KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Northern Illinois University Huskies pulled within one point of No. 25-ranked Western Michigan late in the third quarter before the Broncos scored twice in a little over three minutes and pulled away to defeat NIU, 45-30, Saturday night at Waldo Stadium.
In his second career start, NIU senior quarterback Anthony Maddie passed for 224 yards on 14-of-30 passing, and ran for 111 yards on 17 carries to lead the Huskies. He scored on an eight-yard run and also converted a key third down with a nine-yard reception from receiver Christian Blake.
The loss dropped the Huskies to 1-5 on the season, 1-1 in the Mid-American Conference while Western Michigan improved to 6-0, 2-0 in the MAC. The win broke WMU’s seven-game losing streak to the Huskies which dated back to 2008.
“We kicked too many field goals,” said NIU Head Coach Rod Carey. “Give them credit, they’re a good team. The [NIU} offense moved the ball but it wasn’t good enough. The defense got some stops but it wasn’t enough. We had some drives going, but we got stalled in the red zone. It was about what we didn’t do.”
NIU got off to a slow start once again, failing to score in the first quarter for the fourth time in six games this season, before rebounding in the second period with 17 points to trail just 21-17 at halftime.
The Huskies made it 21-20 on the opening drive of the second half, advancing to the WMU two-yard line before kicker Christian Hagan made the second of three field goals on the night, this one from just 19 yards out.
Western Michigan responded with a field goal of their own as the Huskie defense held on three plays from the seven-yard line before WMU kicker Butch Hampton made a 23-yard attempt. Hagan answered again as he was good from 37 yards out to cut the Broncos’ lead to 24-23 with 2:56 to play in the third quarter.
The Broncos extended their lead to 31-23 on their next possession on an eight-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zach Terrell to receiver Corey Davis. The score finished a five-play, 69-yard drive.
The duo of tailback Jarvion Franklin and Davis provided most of the Broncos’ firepower all night. The WMU tailback finished the game with 169 rushing yards on 31 carries and a touchdown and 80 receiving yards on three catches with a receiving score. Davis caught two touchdown passes and had six receptions for 122 yards overall while Terrell completed 18-of-24 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns.
Leading 31-23, the Bronco defense forced a three-and-out and Western Michigan took just five plays to go 87 yards for a touchdown to go up 38-23. Terrell hit Thompson for 37 yards and Davon Tucker went the final 26 for a rushing score and an insurmountable WMU lead.
NIU pulled back within eight with 8:38 to play as Anthony Maddie scored from with all but seven yards of the 62-yard drive coming on the ground courtesy of Maddie, Joel Bouagnon and Jordan Huff. The Huskies finished with 251 rushing yards to WMU’s 246 but it was not enough.
Terrell finished his night with a two-yard touchdown run on a drive that started with a 56-yard pass to Davis.
Maddie said although the offense moved the ball well at times, small mistakes in execution hurt the Huskies.
“I felt we were moving the ball pretty well, but then would make some little mistakes,” Maddie said. “[There were] Small things you have to do to close out drives with touchdowns instead of field goals. There are things I have to fix and everyone has to do their 1/11. We just have to finish. We lost by 15 and there were definitely two touchdowns that we left out there. We’re 1-1 in the conference and it doesn’t mean we’re done by any means.”
After Western Michigan jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead on a pair of Zach Terrell touchdown passes – 32 yards to Jarvion Franklin and 20 yards to Corey Davis – NIU responded. From its own 30, Maddie drove the Huskies 70 yards in just five plays with Christian Blake scoring from two yards out on a jet sweep. Huff opened the drive with an 18-yard carry and then Maddie hit Golladay for 37 yards to the 15-yard line. Bouagnon picked up 13 yards on two carries and Blake scored at the 14:18 mark of the second quarter.
WMU went back ahead by 14 with a nine-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a little controversy. On third and goal, Bronco quarterback Terrell was met short of the goal line by Daniel Isom, causing a fumble. After review, the official ruled that Terrell had recovered the ball and on fourth down, Franklin scored from the one.
The Huskies pulled back within seven on the very next possession. Seven consecutive run plays took the ball to the WMU 48 as Maddie (20 yards), Bouagnon (7) and Huff (21) each contributed. Maddie then hit Huff for eight yards before catching a nine-yard pass from Christian Blake to convert on third and seven. One play later, Maddie hit a wide open Shane Wimann down the left sideline for 26 yards and the tight end’s fifth touchdown of the season.
NIU’s defense forced a quick three-and-out and put a field goal on the board before halftime. The Huskies drove from their 32 to the Western Michigan 13. From there, Hagan hit his first field goal of the night, from 30 yards out, to make the score 21-17 at halftime.
NIU opens a four-game homestand next Saturday when the Huskies take on Central Michigan on October 15 at 2:30 p.m. at Huskie Stadium.
