The Huskies turned a pair of first-quarter interceptions into 10 points.

They converted redshirt senior safety Dechane Durante’s interception on the game’s opening drive into a 5-yard touchdown run by redshirt sophomore quarterback Drew Hare. An interception by redshirt junior cornerback Paris Logan late in the first quarter was turned into a 35-yard field goal by Christian Hagan to push NIU’s lead to 10-0.

The Huskies tacked on another Hagan field goal, this one from 32 yards out, after forcing a turnover on downs near midfield.

The Falcons responded with a 6-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown pass from James Knapke to Gehrig Dieter. Dieter made a nice adjustment in the air to pluck the ball out of the sky and score from 42 yards out.

Capping off a methodical drive, NIU stretched its lead to 20-7 with 0:25 left in the first quarter on a 5-yard throwback pass to the right from Hare to Luke Eakes, redshirt senior tight end. Bowling Green’s Tyler Tate drilled a 46-yard field goal with time expiring to make the score 20-10 at the break.