TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Senior quarterback John Stites threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, leading Indiana State to a 33- 23 victory over Gateway Athletic Conference football rival Northern Iowa.
Stites, who played the second half with a separated shoulder, completed six passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns to Tony Brewer.
Demetrius Dowler led the Sycamores with 66 yards rushing on five carries, and scored a touchdown.
Northern Iowa took a 15-10 lead into the fourth quarter after Willie Beamon returned a blocked field goal 99 yards for a touchdown. The Panthers, now 4-3 overall, could not maintain the lead as Indiana State, 3-5, scored 23 points in the fourth quarter.
Northern Iowa was led by fullback Mike Schulte, who caught eight passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, while rushing 17 times for 53 yards.
Doug Dutton sacked NIU quarterback Jay Johnson twice for a loss of 42 yards. Indiana State, 1-4 in the league, dropped Johnson six times in the game. Northern Iowa now is 3-1 in the conference.
