CEDAR FALLS, Iowa– Sophomore kicker Louis Hyde put St. Thomas on the board with a 35-yard field goal with 1:50 left in the first half as Northern Iowa took a 17-3 halftime lead over the Tommies Saturday at the UNI-Dome.

The game against the No. 18 (FCS) Panthers (1-1) was the Tommies’ first Division I competition since moving from Division III to Division I this season.

Senior defensive back Joe Hird intercepted a pass by Panther redshirt sophomore quarterback Theo Day with 4:42 left in the second quarter that later set up Hyde for the kick.

St. Thomas senior quarterback Tommy Dolan was replaced by senior quarterback Cade Sexauer early in the second quarter after Dolan threw an interception on the 1-yard line. Northern Iowa junior defensive back Benny Sapp III returned the pickoff to the Tommies’ 43-yard line.

Sexauer went 3-for-5 for 38 total yards since he came into the game. He will likely start the second half at quarterback.

Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.