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Northern Illinois' senior quarterback, Jordan Lynch, piled up 471 total yards against the Central Michigan Chippewas - most of which came in the second half - as the Huskies spoiled the Central Michigan Chippewas' homecoming game 38-17. The win extends NIU's conference winning streak to 20 in a row - the longest streak in the nation. It is also NIU's 13 consecutive road victory, the second longest streak in the country, behind Oregon.
Lynch went 20-30 passing for 155 yards with a TD and a pick. But the real offense came from his legs. He carried the ball 32 times for 316 yards and 3 scores. That's not a typo. He ran for 316 yards, breaking the NCAA record for rushing yards by a QB in a single game. Cameron Stingily added another 70 yards and a TD on the ground in the second half as well. The Huskies torched the Chips for 437 rushing yards on the day, while CMU managed just 75 yards on the ground.
The teams traded touchdowns late in the first quarter, both on 9-yard plays. CMU quarterback, Cooper Rush, found Titus Davis wide open to start the scoring. Just four minutes later Lynch hit Tommylee Lewis on a bubble screen. The Chips would take the lead again on their next drive after Andrew Flory scored on a 36 yard bomb from Rush. They held that lead until midway through the second, when Lynch got the first of his three rushing TDs, this one from 5-yards out. The Huskies wouldn't look back.
In the second half, the Huskies outscored CMU 24-3. NIU scored 10 unanswered in the third, on Lynch's second TD and a Tyler Wedel field goal. CMU added it's lone field goal 10 seconds into the fourth quarter, but then the Huskies responded with two more touchdowns. The Chippewas' defense gave up huge gains on the ground, letting Lynch and Stingily each score.The Huskies' defense, which again started off slow, was able to shut down the Chips offense in the second half, giving up just 97 yards in the final 30 minutes. They added two more turnovers and three more sacks to their defensive totals, and have been in the top 10 in the nation in both categories all year.
Rush finished the day 16-32 with 271 yards two TDs and an interception. Saylor Lavallii rushed it 16 times and Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore had 12 carries but just mustered 53 and 37 yards respectively. Davis and Flory led the receiving corps with 5 catches each. Davis gaining 109 yards and Flory netting 81 yards.
Northern Illinois' ability to close out games late continues to be impressive and should help them in the polls this week after not moving up a week ago. With Louisville falling last night, the Huskies BCS chances increased greatly, and they needed a quality win. Today they got it. If they wish to crash the BCS party again, they need to continue to play like they did in the second half today.
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