ATHENS, Ohio (AP) _ Ryan Helming threw four touchdowns passes and ran for another score as Northern Iowa beat Ohio 36-21 Saturday night.

Helming connected with Ryan Hannam on touchdown passes of 37 yards and 11 yards. He also threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Dusho and a 37-yarder to Eddie Berlin.

Following touchdown receptions by Hannam and Dusho, the Bobcats closed to 13-7 on Jason Caesar's 68-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Helming's 2-yard touchdown run put the Panthers up 20-7 at the half.

After Hannam's second touchdown reception, Jamel Patterson's 80-yard run for Ohio (0-2) made it 26-14 in the third quarter. Patterson had a career-high 118 yards rushing on 14 carries.

Berlin's touchdown catch and a 37-yard field goal by Brian Stegall put Northern Iowa (2-0) up 36-14 in the fourth.

Randy Pennington scored on an 8-yard pass from Dontrell Jackson for the game's final score.

The loss was Ohio's first to an I-AA team since 1992 when it lost to Youngstown State 28-20.