CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP)--Carlos Anderson rushed for 158 yards, including a 12-yard game-clinching score in the third quarter, and the Northern Iowa defense had 11 sacks Sept. 11 en route to a 16-9 victory over North Dakota State before a crowd of 14,422 in the UNI-Dome.

Tirrell Rennie added 172 yards passing and 96 yards rushing for the 13th/14th-ranked Panthers, who were opening the season with a Missouri Valley Conference game against the Bison.

No. 21-ranked North Dakota State (1-1, 0-1), coming off a 6-3 win over Kansas last week, was held to minus-41 yards rushing due to the loss of 77 yards on sacks.

Jose Mohler completed a career-high 20 of 35 passes for 247 yards for the Bison but was picked off twice. He also had a 16-yard run with 4:28 left in the game for North Dakota State's only touchdown. Tight end Landon Smith caught a career best three passes for 47 yards.

Defensive end Coulter Boyer led the NDSU defense with six tackles including a career-high five solos. Boyer recovered a fumble and returned it 26 yards to stop a UNI drive. Cornerback Freddie Banks recorded his first interception in the second quarter to stop another, while linebacker Matt Anderson and free safety Daniel Eaves each had a forced fumble.

The Bison got the ball back with 1:33 remaining, but their drive stalled after back-to-back sacks by Northern Iowa closed out the game.