NIU Huskies defuse Toledo Rockets one step closer to MAC West title, 38-16

Dekalb, ILL – The Toledo Rockets taunted and challenged the Mid-American Conference leading the NIU Huskies (now 7-3, 6-0) early on Wednesday evening. However, NIU DE Sutton Smith blocked a punt late in Q2 for a special team’s score to catapult his team to a 38-16 victory.   Two touchdown drives in the third period capped by QB Marcus Childers runs extended the Huskies’ lead until both teams scored again late in the fourth.

MAC “firsts”

The MAC game between these two teams set the stage for our first MAC conference game in 13 years, our first regular season Wednesday night game, and our first game ever in Dekalb, Illinois, heartland of the American farmland.  The 30-degree temperatures seemed fitting for real Huskies instead of humans – as indicated by the 5,887 of us in attendance.  Most of us showed up on a work/school night to see the home team advance another win closer to the MAC Championship.  The big MAC game is scheduled for Friday, November 30 at Ford Field in Detroit.

Talk is cheap

Before kickoff, the Rocket players “invaded” the NIU sideline taunting the Huskies. Game officials and coaches turned them back to their side of the field.  “Bush league” if you ask us!  Head Coach Jason Candle evidently lacks discipline on what usually exemplifies a class Toledo program. The Rockets must have carried some of their emotions on their first drive resulting in a 25-yard FG by Jameson Vest to take an early lead.  Would the emotions carry the Rockets throughout this game?  They certainly didn’t after a fumble recovery by LB Jordan Fisher at the Husky 47.  Vest missed a chance to score again on a 36-yard attempt. Late in the first, NIU got on the board with TE Corey Lesch catching a short pass to the left side and breaking a tackle immediately to ramble 33 yards into the end zone to take the lead for the Huskies, 7-3.

Early in the second, the Huskies first drive started from the seven leading to Andrew Gantz’s 49-yard FG.  Starting the Rockets’ next possession from the 25, QB Eli Peters (26 for 47, 264 yards, 1 TD) hooked up with WR Jon’Vea Johnson for a 23-yard TD play.  The extra point was missed, and NIU held on to a 10-9 lead.  The Rockets looked poised to make a game out of this though their kicking game seemed suspect.

Game Changer

NIU forced the Rockets to punt later on fourth and two from their 38.  P Bailey Flint took the snap and rolled right looking to possibly pass for the first.  Last second, he attempted a rugby-style punt and Smith smacked it down to the ground, chased it down to catch it on the bounce, and continued to weave around several would-be tacklers to dive in over the goal line for a 27-yard touchdown. It turned out to be the momentum breaker for the Rockets.  On a fourth and four at the NIU 40 on the next TU possession, their drive died with an incomplete pass.  NIU fans looked for HC Rod Carey to take out the dagger after one play with twenty seconds remaining in the half,  However to their chagrin, he let time run out with the lead at 17-9.

After forcing a Rocket punt on their first possession of the third, the Huskies put together an 82-yard TD drive. Childers faked a handoff on a dive to TB Marcus Jones who carried three consecutive plays prior for 29 yards to the one.  Childers put six more on the scoreboard from there.  Leading 24-9, the Husky defense held the Rockets in check.  Starting a subsequent drive from their 31, Childers finished off the scoring again breaking tackles on a 23-yard TD run.

Desperate measures

Toledo had no choice in the fourth but to keep any drive alive, trailing now by 22 points.  On fourth and three at the NIU 49, Smith’s speed rush caused Peters to hurry for an incompletion to turn it back over on downs.  However, the Rockets pulled it all together next time with an 80-yard scoring drive.  Frosh RB Bryant Koback carried over from the one.  The two-point conversion failed. The Huskies went back on the trail to victory after recovering an onsides kick at the Rocket 44.  On the first play from scrimmage, Marcus Jones bolted the length of the field to put the game away for the Huskies. NIU stands undefeated atop the MAC West at 6-0, 38-15.  The Rocket record stands now at 5-5, 3-3 in the MAC.

Up Next

Next week, the Huskies host another Wednesday night game against Miami (O.), 4-4, 4-2 and in second place in the MAC East.  With a win, NIU clinches the Western Division to go to Detroit.  The following week, they play Western Michigan (6-4, 4-2) who trails them second in the West.  If NIU wins the West, they will most likely play Buffalo (9-1, 6-0) of the East. The Bulls play under HC Lance Leipold in his fourth season.  He led Wisconsin-Whitewater to six D-3 national titles during his tenure there.

For CFF.com

On Saturday, CFF.com heads out to watch Penn State (6-3, 3-3) host Wisconsin (6-3,4-2) in an evenly matched but disappointing game as neither will be challenging for the CFP as originally hoped for this season.  The No. 20 Lions can play spoilers by beating the Badgers looking to gain on first place Northwestern in the Big Ten West.

Grass parking lots are closed at PSU and the weather could be a low as 13 degrees with the wind chill factor. Traffic will be horrendous for a 12-noon kickoff as everyone converges on State College within a few hours. Looking forward to fun in Happy Valley despite some negative factors.  Speaking of negative factors, it looks like this will be our last two-game week of the regular season as we plan to attend only one game on each of the next four or five Saturdays before bowl season rolls around. We’ve been on a good roll with multiple games the last four weeks. This sped us up to Game # 600 next season.

 Extra points

In our history, Toledo is now 2-1 with wins in the past over the Navy and the Air Force (Eagle Bank Bowl) .  NIU is 1-1 with its previous loss in a competitive game at Maryland in 2004, losing 23-20.

NIU’s three losses this season were early at Iowa, home against Utah, and at Florida State.  They went to BYU and beat them, 7-6.  This shows Rod Carey is not opposed to putting his team against top-notch non-conference FBS teams.  Most of the names featured here are underclassmen returning next season. Look for NIU to make some moves up. Next season, they go on the road against Utah, Nebraska, and Vanderbilt.  Keep an eye on them as a MAC upset candidate for a couple of these contests.