BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Northern Illinois put together its most complete performance of the year, defeating Bowling Green 48-17 Saturday at Doyt Perry Stadium.
The win improved NIU’s record to 3-0 in the MAC and 5-2 overall as the Huskies moved within one win of bowl eligibility. Bowling Green fell to 1-7, 1-3 in MAC play.
In his second career start, freshman . . .
The win improved NIU’s record to 3-0 in the MAC and 5-2 overall as the Huskies moved within one win of bowl eligibility. Bowling Green fell to 1-7, 1-3 in MAC play.
In his second career start, freshman . . .
. . . quarterback Marcus Childers accounted for 312 yards of total offense, passing for career high 239 yards on 21-of-33 passing and rushing for 73 yards on 19 carries. Childers threw three touchdown passes, including a career-long 73-yard scoring pass to Chad Beebe, and was not intercepted.
Beebe, a senior from Aurora, Ill., caught six passes for 124 yards to record the first 100-yard receiving game of his career,
Beebe, a senior from Aurora, Ill., caught six passes for 124 yards to record the first 100-yard receiving game of his career,
Tommy Mister ran for 115 yards on 17 carries for his first 100-yard rushing game to lead a 338-yard massive rushing attack by NIU.
The Huskies also were able to take advantage of five turnovers by Bowling Green Trayshon Foster, Jackson Abresch and Mycial Allen recorded interceptions. Sutton Smith got NIU rolling again in the second half with a 16-yard fumble return.
“Takeaways were the key to the game,” said NIU Head Coach Rod Carey. “We were certainly happy with the way [the defensive backs] ball-hawked today. We wanted to get pressure on their quarterback, but they came out with a good plan for taking away our speed rushers, although Sutton was still able to get in there and score.”
Offensively, NIU totaled a season-high 577 yards on 89 plays, including a season-best 338 rushing yards and 29 total first downs.
“Extremely pleased with the offense. They ran the ball and had the best game so far,” Carey said. “We made a commitment to the run and you saw the improvement. Tommy ran downhill and he wasn’t getting brought down by the first guy.”
Mister started the scoring for NIU with a 30-yard touchdown run, the first of his NIU career, as leading rusher Jordan Huff missed the game due to injury. The Huskies’ other rushing score came at the very end of the game as receiver Jauan Wesley went in from nine yards out on the jet sweep as the second team offense played most of the fourth quarter.
In between the rushing touchdowns, Childers threw first half scoring passes of eight, 15, and 73 yards to tight end Shane Wimann, receiver Spencer Tears and Beebe, respectively. NIU took a 31-7 halftime lead when Huskie kicker Christian Hagan made a 29-yard field goal as time expired in the first half as he went two-for-two on field goals for the day.
“Marcus started well. He distributed the ball, he was making good decisions,” Carey said. “I was very happy with him minus the fumble at the end.”
Bowling Green became just the second NIU opponent to score a first quarter touchdown when they got on the board on an 11-yard pass from James Morgan to Quintin Morris. By the time they scored again – on a 34-yard field goal by James Suder, NIU had put 27 points on the board. Bowling Green’s final touchdown came versus the Huskie back-ups.
BG quarterbacks James Morgan and Grant Loy combined to complete 13 of 23 passes for 175 yards with one TD and three interceptions.
Jarvous Pough led the Falcons with four receptions, while junior Datrin Guyton picked up 51 yards on two catches. Freshman Andrew Clair led the ground game with 15 carries for 108 of BG’s 192 rushing yards.
NIU now faces its shortest turnaround of the year as the Huskies play host to Eastern Michigan on Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Huskie Stadium. Bowling Green will be at Kent State Tuesday, Oct. 31 (8 p.m. ET).
The Huskies also were able to take advantage of five turnovers by Bowling Green Trayshon Foster, Jackson Abresch and Mycial Allen recorded interceptions. Sutton Smith got NIU rolling again in the second half with a 16-yard fumble return.
“Takeaways were the key to the game,” said NIU Head Coach Rod Carey. “We were certainly happy with the way [the defensive backs] ball-hawked today. We wanted to get pressure on their quarterback, but they came out with a good plan for taking away our speed rushers, although Sutton was still able to get in there and score.”
Offensively, NIU totaled a season-high 577 yards on 89 plays, including a season-best 338 rushing yards and 29 total first downs.
“Extremely pleased with the offense. They ran the ball and had the best game so far,” Carey said. “We made a commitment to the run and you saw the improvement. Tommy ran downhill and he wasn’t getting brought down by the first guy.”
Mister started the scoring for NIU with a 30-yard touchdown run, the first of his NIU career, as leading rusher Jordan Huff missed the game due to injury. The Huskies’ other rushing score came at the very end of the game as receiver Jauan Wesley went in from nine yards out on the jet sweep as the second team offense played most of the fourth quarter.
In between the rushing touchdowns, Childers threw first half scoring passes of eight, 15, and 73 yards to tight end Shane Wimann, receiver Spencer Tears and Beebe, respectively. NIU took a 31-7 halftime lead when Huskie kicker Christian Hagan made a 29-yard field goal as time expired in the first half as he went two-for-two on field goals for the day.
“Marcus started well. He distributed the ball, he was making good decisions,” Carey said. “I was very happy with him minus the fumble at the end.”
Bowling Green became just the second NIU opponent to score a first quarter touchdown when they got on the board on an 11-yard pass from James Morgan to Quintin Morris. By the time they scored again – on a 34-yard field goal by James Suder, NIU had put 27 points on the board. Bowling Green’s final touchdown came versus the Huskie back-ups.
BG quarterbacks James Morgan and Grant Loy combined to complete 13 of 23 passes for 175 yards with one TD and three interceptions.
Jarvous Pough led the Falcons with four receptions, while junior Datrin Guyton picked up 51 yards on two catches. Freshman Andrew Clair led the ground game with 15 carries for 108 of BG’s 192 rushing yards.
NIU now faces its shortest turnaround of the year as the Huskies play host to Eastern Michigan on Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Huskie Stadium. Bowling Green will be at Kent State Tuesday, Oct. 31 (8 p.m. ET).
RSS Feed