 41, but Cunha was picked off by Jordan Andera at the 10.

Upper Iowa (2-2 overall, 0-0 NSIC South) got a cushion after an 8-yard TD from Jaeschke to Lucas Hefty with 9:13 to play, but the Beavers struck right back. Cunha-to-Sturm was the call again as Sturm hauled in a 22-yard TD, this third of the season, with 7:01 to play.

Minot State had its best offensive day in 2012, gaining 428 yards in total offense, including 320 through the air and 108 on the ground. Senior Blake Eggle (RB, Minot, N.D.) finished with 71 yards rushing on 21 attempts – both season highs – and Randel Barber (Fr., RB, Maricopa, Ariz.) finished with 33 yards on nine carries. Along with Sturm, Wayne Peters (Jr., WR, Carson, Calif.) finished with six catches for 83 yards.

Jaeschke was just 15-for-33 passing, but threw for 286 yards as UIU just outgained MISU 431-428. Chris Smith led the Peacocks with 77 yards rushing on 20 carries. Hosch and Shay Gutman each caught four passes for 86 yards.

Josh Weidler (Jr., LB, Velva, N.D.) turned in another strong performance on defense as he finished with 10 total tackles. Uepati Fatilua (Jr., LB, Vallejo, Calif.) added seven tackles and the team's first sack of the season. Jeff Buchert (Jr., DB, Plainfield, Calif.) picked off a pass for the first interception for the Beavers in 2012.

Minot State returns home to take on rival University of Mary Saturday beginning at 6:07 p.m. The game time has been pushed back seven minutes to accommodate for live coverage on NBC North Dakota.