DeKALB – NIU football (2-1) lost in overtime to the University at Buffalo Bulls (3-1) by a score of 23-20 on Saturday.
FIRST HALF
After trading three-and-outs with Buffalo, the Huskies opened the scoring with a 5-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back Antario Brown – his first rushing score of the season.
A missed field goal by senior kicker Kanon Woodill from 39 yards kept the score at 7-0 early in the second quarter.
Halfway through the second quarter, Buffalo redshirt sophomore kicker Upton Bellenfant made a 42-yard field goal to put the Bulls on the board.
Brown found his second touchdown of the game in the final two minutes of the half, giving the Huskies a 14-3 lead entering the second half.
SECOND HALF
The Bulls came charging back with a 46-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Victor Snow four minutes into the third quarter.
After a scoreless third quarter for the Huskies, Woodill tacked on a 30-yard field goal to extend NIU’s lead to 17-10 in the opening moments of the final frame.
Buffalo responded promptly as junior running back Al-Jay Henderson found the endzone on a 36-yard run to even the score with 12 minutes remaining.
With under six minutes left to play, Buffalo graduate student linebacker Shaun Dolac intercepted NIU redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton, giving the Bulls possession at the NIU 20-yard line. NIU pushed Buffalo 4 yards before Bellenfant knocked down his second field goal to give the Bulls their first lead of the day.
After a defensive pass interference call put the ball inside the 10-yard line with 36 seconds left, Woodill nailed a 27-yarder to send the game to overtime.
OVERTIME
The Huskies gained no ground on the opening possession of overtime before sending Woodill to the field for a field goal attempt. The Bulls blocked the kick, giving them a chance to win with any score.
Buffalo gained 6 yards on the ensuing possession to set up the game-winning field goal attempt. Bellenfant made the field goal and the Bulls won 23-20.
UP NEXT
The Huskies return at 11 a.m. CST Sept. 28 to face North Carolina State University.
