Northern Iowa rode a strong defensive performance and four Sam Drysdale field goals as the 25th-ranked Panthers won for the fourth-time in five games with a 25-10 victory over Missouri State Saturday at Plaster Field.
UNI (6-4 overall. 5-2 in Missouri Valley Football Conference) started the game without four key starters, lost starting quarterback Eli Dunne late in the first quarter but did enough things right to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Marcus Weymiller rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown, and UNI's defense held the Bears (3-7. 2-5) to just 215 total yards, 177 below their season average.