The Huskies relied on their backup quarterback and running back en route to their first MAC win of the season
The Northern Illinois Huskies (4-2, 1-1 MAC) started the game without their best receiver (Trayvon Rudolph) and their star running back (Antario Brown), and had to suffer the additional insult of losing quarterback Ethan Hampton to an injury in the second quarter. But even without those three players, the Huskies found a way to score 14 unanswered points and beat the Bowling Green Falcons (2-4, 1-1 MAC) by a score of 17-7 on Saturday afternoon.
The Falcons also lost their starting quarterback, Conner Bazelak, to a leg injury late in the second quarter in what ultimately proved to be a brutal game for both sides.
NIU started the game by putting together a nice 10-play drive that resulted in a field goal and an early 3-0 lead. However, the Falcons would immediately counter.
It took BGSU just five plays and two minutes to drive 75 yards and take a 7-3 lead over NIU, when Bazelak found Harold Fannin Jr. for an 11-yard touchdown. The Falcons wouldn’t have many chances to score again, as the Huskie defense started to take control.
From there, both teams would turn the ball over (NIU on downs, BG a fumble), miss a field goal, and punt it twice. The Huskies were able to add another field goal late in the half, cutting the lead to just a single point, 7-6, after Josh Holst replaced the injured Hampton at quarterback.
Holst, a dual-threat QB, was great in relief. He was 10-of-14 throwing the ball with 89 yards— all of which were out of the pocket. He also added 47 yards on eight rushes and gave NIU the lead on a 22-yard touchdown scamper early in the fourth quarter. The Huskies completed the two-point conversion on a trick play, with tight end Grayson Barnes throwing a pass to offensive lineman Isaac Hatfield.
After the Huskie defense stopped BGSU on downs, they were able to add another short field goal and extend their lead to 17-7 with six minutes remaining.
The Falcon offense under backup quaterback Lucian Anderson ultimately couldn’t reply, with Huskie safety Nate Valcarcel picking off a pass on BG’s final possession and seal the game for NIU.
Northern Illinois’s defense entered the game as a top-10 team in the FBS and the second best team in the NCAA on third downs. Both trends held true on Saturday, holding the Falcons to just 210 total yards (98 passing, 112 rushing) and 1-of-12 on third down conversions.
NIU finished the day with 278 yards (108 passing and 170 rushing) and had the ball for nearly ten minutes longer, 34:44-25:16.
For the Huskies, Hampton was 5-of-7 for 19 yards beofore exiting, while Gavin Williams ran for 102 yards on 29 carries, and Skyler Gill-Howard had an amazing day on defense. The lineman had six tackles, three TFL, and a pair of sacks.
Bazelak finished 8-of-14 with 88 yards and a touchdown, while Anderson was just 2-of-9 with ten yards and a pick. Terion Stewart has 13 rushes for 69 yards, while Fannin had only four receptions for 25 yards, and Jamal Johnson had three catches for 43 yards.
Bowling Green will stay in Ohio next week, as they host winless Kent State. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. EST next Saturday and can be seen on ESPN+.
NIU returns back to DeKalb for a big homecoming game against the Toledo Rockets. It’s also slated for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday and can be seen on ESPN+.