SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) _ Preseason favorite Illinois State opened its Gateway Conference action with a 100-yard return of the opening kickoff, but needed to rally for three fourth-quarter touchdowns to outlast Southwest Missouri State 46-42 Saturday.

It was a duel of passers, as Kevin Glenn threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns for the Redbirds (3-1 overall, 1-0 in Gateway Conference play) and Jay Rodgers connected for 281 yards and two touchdowns through the air for the Bears.

Both Glenn and Rodgers also ran for a touchdown. Southwest Missouri State (2-2, 0-1) also got three rushing touchdowns from Jason Ringena.

The Bears led 21-7 by the end of the end of the first quarter and had a 42-24 lead after the third quarter.

Aveion Cason, who returned the game-opening kickoff, also set up an Illinois State touchdown with an 89-yard kickoff return and started the fourth-quarter rally with a 36-yard touchdown reception from Glenn.

Glenn connected with Walter James on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 10:38 to play to narrow the margin to 42-37. Alfred Corbin intercepted a pass less than a minute later and returned it 26 yards to give Illinois State its first lead since the opening minutes.

Jake Strader's 26-yard field goal with a minute to play iced the win.

Southwest Missouri State had 541 in total offense and Illinois State 495.