Quarterback Dan Persa passed for 307 yards and a touchdown as Northwestern defeated Rice 30-13 Saturday.

Persa finished 24-of-32, and also rushed for a touchdown as the Wildcats (3-0) totaled 453 yards of offense.

Stefan Damos began the scoring for Northwestern with a 42-yard field goal early in the first quarter. Damos made it 6-0 with a 22-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.

Northwestern struck again when senior linebacker Quentin Davie picked off a Taylor Cook pass and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown.

Rice's Chris Boswell hit a 31-yard field goal on the last play of the first half to make it 13-3.

Persa hit Jerry Ebert with a 27-yard touchdown pass, and ran 18 yards for another score in the third quarter.

Damos kicked his third field goal as the Wildcats increased their lead to 30-6 in the fourth quarter.

Persa is 62-for-76 with seven touchdowns this season.

Rice dropped to 1-2.