SPRINGFIELD -- No. 3 Northern Iowa outgained Missouri State 396-185 on Saturday, but the Bears rallied for a 16-play touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to break up the shutout in a 35-7 Panthers win before 15,038 at Plaster Field in the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener for both teams.

UNI improved to 3-1 overall, while the loss evened the Bears' ledger at 2-2 on the season.

The crowd was the ninth-largest home crowd ever for the Bears.

The game was dictated by a fast-paced first half by the Panthers. After the Bears intercepted UNI's Pat Grace on the Panthers' opening drive of the game, UNI reeled off touchdown drives in three of its next four possessions to build a 21-0 halftime lead.  The Bears were unable to convert the interception by Cedric Alvis, the fifth of his career, into points and punted on their first five possessions.

After turning the ball over on their opening series for the first time this season, the Panthers found their mark. With 3:50 to play in the opening quarter, Jarred Herring capped an 83-yard touchdown drive with a three-yard carry to make it 7-0. UNI tacked on seven more points at the 6:17 mark of the second quarter as Grace ran for paydirt from 11 yards out. Just over four minutes later, Grace connected with D.P Eyman for a 27-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-0. The Panthers' third touchdown drive of the first half consumed 75 yards on just six plays.

The Bears drove to the UNI 30 on their final drive of the half and passed up an opportunity for a field goal attempt with seven seconds to play to take a shot at the end zone.  's pass into the corner of the end zone was picked off by Quentin Scott to end the half.Cody Kirby

Missouri State went three-and-out on the opening possession of the second half, then returned the favor to the Panthers, forcing them to give up the ball after three plays. However, the ensuing punt was fumbled by Miguel Warren at the MSU 10 yard line, setting up a one-yard touchdown run by Carlos Anderson three plays later.

The final dagger came on Northern Iowa's next possession when the Bears pinned the Panthers in at their own 11. Grace led his team 89 yards on nine plays for the team's final touchdown of the game as he connected with Eyman for a 26-yard catch and run on a third-and-12 play.

Grace was 17-for-24 for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also accounted for a game-high 65 rushing yards. D.J. Hord had five receptions for 61 yards to lead six Panthers, while Eyman caught two balls for 51 yards.

The Bears' late touchdown drive consumed a season-high 16 plays. Kirby connected with Clay Harbor on a third-and-goal from the five for Missouri State's only score. Harbor had a game-high and season-high seven receptions for 43 yards.

Jonathan Davis led all Bears' rushers with nine carries for 47 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Starter Miguel Warren carried 14 times for 34 yards, and Kirby was 17-for-30 for 116. He was sacked four times, all in the first half.

Also highlighting Missouri State's efforts was a 72-yard punt by sophomore Jordan Chiles in the second quarter that matched the sixth-longest kick in school history.

The Bears travel to Youngstown State next Saturday as they continue league play at 5 p.m. Missouri State returns to Plaster Field on October 10 to take on South Dakota State at 2 p.m.