Northern Illinois renews rivalry, beats Illinois State 24-10

DEKALB, Ill. -- Ross Bowers threw a pair of touchdown passes to Tyrice Ritchie, including a 66-yard fourth-quarter bomb to put the Huskies on top for good, and Thomas Hammock won his coaching debut at his alma mater as Northern Illinois knocked off Illinois State, 24-10 in a season opener Saturday night. The game marked the 57th meeting between the in-state rivals, but the first since September 9, 2000 when the Huskies pummeled the Redbirds 52-0. Hammock made his first career start at tailback for NIU in that game, rushing for 140 yards on 29 carries. The teams traded first-half field goals and neither team managed to get into the end zone until Bowers found Ritchie from 22-yards out with 2:11 left in the third quarter. Illinois State answered on its next series when Brady Davis found Taylor Grimes with a 42-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter.