HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -- So far, nobody has figured out a way to stop Chad Pennington and No. 13 Marshall.

Pennington threw four touchdown passes as the Thundering Herd beat Northern Illinois 41-9 Saturday.

Pennington completed 26 of 33 passes for 288 yards. He has 26 TD passes this season, two more than last year's total, and third in Division I-A behind Western Michigan's Tim Lester (29) and Louisville's Chris Redman (27).

It marked the fourth time Pennington has thrown four or more TDs this season.

"He is so sharp," said Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak. "He figures out what you're doing, and sooner or later, he's going to lock in on it."

Marshall improved its winning streaks to 12 games overall and 29 straight at home, both tops in Division I-A. The Thundering Herd (5-0 Mid-American) is off to an 8-0 start for the second straight season.

Northern Illinois, which routed Kent 50-7 a week ago, was held to three field goals by Kent Baker and did not advance past Marshall's 20-yard line. Northern was held to 67 yards on the ground.

"Our defense played an outstanding football game," said Marshall coach Bob Pruett. "I think we eliminated the run all together. They had been running the ball well, but we took it away all night."

Llow Turner added a pair of touchdowns runs and turned in Marshall's first 100-yard effort of the season.

Turner entered on the game's second play after starter Doug Chapman hyperextended his knee and did not return. Turner finished with 104 yards on 16 carries, an average of 6.5 yards per rush.

"People were blitzing on the outside, so it was easy to find holes," Turner said. "Any time they call my number, I'm ready to play."

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Northern Illinois (4-5, 4-2).

"I said all week I thought they were the best team in the history of the MAC," Novak said. "They are like a bomb. You know sooner or later they are going to go off, and you just hold your breath."

Marshall scored on three consecutive possessions starting midway through the third quarter to break open a close game.

"In the second half, we concentrated on Northern Illinois, not what we were going to do after the game," said Marshall wide receiver Nate Poole.

An interception by sophomore Michael Owens set up Turner's 29-yard touchdown run for a 21-6 lead.

James Williams followed with his second TD catch of the game, a 6-yarder from Pennington, for a 28-9 lead with four minutes left in the quarter.

On a kickoff return early in the fourth quarter, Williams appeared to be hemmed in at his own 15. He changed directions and outran a half-dozen pursuers down the right sideline to the Northern Illinois 15. That set up tight end Greg Kellett's first career TD catch, a 3-yarder from Pennington.

Pennington added a 12-yard scoring pass to John Cooper in the fourth quarter to finish the scorer.

After entering the game for Chapman, Turner gained 43 yards on the opening 81-yard drive, capping it with a 3-yard TD run.

Later in the quarter, Williams sprinted past cornerback Chauncy O'Neal and Pennington found him for a 71-yard score and a 14-0 lead. It was the Thundering Herd's longest pass play of the season.

Marshall's offense fell silent for the remainder of the half. Pennington threw two second-quarter interceptions while Northern Illinois crept back on a pair of field goals. Baker's 49-yarder in the second quarter was the second-longest in school history.

"The second quarter was the worst quarter I've ever played," Pennington said. "If it was the lowest point of the season, I still feel pretty good about it."

Marshall's defense, allowing the second-fewest points in the nation, hasn't given up a touchdown in 10 quarters. Northern quarterback Chris Finlen, who threw for five scores in two previous games, went 18-of-34 for 200 yards, but was intercepted three times.

The game was the first between the schools since 1974. Northern Illinois leads the series 4-2.