DES MOINES, IOWA - Terrell Allen returned the game's opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown as Northern Iowa spoiled Drake's season opener in the newly renovated Drake Stadium Thursday night with a 48-7 victory.

The Panthers rolled up 448 yards total offense with sophomore Corey Lewis pacing the attack with touchdown runs of two and 12 yards. Lewis finished with a game-high 105 yards on the ground in 11 carries.

Northern Iowa, which finished runner-up in the 2006 NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, was making its first appearance at Drake Stadium since 1985.

A crowd of 10,107 the most to watch a Bulldogs' home game during their 20-year nonscholarship period attended the game at Drake Stadium which underwent a $15 million renovation that included permanent lighting and a new FieldTurf playing surface.

Northern Iowa scored on its first four possessions to enjoy a 24-0 lead before sophomore quarterback Derek Retherford (Johnston, Iowa) spotted Shea Moroni (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) open for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 4:01 left in the second quarter to account for Drake's lone touchdown.

"We found ourselves abandoning our script early on and adjusting," said Drake football coach Rob Ash. "By the second half we had a good package. But that's what happens in an opening game. Both teams spend all training camp preparing for what they think they're going to see then you have to adjust."

Drake did march from its own 20 down to the Northern Iowa 14 yardline to start the second half before sophomore Logan Rees (West Des Moines Valley) missed a 31-yard field goal.

Junior All-American Scott Phaydavong (Des Moines East) rushed for 94 yards in 25 carries, while moving into the No. 5 spot on the Drake career rushing list with 3,183 yards. He moved past Johnny Bright who had gained 3,134 yards from 1949-51.

Retherford, making his first collegiate start, passed for 173 yards for Drake.

"I thought he did fine," said Ash. "He's got great tools, he just needs to settle down. He did some good things you can't see from upstairs. We didn't have a delay of game penalty or a false start, which is unusual for an opening game."

Moroni caught five passes for 61 yards, while junior tight end Daniel Marx (Maple Grove, Minn.) had four receptions for 69 yards.

Drake junior Poul Collins (Cedar Rapids Washington), a converted running back who was making his first collegiate start at cornerback, led Drake with eight tackles. Senior linebacker James Adams (Kansas City, Mo.) added seven tackles.

Junior free safety Jacob Craig (Mount Vernon, Iowa) recovered a fumble for the Bulldogs.

Drake will continue its season opening three-game homestand by entertaining Upper Iowa Sept. 9.