DeKALB, Ill. – Tailback Jordan Huff ran for 185 yards on 25 carries and defensive end Sutton Smith broke the NIU single season record for quarterback sacks and scored on a 58-yard fumble return, as Northern Illinois University came back from a fourth-quarter deficit to claim a 35-31 victory over Western Michigan Wednesday night at Huskie Stadium.
“Obviously we are . . .
“Obviously we are . . .
. . . ecstatic with the win,” said NIU Head Coach Rod Carey. “It’s a good Western Michigan team and we found a way. We kind of got in our way, then we got out of our way. . . . Once we got those things cleaned up, then I thought we had pretty good control of the game.”
NIU improved to 8-3 overall, 6-1 in the MAC, while Western Michigan fell to 6-4, 4-3. NIU remains alive in its hunt for a MAC West title with one game remaining. The Huskies wrap up the regular season with a game next Friday, Nov. 24, at Central Michigan.
NIU improved to 8-3 overall, 6-1 in the MAC, while Western Michigan fell to 6-4, 4-3. NIU remains alive in its hunt for a MAC West title with one game remaining. The Huskies wrap up the regular season with a game next Friday, Nov. 24, at Central Michigan.
Three of Western Michigan’s four touchdowns Wednesday came on short drives after NIU miscues gave WMU the ball inside the Huskie 25-yard line, including on two muffed punts and a fumble. A 20-mile-per-hour sustained wind limited the passing game and affected special teams – both kicking and returns – on both sides.
Huff ran for a 31-yard touchdown on NIU’s first offensive play, and was particularly effective in the fourth quarter with nine carries for 74 yards during the Huskies’ comeback and game-sealing final drive. His 185 yards were a career-high for the senior on Senior Night at Huskie Stadium.
“He set the tone that first run of the game,” Carey said. “I was really happy with his performance. It was probably his finest performance as a Huskie as far as volume and explosiveness.”
Western Michigan took a 28-21 lead with 1:36 to play in the third quarter after recovering a Huskie fumble at the 24 yard line. Tight end Donnie Ernsberger scored on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Reece Goddard as WMU took its first lead of the game.
The Huskies responded immediately as Huff picked up yardage in chunks of 24 and 17 yards before scoring on a 14-yard run to tie the score at 28 with 13:57 to play. WMU drove to the Huskies’ 11 on its ensuing possession, aided by a 68-yard completion to Tyron Arnett. The Broncos could advance no further, though, as the defense held WMU to a 28-yard field goal.
NIU then drove 67 yards in 10 plays for the game-winning score. Huff picked up 20 yards on four carries, and quarterback Marcus Childers hit Shane Wimann for 12 yards to convert on third and seven to extend the drive. Childers then hit tight end Mitchell Brinkman for the 26-yard touchdown.
The NIU defense came up with a big three-and-out, forcing the Broncos to punt. The Huskies got the ball back with 5:21 to play and ran out the clock with a final long drive.
“I credit these guys and their attitude,” Carey said. “There was never any panic on the sideline. There was never any finger pointing. It was ‘we’re going to get this.’ They stuck together and I’m really proud of the senior class. I’m proud of them and how they stuck together. They’ve been on the mountain top and they’ve been in the valley. They’re clawing their way back up this mountain and they took a big step tonight. I’m really, really ecstatic for those seniors.”
Smith was part of a NIU defensive effort that helped bottle up MAC leading rusher Jarvion Franklin through most of the game, holding Franklin to just 23 yards in the final three quarters after he started the game with 92 yards on 14 runs in the first period. A week after breaking the school record for tackles for loss in a season, Smith recorded 2.5 sacks Wednesday to break the NIU mark for season quarterback sacks as he now has 13 on the year.
(Courtesy of NIU Athletics)
Huff ran for a 31-yard touchdown on NIU’s first offensive play, and was particularly effective in the fourth quarter with nine carries for 74 yards during the Huskies’ comeback and game-sealing final drive. His 185 yards were a career-high for the senior on Senior Night at Huskie Stadium.
“He set the tone that first run of the game,” Carey said. “I was really happy with his performance. It was probably his finest performance as a Huskie as far as volume and explosiveness.”
Western Michigan took a 28-21 lead with 1:36 to play in the third quarter after recovering a Huskie fumble at the 24 yard line. Tight end Donnie Ernsberger scored on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Reece Goddard as WMU took its first lead of the game.
The Huskies responded immediately as Huff picked up yardage in chunks of 24 and 17 yards before scoring on a 14-yard run to tie the score at 28 with 13:57 to play. WMU drove to the Huskies’ 11 on its ensuing possession, aided by a 68-yard completion to Tyron Arnett. The Broncos could advance no further, though, as the defense held WMU to a 28-yard field goal.
NIU then drove 67 yards in 10 plays for the game-winning score. Huff picked up 20 yards on four carries, and quarterback Marcus Childers hit Shane Wimann for 12 yards to convert on third and seven to extend the drive. Childers then hit tight end Mitchell Brinkman for the 26-yard touchdown.
The NIU defense came up with a big three-and-out, forcing the Broncos to punt. The Huskies got the ball back with 5:21 to play and ran out the clock with a final long drive.
“I credit these guys and their attitude,” Carey said. “There was never any panic on the sideline. There was never any finger pointing. It was ‘we’re going to get this.’ They stuck together and I’m really proud of the senior class. I’m proud of them and how they stuck together. They’ve been on the mountain top and they’ve been in the valley. They’re clawing their way back up this mountain and they took a big step tonight. I’m really, really ecstatic for those seniors.”
Smith was part of a NIU defensive effort that helped bottle up MAC leading rusher Jarvion Franklin through most of the game, holding Franklin to just 23 yards in the final three quarters after he started the game with 92 yards on 14 runs in the first period. A week after breaking the school record for tackles for loss in a season, Smith recorded 2.5 sacks Wednesday to break the NIU mark for season quarterback sacks as he now has 13 on the year.
(Courtesy of NIU Athletics)
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