UNI Football: Rennie rocks Redbirds

CEDAR FALLS - It was a big homecoming day for Northern Iowa quarterback Tirrell Rennie and the junior quarterback's sterling performance had the Panthers ending their Saturday atop the Missouri Valley Football Conference standings.

Rennie accounted for five touchdowns, including four rushing scores, as the Panthers exploded in the second half to rout Illinois State, 42-14, before a crowd of 15,730 fans at the UNI-Dome.

UNI (4-3 overall, 3-1 MFVC), saw Rennie rush for 153 yards on 22 carries and complete 8 of 14 passes for 90 yards, as it took over the conference lead following losses by Western Illinois and Indiana State.

The Panthers led 14-0 at the half as Josh Collins caught a 12-yard scoring pass and Rennie ran 10 yards for a TD, both in the first quarter.

Illinois State (4-4, 3-3) cut the deficit to 14-7 midway through the third quarter on a 14-yard pass from Matt Brown to Tyrone Walker.

But from then on, it was all Panthers. UNI put three TDs on the board in a five-minute span at the end of the third and into the fourth quarter. Rennie ran in from 11 yards out to make it 21-7 with 3:48 remaining in the period. On the next Redbird drive, Andre Martin picked off a Brown pass and went 62 yards to score.

The run ended early in the fourth when Rennie scampered 47 yards to make it 35-7 after a Garrett Scott interception gave the Panthers good field position.

Billy Hallgren tied the all-time scoring record at UNI with his extra point in the fourth quarter. Hallgren and Brian Wingert have each scored 331 career points.