SportsDirect Inc. staff
Aug 31, 2013
Northern Iowa 28, Iowa State 20: David Johnson had 240 yards of total offense and scored all four touchdowns as the Panthers pulled the road upset over the Cyclones.
Johnson finished with a career-high 199 yards on the ground on 23 carries and four catches for 41 yards. Sawyer Kollmorgen was 21-of-28 for 218 yards and two scores for Northern Iowa.
Iowa State got a nice game from Sam Richardson, who was 22-of-32 for 242 yards and two touchdowns. But the Cyclones' defense couldn't come up with the big play when it needed one against the Panthers' offense.
Johnson opened the scoring with a 37-yard run midway through the first quarter and put the Panthers up for good with a pair of scores in the second quarter - a 9-yard reception from Kollmorgen and a 27-yard run. Richardson connected with James White on a 7-yard scoring strike to pull Iowa State within seven by halftime.
In the third quarter, the Cyclones moved the ball but had to settle for a pair of Cole Netten field goals. Johnson scored two minutes into the fourth to push the advantage to eight, and Iowa State never seriously threatened from there.
GAME NOTEBOOK: It was Northern Iowa's first victory over an FBS school since a win over the Cyclones in 2007. … Paul Rhoads suffered his first season-opening loss as coach of Iowa State after capturing wins in his first four seasons. … Northern Iowa improved to 74-5 under Mark Farley when holding the opposition to 20 points or less.