CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) Austin Errthum kicked four consecutive first-half field goals, the longest from 43-yards out, to stake Northern Iowa Panthers to a 19-3 halftime lead and spark the Panthers to a 26-16 win over Illinois State Redbirds in a Missouri Valley Conference showdown Saturday.

After JT Bohlken converted from 27-yards out on the Redbirds opening possession, Errthum capped three of UNI's next four drives with field goals, hitting from 30, 30, 27 and 43 yards.

Duncan Ferch picked off a Jake Kolbe pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown to make it 19-3 at intermission, and Marcus Weymiller scored from 14-yards out to make it 26-3.

Kolbe threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes for Illinois State (5-4, 2-4) and finished 21 of 27 for 180 yards.

Eli Dunne was 17-of-32 passing for 262 yards for Northern Iowa (5-4, 4-2) and Weymiller finished with 109 yards on 30 carries.

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