Hampton’s four picks doom NIU

DeKALB — Quinyon Mitchell intercepted four passes, returning two for touchdowns, and Toledo blasted Northern Illinois 52-32 on Saturday at Huskie Stadium.

Dequan Finn threw the first of his three touchdown passes — a four-yarder to Jerjuan Newton — on the opening drive of the game before Mitchell picked off Ethan Hampton and went 25 yards for the score.

The Huskies punted twice before three consecutive drives ended with Mitchell interceptions. The four tied the program record for Toledo (4-2, 2-0 MidAmerican Conference).

Finn and Newton hooked up for an 11-yard score and Jacquez Stuart plowed in from a yard out before Mitchell scored again on a 20-yard pick-six, making it 35-7 at halftime. Tucker Gleason threw a touchdown pass to Jamal Turner to make it 45-7 before the Huskies (1-4, 0-2) scored 17 consecutive points.

That’s when Finn (13-for-19, 167 yards) stepped in for his third touchdown pass, an eight-yarder to Lenny Kuhl, before the Huskies capped a 25-point fourth quarter with Hampton’s second TD pass in the last minute. Hampton finished 30-for-49 for 284 yards and touchdown passes to Messiah Travis (three yards) and Drew Cassens (four yards).

Antario Brown led the Huskies with 84 yards rushing on 17 carries, including a five-yard touchdown, and Harrison Waylee had 10 catches for 96 yards.

‘‘You can’t throw four picks and expect to win a football game,’’ NIU coach Thomas Hammock said. ‘‘[Hampton] is a young player trying to find his way and those things happen. He’ll learn from it.’’

The NCAA record for interceptions in a game is five,. • NIU summary, Page 60