NC State needed four NIU turnovers to avoid being upset in Raleigh.
For the second straight week, the Northern Illinois Huskies statistically dominated a game they ended up losing. The NC State Wolfpack (3-2, 0-1 ACC) needed 14 points from two strips sacks of Ethan Hampton to come away with a 24-17 win over the Northern Illinois Huskies (2-2, 0-1 MAC).
After the Wolfpack scored a touchdown on their opening drive— a one-yard run by quarterback CJ Bailey— the Huskies were able to counter with a rushing score of their own. From a few yards out, Antario Brown ran from the wildcat but fumbled the ball into the endzone, luckily fullback Brock Lampe fell on the loose ball to even the score.
Then, on the second play of the second quarter, Hampton dropped back to pass from his own 11 yard line. The Wolfpack had a corner blitz on and DK Kaufman blasted Hampton from the blind side, forcing a fumble, which he would recover and take a few yards into the endzone to give NC State the lead again.
A few drives later the Pack would add a field goal and take a 17-7 lead but, right before the half, the Huskies would find the endzone for the second time. Hampton found Cam Thompson for a 6-yard strike and got the Huskies back within three, 17-14, at the half.
However, on NIU’s first drive of the second half, Hampton was sacked and fumbled once again, this time being picked up and run back to the NIU 1-yard line, where the Wolfpack would put it in a few plays later and take a 24-14 lead.
Early in the fourth, Huskie kicker Kanon Woodill would drill a 50-yard field goal, a career-long, to get it back to a one-possession game.
The Huskie defense held NC State to just 49 yards in the second half, forcing five punts, and gave NIU’s offense three attempts to get points in the fourth quarter. On their first attempt to tie it up, they gained five yards and punted after three plays. Their second attempt lasted barely 10 seconds as on the first play of the drive, Hampton lobbed a deep pass that was intercepted. Then, on their third drive, they were able to get some yardage.
After starting at their own 10-yard line, the Huskies moved the ball down to the Wolfpack 35-yard line with nine seconds to go. After an incomplete pass, Hampton and the Huskies had just one more play. Hampton dropped back and tossed it up towards the endzone where, for the second straight possession, it was picked off – sealing the win for NC State.
NIU came out strong defensively, holding the Wolfpack to just 171 total yards and 1-of-11 on third down attempts, while NIU gained 279 yards and was 7-of-17 on third downs themselves. But the defense couldn’t do anything to help the offense, who seemed content on giving the football away.
The Huskie offense threw two picks, fumbled the ball four times (losing possession twice), and allowed four sacks. They entered the day as one of just five schools that hadn’t given up a sack to this point.
NIU out-gained the Wolfpack by over 100 yards; on the ground NIU ran it for 185 to NCSU’s 88 and through the air the Huskies had 159 yards to the Wolfpack’s 108. Hampton finished the game 14-of-29 with 159 yards, one TD, two interceptions, two fumbles, and was sacked four times. Brown carried the ball 28 times for 114 yards and Andrew McElroy had a great game for NIU, catching three passes for 58 yards.
For NC State, Bailey went 13-of-20 for 108 yards and a score and ran it ten times for 22 yards. Jordan Waters, their halfback, had eight carries for 23 yards and Noah Rogers led the team with 48 receiving yards on his two grabs. Davin Vann had ten tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, and forced two fumbles.
Up next, the Huskies head back to DeKalb where they’ll take on the soon-to-be MAC members UMass. You can catch the game next Saturday, October 5th, at noon EST on CBS Sports Network.