NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Tommy Rittenhouse had a touchdown pass and a touchdown run to guide Illinois State to a 31-16 victory over Northern Iowa on Saturday.
Rittenhouse scored on a 4-yard run and Seth Glatz ran it in from 2-yards out — both in the final five minutes of the first quarter as the Redbirds (6-3, 3-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference) grabbed a 14-0 lead and never looked back.
Rittenhouse connected with Javon Charles for a 19-yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.
Max Bartachek kicked a 28-yard field goal with 24 seconds left to get Northern Iowa (2-7, 0-5) on the scoreboard before halftime.
Harrison Bey-Buie had a 2-yard touchdown run for the Panthers, but Victor Dawson answered with a 9-yard scoring run and Illinois State led 28-10 after three.
JC Roque Jr. fired a 41-yard scoring strike to Jaxon Dailey 13 seconds into the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 12.
Matt Maldonado’s 32-yard field goal capped the scoring with 1:53 left to play.
Rittenhouse completed 28 of 37 passes for 228 yards. Dawson carried 17 times for 101 yards.
Dailey totaled 142 yards on 15-for-23 passing with two interceptions for Northern Iowa.
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