Miami smothered the Huskies to keep their position atop the MAC
In a defensive battle, the Miami RedHawks (7-4, 6-1 MAC) were able to smother the Northern Illinois Huskies’ all game, allowing just 242 yards and a mere 3.23 yards per play. The Huskies (6-5, 3-4 MAC) were able to limit the RedHawks to 324 yards but two NIU turnovers and a big trick play from the RedHawks allowed Miami to get points, while the Huskies struggled to cross midfield.
Miami started out strong, driving 49 yards in seven plays but missed out on early points when their kicker, Dom Dzioban, missed a 41-yard attempt. They would get on the board on their third drive when halfback Dylan Downing powered his way into the endzone from 2-yards out to cap a 5-play, 69-yard drive and give the RedHawks a 7-0 lead.
On their next drive, they would add a field goal to bump the lead to 10, when Dzioban connected from 22-yards out. And they would add on even more shortly after, when wide receiver Javon Tracy found fellow receiver Reggie Virgil on a 30-yard wide receiver pass to push the lead up to 17-0.
Northern, on the other hand, punted the ball their first three drives, threw a pick on their fourth, but found a way to get on the board right before halftime, when Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert threw an interception to Jashon Prophete, who returned the ball to the RedHawk 30-yard line. Kanon Woodill would knock a 47-yard field goal as time ran down, and the teams went into halftime with NIU trailing 17-3.
The second half started out with more of the same, when NIU turned the ball over on downs and then the teams traded three straight punts. The Huskies would cut into the lead early in the fourth quarter, when halfback Telly Johnson was able to push his way into the endzone from a yard out. NIU would go for two but Ethan Hampton’s pass to a wide open Gavin Williams was dropped and score stay 17-9.
After forcing a punt, the Huskies would get the ball back but, as he rolled out, Hampton was sacked from behind, fumbled the ball, and Miami’s Brian Ugwu would recover. The turnover led to another RedHawk field goal, this time from 27-yards out.
The Huskies got the ball back and would drive down the field but, due to poor clock management and backup Josh Holst playing, NIU had to attempt a field goal with under 30 seconds left in the game. The kick was blocked – the seventh time this season NIU has had a blocked kick or punt – and the RedHawks kneeled out the clock and took home the win.
NIU finished the day with 114 passing yards (they had just 19 at halftime), 128 rushing yards, and had six penalties for 59 yards. Hampton finished the day 10/25 with 70 yards, an interception, four sacks, and a fumble lost. Holst was 6/8 for 31 yards. On the ground Johnson finished with 47 yards on 15 carries while Williams had 45 yards on his six touches. Trayvon Rudolph ran the ball three times for 24 yards and also threw the ball once for 13 yards.
The RedHawks ended the day with 237 yards through the air and 87 yards on the ground. Gabbert was 14/23 with 207 yards and a pick, while getting sacked four times as well. Keyon Mozee had his five game streak of 100+ rushing yards come to an end, as NIU held him to just 91 yards on 14 carries – the Huskies have still not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season. Virgil lead all receivers with 109 yards and a TD on four receptions, while Tracy had six catches for 79 yards and was a perfect 1/1 passing for 30 yards and a TD.
Northern Illinois will have ten days rest before closing out their season at home against Central Michigan on Saturday, November 30th. The time and channel have yet to be announced.
The RedHawks end their season with a big game against Bowling Green – who is one of the title contenders still this season, with just one conference loss. Miami will get nine days to prepare, as they take on the Falcons on Friday, November 29th with the time and network still to be determined.