NIU overcomes slow start, puts away Idaho in fourth quarter

MOSCOW—Perhaps it was the long plane flight,and having long bus rides from Hotel to Stadium, but after a slow start, Jordan Lynch threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as heavily-favored Northern Illinois held off Idaho 45-35 on Saturday.The Vandals (0-3), outscored 82-16 in their first two games, twice led the Huskies (2-0) by two touchdowns in the first half and tied the game at 35 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter on James Baker’s second touchdown.Lynch had 154 yards for his fifteenth career 100-yard game, including a 61-yard scoring burst to make it 35-28, but it was his third TD pass that finally did in the Vandals. After a 49-yard field goal by Matthew Sims broke the last tie, Lynch found Luke Eakes for a 16-yard score.The Huskies finished with 505 yards. Wide receiver Tommylee Lewis had 111 rushing on six carries and 52 yards on seven receptions.Dezmon Epps had 10 catches for 112 yards for Idaho, which had 448 yards.