Thursday night’s game at the Glass Bowl in Toledo is the kind of match-up that characterizes “MACtion.” It’s two quality teams locking up in a battle with serious ramifications riding on the outcome.
Visiting Northern Illinois and host Toledo are the only undefeated teams left in Mid-American Conference play. Thursday’s winner will . . .
Visiting Northern Illinois and host Toledo are the only undefeated teams left in Mid-American Conference play. Thursday’s winner will . . .
. . . be alone in the driver’s seat, albeit one-loss Western Michigan still has a shot at both teams over the final two regular season contests.
Toledo leads the series with Northern Illinois 30-14 and defeated the Huskies 31-24 in a game played at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago. However, NIU has won three consecutive games at the Glass Bowl and owned six straight wins over UT prior to 2016.
Here’s more on NIU and UT:
Toledo leads the series with Northern Illinois 30-14 and defeated the Huskies 31-24 in a game played at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago. However, NIU has won three consecutive games at the Glass Bowl and owned six straight wins over UT prior to 2016.
Here’s more on NIU and UT:
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES (6-2, 4-0 MAC)
● The Huskies last outing was a 30-27 home field win over Eastern Michigan Oct. 26. NIU trailed 24-10 early in the final quarter. Two fourth quarter TDs tied the game with 2:57 left in regulation.
EMU hit a 35-yard field goal in overtime, but the Huskies followed with a touchdown for the win.
● Northern tops all MAC teams in scoring defense, yielding 18 ppg. The Huskies are fourth in scoring (27.9 ppg).
● One of the interesting matchups Thursday will be NIU’s No. 1 rushing defense against Toledo’s Terry Swanson. He leads all MAC rushers, averaging 104 ypg. overall and 6.9 ypc in conference play.
● With three TFLs last week, sophomore defensive end Sutton Smith as tied NIU’s 33-year-old school record for TFLs in a season (20). He leads the entire FBS in tackles for loss (2.5 TFL per game).
● The Huskies quarterback corps was again decimated by injuries this year. Freshman Marcus Childers got his third start last week, completing 23 of 40 for 278 yards and two TDs. He has not thrown an interception as a starter and has just one pick on the year. Childers owns nine TD tosses in 2017.
● NIU ranks fourth in rushing offense (191.9 ypg). Leading rusher Jordan Huff (85 carris, 450 yards, 1 TD) has been out for two games. Childers is already second in rushing with 91 carries for 329 yards and three scores.
● Christian Blake (29 catches, 335 yards, 3 TDs) and Spencer Tears (29 catches, 330 yards, 4 TDs) and D.J. Brown (32 catches, 323 yards, 2 TDs) top the NIU receiving stats.
● The Huskies last outing was a 30-27 home field win over Eastern Michigan Oct. 26. NIU trailed 24-10 early in the final quarter. Two fourth quarter TDs tied the game with 2:57 left in regulation.
EMU hit a 35-yard field goal in overtime, but the Huskies followed with a touchdown for the win.
● Northern tops all MAC teams in scoring defense, yielding 18 ppg. The Huskies are fourth in scoring (27.9 ppg).
● One of the interesting matchups Thursday will be NIU’s No. 1 rushing defense against Toledo’s Terry Swanson. He leads all MAC rushers, averaging 104 ypg. overall and 6.9 ypc in conference play.
● With three TFLs last week, sophomore defensive end Sutton Smith as tied NIU’s 33-year-old school record for TFLs in a season (20). He leads the entire FBS in tackles for loss (2.5 TFL per game).
● The Huskies quarterback corps was again decimated by injuries this year. Freshman Marcus Childers got his third start last week, completing 23 of 40 for 278 yards and two TDs. He has not thrown an interception as a starter and has just one pick on the year. Childers owns nine TD tosses in 2017.
● NIU ranks fourth in rushing offense (191.9 ypg). Leading rusher Jordan Huff (85 carris, 450 yards, 1 TD) has been out for two games. Childers is already second in rushing with 91 carries for 329 yards and three scores.
● Christian Blake (29 catches, 335 yards, 3 TDs) and Spencer Tears (29 catches, 330 yards, 4 TDs) and D.J. Brown (32 catches, 323 yards, 2 TDs) top the NIU receiving stats.
TOLEDO ROCKETS (7-1, 4-0 MAC)
● UT’s only loss on the season was a 52-30 setback at No. 14 Miami (FLa). The undefeated Hurricanes are now considered a solid contender for a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
● The Rockets are second among MAC teams in scoring offense (40.5 ppg), so part of Thursday’s matchup will be an excellent offense battling an excellent defense.
● RB Terry Swanson is taking advantage of his opportunities now that former Rocket Kareem Hunt is in the NFL. Swanson leads the MAC with an average of 104 ypg. and owns a eight TDs.
● Freshman RB Shakif Seymore is averaging 6.7 ypc with 70 rushes for 467 yards and six TDs.
● Quarterback Logan Woodside leads the MAC in passing yards (286.9 ypg), passing efficiency (171.3) and total offense (294.0).
● Sophomore Diontae Johnson has 36 receptions for 693 yards and eight TDs.
● Toledo has registered 19 passing touchdowns and 18 rushing scores.
● UT is fifth in scoring defense (25.4 ppg) and third in total defense (363.5 ypg).
● Toledo is third in pass defense efficiency and fourth in rushing defense (161.9 ypg).
● Kicker Jameson Vest leads the MAC in scoring (10.5 ppg), field goals (17) and field goal percentage (85.0 %).
● UT’s only loss on the season was a 52-30 setback at No. 14 Miami (FLa). The undefeated Hurricanes are now considered a solid contender for a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
● The Rockets are second among MAC teams in scoring offense (40.5 ppg), so part of Thursday’s matchup will be an excellent offense battling an excellent defense.
● RB Terry Swanson is taking advantage of his opportunities now that former Rocket Kareem Hunt is in the NFL. Swanson leads the MAC with an average of 104 ypg. and owns a eight TDs.
● Freshman RB Shakif Seymore is averaging 6.7 ypc with 70 rushes for 467 yards and six TDs.
● Quarterback Logan Woodside leads the MAC in passing yards (286.9 ypg), passing efficiency (171.3) and total offense (294.0).
● Sophomore Diontae Johnson has 36 receptions for 693 yards and eight TDs.
● Toledo has registered 19 passing touchdowns and 18 rushing scores.
● UT is fifth in scoring defense (25.4 ppg) and third in total defense (363.5 ypg).
● Toledo is third in pass defense efficiency and fourth in rushing defense (161.9 ypg).
● Kicker Jameson Vest leads the MAC in scoring (10.5 ppg), field goals (17) and field goal percentage (85.0 %).
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