Patterson leads North Dakota State past Northern Iowa 34-20

Updated Oct. 9, 2021 6:54 p.m. ET

Associated Press

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Quincy Patterson passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more as North Dakota State powered past Northern Iowa 34-20 in a showdown of Missouri Valley Football Conference powers on Saturday.

Leading 13-10 at halftime, Patterson stretched the Bison lead with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. He scored on a keeper from the 4 and later rolled out for a 3-yard toss to Noah Gindorff as North Dakota State (5-0. 2-0) pushed its lead to 27-10.

Christian Watson had 163 yards on five catches for the Bison, including an 85-yarder from Patterson for the first touchdown of the game — a one-play drive.

The Bison, ranked No. 5 in the FCS coaches poll, jumped out to a 10-0 lead before Northern Iowa (3-2, 1-1), ranked No. 12, fought into a 10-10 with three minutes left in the first half.

A Jake Reinholz 22-yard field goal gave NDSU a 13-10 lead at the break.

Theo Day was 12-of-31 passing for 257 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers, but was sacked five times for a loss of 35 yards. Isaiah Weston caught five passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.

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