DeKALB – In the aftermath of a 23-20 loss to the University at Buffalo, NIU head football coach Thomas Hammock, redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton and junior defensive end Nevaeh Sanders sat down behind a table inside a classroom in the Yordon Center. With cameras directed toward them, each wore a blank expression on their faces.
When the time came to explain an inexplicable loss at home just two weeks after shocking the nation with an improbable win, Hammock was the first to fall on the sword.
“We didn’t play well enough to win this game, and that falls squarely on me,” Hammock said. “We were prepared to play, but we didn’t make the plays necessary to put ourself in a position to win.”
Minutes earlier, Buffalo redshirt sophomore kicker Upton Bellenfant knocked in a 37-yard field goal to knock off No. 23 NIU in overtime, stunning the NIU faithful among the crowd of 18,688 at Huskie Stadium – the largest home audience NIU has drawn in Hammock’s tenure.
In a cruel twist of fate after the events of the Sept. 7 win over then-No. 5 University of Notre Dame that saw NIU win off a blocked field goal, senior kicker Kanon Woodill’s go-ahead, 42-yard field goal was denied by the Buffalo defense on the first possession of overtime. Woodill went 2-of-4 on field goals, missing his first before connecting on attempts from 30 yards and 27 yards.
Hampton struggled in his third start of the season. Hampton entered the game as the national leader in passing efficiency and yards per pass attempt. He finished with 23-of-43 passing – a 53.5 completion percentage – for 194 yards and an interception. Hampton threw his first interception of the season in the fourth quarter that set up Buffalo’s 42-yard field goal to take its first lead of the game with 3:28 remaining.
Hampton said that although Hammock takes responsibility for the result, he wasn’t the one that played the game.
“That game falls on me,” Hampton said. “Protecting the ball is my priority. It’s my job, and I didn’t do that today.”
Hampton’s untimely interception was one of two turnovers committed by NIU’s offense, along with redshirt senior tight end Tristen Tewes’ fumble in the second quarter.
“I talked to our guys. The only way we can not win the game is if we turn the ball over, and that’s what we did,” Hammock said.
Amid NIU’s offensive struggles, senior running back Antario Brown scored his first two rushing touchdowns of the season in the first half. Brown opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run on NIU’s second possession and later tacked on another score of 14 yards.
DOMINANT DEFENSE NOT ENOUGH
Though Buffalo’s 23 points are the most NIU has surrendered to an opponent this season, Hammock made it clear the defense did its part on Saturday.
“They gave up 184 yards. That is great defense. They played great defense both halves,” Hammock said as he slammed the table twice. “They played they a– off.”
Sanders recorded three sacks in the game to become the first Huskie since All-American Sutton Smith to achieve such a feat. Three plays after Tewes’ second-quarter fumble, Sanders strip-sacked Buffalo senior quarterback C.J. Ogbonna as senior defensive tackle Devonte O’Malley made the recovery.
Both teams went three-and-out before Brown hit pay dirt with a 14-yard rushing score – throwing up the peace sign as he crossed over the goal line. NIU then forced another three-and-out to give the offense possession with 1:10 left in the first half. The Huskies reached Buffalo’s 37-yard line and tried to get off a final play before halftime, but were unsuccessful.
BULLS STORM BACK
NIU came up empty on offense after receiving the second half kickoff. Buffalo then cut into NIU’s lead with a 46-yard touchdown strike from Ogbonna to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Victor Snow. Ogbonna lobbed the pass into the end zone into double coverage, with Snow coming down with the catch in between redshirt sophomore cornerback Amariyun Knighten and senior defensive back Jashon Prophete.
Each team traded scoreless drives before Woodill recorded his second make of the day from 30 yards away to give the Huskies a 17-10 lead. Buffalo responded with a 7-play, 75-yard drive finished by junior running back Al-Jay Henderson’s 36-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game.
Hampton later threw an interception to Buffalo graduate student linebacker Shaun Dolac with about six minutes to play. Dolac returned it 53 yards to set up Bellenfant’s 42-yard field goal that gave the Bulls their first lead of the game. The Huskies marched 66 yards down the field on the following drive and sent Woodill to nail the 27-yarder with 24 ticks left.
The Bulls kneeled out the remaining seconds to send the two teams to overtime for the second consecutive meeting between the schools. The Huskies escaped Buffalo with a 33-27 victory on the road in 2021 behind Clint Ratkovich’s game-winning touchdown run.
NIU began overtime on offense and failed to move the ball on its first three plays. Buffalo redshirt junior cornerback Marquis Cooper got a hand on Woodill’s ensuing kick to deny the attempt. Buffalo ran on three-straight plays and sent out Bellenfant once more to hand NIU its first loss of the season – one certain strip of the Top 25 ranking it earned not even two weeks ago.
‘SORRY’
Well aware of NIU’s letdown in front of a large audience, Hampton finished his postgame remarks with an apology, a plea and a promise to NIU’s fanbase.
“Sorry we couldn’t get that done today, and I hope you come back,” Hampton said. “We have a great football team, and one game doesn’t define us. I promise you, there won’t be a team in the country that works harder than us.”
