CEDAR FALLS - Carlos Anderson danced and darted to his best game as a college football running back Saturday.

Then, suddenly, Anderson could dance no more.

At the end of an important fourth-down carry, Northern Iowa's freshman suffered an apparent serious leg injury and left the UNI-Dome on crutches following the Panthers' 28-7 victory over Youngstown State.

Anderson, once again splitting time in the backfield with Derrick Law, gained a career-high 113 yards in 17 carries. The freshman from Blue Springs, Mo., scored the first of four UNI rushing touchdowns on a 12-yard run. He also returned two kickoffs for 91 yards, giving him 204 all-purpose yards on the day.

But, then came the fourth-and-1 play at the YSU 29. Anderson, starting up the middle and cutting hard left, picked up the necessary yardage for the first down. That was the good news. He crumpled to the turf at the Penguin 17 and stayed there, clearly hurt.

From there, Matt Strathman scored the insurance touchdown on a 1-yard run with 4 minutes, 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Head coach Mark Farley said after the game that he had not yet talked to Anderson or UNI's doctors. But he thought his freshman back might have suffered a muscle tear.

"I think he's hurt pretty good, from what I saw," said Farley, who added, "(Anderson) was really hurting."

Law also appeared to be banged up late in the game. But Strathman came on, making his first appearance in the backfield since the Indiana State game, and rushed five times for 17 yards.

Before Youngstown State, Strathman had gained 209 yards on the ground, all of it in mop-up duty. Farley suggested a few weeks ago that the walk-on from Rockford, Ill., could get a more significant role as ballcarrier.

Saturday, with Anderson out, it happened. And he scored.

"He pulled a Strathman again," said Farley. "He knocks over three guys and he keeps running. The guy keeps showing up, and he'll play now."

Strathman's brother, Dan, sat in the UNI-Dome crowd Saturday. Dan Strathman was on leave from the military after serving in Afghanistan.