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The Northern Illinois Huskies jumped out to a 10-0 lead with just over three minutes to go in the first half. But the Miami RedHawks would go on a 27-7 run in a 20 minutes span and end up winning the game 27-24.
Huskie quarterback Ross Bowers was hit late in the first half and left the game with what looked like possible concussion symptoms, leaving Marcus Childers at the helm for the final 36 minutes of the game.
Childers ran for two Huskie touchdowns and threw for another but it wasn’t enough as RedHawk quarterback Brett Gabbert was able to gut the NIU defense and get his team into scoring position on four of their six second half possessions.
Trailing 17-27, the Huskies were able to score a touchdown with just over three minutes remaining and cut the lead to three. Then, after a RedHawk three-and-out, NIU got the ball back at their own 41-yard line with 1:44 remaining.
However, Childers struggled to throw the ball (as per the usual) and, on 4th-and-9, he attempted a pass to Cole Tucker just 10-yards away but the throw was well short, barely getting to the WR’s feet, and the Huskies turned the ball over, losing the game.
Childers did manage a 13-play, 75-yard drive late in the game that was capped off by a 10-yard TD pass to Cole Tucker but, for the most part, he refused to throw the ball more than 5-yards down field and did more damage pulling the ball and running it than he did through the air.
Next week, Miami travels to Kent State to take on the Golden Flashes with whom they’re tied atop the MAC East with (it’s a three-way tie between Miami, Kent State, and Ohio right now). The Huskies head back to DeKalb for Homecoming next Saturday, where they’ll take on the Akron Zips.
Game Stats
NIU Huskies
Total Yards: 350 (235 passing, 115 rushing)
Bowers: 7/12 passing, 91 yards
Childers: 14/23 passing, 144 yards, 1 TD; 9 carries, 27 yards, 2 TD
Tre Harbison: 26 carries, 83 yards
Tucker: 6 catches, 82 yards TD
Miami RedHawks
Total yards: 344 (273 passing, 71 rushing)
Gabbert: 15/28 passing, 273 yards, 1 TD; 7 carries, 42 yards
Jalen Walker: 7 catches, 138 yards
Jaylon Bester: 14 carries, 32 yards
James Maye: 2 catches, 65 yards, TD