JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Upper Iowa started its 2009 season with an explosive 65-6 win over Lincoln University Saturday.

The Peacocks scored 44 points in the first half and went on to win their third season-opener in four years.

Kinon O'Neal and Sam Epsteen both had two rushing touchdowns for UIU.

The Peacocks quarterbacks passed for a total of 179 yards, 152 of which belonged to Ben Curran on an 11 of 17 performance.

Defensively, the Peacocks forced two fumbles, returning one 78 yards for a touchdown by Calvin Darling. Upper Iowa also recorded a safety.

Upper Iowa will play Mary next Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Upper Iowa 14 30 14 7 - 65

Lincoln 0 6 0 0 - 6

UIU - Kinon O'Neal 1 run (Price kick)

UIU - Jordan Otdoerfer 2 run (Price kick)

UIU - Bobby Davis 10 run (Price kick)

UIU - Sam Epsteen 1 run (Price kick)

UIU - Calvin Darling 78 fumble return (Price kick)

UIU - Team safety

UIU - Mike Moser 1 run (Price kick)

LU - Fluellen 97 interception return (pass failed)

UIU - Epsteen 1 run (Tim Eulitz kick)

UIU - O'Neal 11 run (Eulitz kick)

UIU - Kirby Hovden 2 run (Eulitz kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

UIU LU

First Downs 27 12

Rushes-yards 51-261 53-65

Passing yards 179 30

Comp-Att-Int 14-24-2 3-18-0

Punts.-avg. 3-30.3 9-27.1

Return yards 3-32 0-0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-2

Penalties-yards 6-80 12-88

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

UPPER IOWA - Otdoerfer 9-81, Moser 17-66, Epsteen 12-65, O'Neal 7-35, Davis 1-10, Curran 1-8, Hovden 1-(-4).

LINCOLN - Young 9-49, Noel 13-31, Stewart 4-16, Simeon 5-3, Simmons 1-1, McClain 15-(-14), Willis 6-(-21).

Passing

UPPER IOWA - Curran 11-17-2-152 yards and no touchdowns; Hovden 3-7-0-27 yards and no touchdowns.

LINCOLN - McClain 3-18-0-30 yards and no touchdowns.

Receiving

UPPER IOWA - Williams 3-52, Baldwin 3-45, Hubbard 3-41, Otdoerfer 2-6, Epsteen 1-22, Davis 1-7, Reddick 1-6.

LINCOLN - Williams 1-11, Anderson 1-10, Goffigan 1-9.