DeKALB – A tone-setting touchdown 50 seconds into regulation and a 367-yard rushing performance by NIU – despite being without its top running back for most of the game – played vital Saturday as the Huskies breezed past the University of Massachusetts in the winds at Huskie Stadium.
After trailing 13-7 at halftime, the Huskies attempted just two passes and carried the ball 34 times for four touchdowns as NIU defeated UMass 34-20 to remain unbeaten in the all-time series between the schools.
“It was a beautiful game,” head coach Thomas Hammock said. “I told the coaches in the second half that is an offense that I’m familiar with, and those guys really controlled the game in the second half.”
NIU’s 367 rushing yards are the most recorded in a single game since the Huskies ran for 380 in a road victory over the University of Akron last season.
MAJOR LOSS, BIG GAINS ON THE GROUND
After senior starting running back Antario Brown exited the game with an undisclosed injury in the second quarter, NIU leaned on redshirt senior running back Gavin Williams and redshirt freshman running back Jaylen Poe to handle the workload.
Williams rushed for a career-high 125 yards and a touchdown to record the second 100-yard rushing performance of his career. While proud of his performance, Williams said his priority was helping deliver NIU a win.
“Yeah, it was nice, but at the end of the day, I could’ve had 300 yards, but if we didn’t win the game, what was it all for?” Williams said. “At the end of the day, they’re going to worry about who won and who lost, and we put in too much time, too much effort there and just come up short.”
Meanwhile, Poe fell 2 yards short of a 100-yard performance with 98 yards and two touchdowns. In the event Brown is unavailable in the future, Poe expressed his confidence in NIU’s ability to run the football moving forward.
“We have great ability at this running back room,” Poe said. “I was able to take my opportunity and go out there and perform just as well as he can … we’re a physical team. We’re going to go out there and run punch-mouth football like we did in that second half.”
Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton attempted just nine passes all game, completing seven for 34 yards and an interception. Meanwhile, Massachusetts redshirt senior quarterback Taisun Phommachanh finished 15-of-30 passing for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
FLYING OFF AND FALLING BEHIND THE BALL
The Huskies got off to a hot start with a touchdown in the first minute set up by a quick takeaway by the defense.
Senior defensive tackle Cade Haberman and junior defensive end Roy Williams teamed up to sack Phommachanh on the game’s first play from scrimmage. On the next play, Phommachanh coughed up a fumble recovered by redshirt junior defensive end Jalonnie Williams at the UMass 15.
“That’s the model every week for us – is to start off strong and win the first drive and give the ball back to our offense,” senior safety Nate Valcarcel said.
“And y’all did it,” Hammock added.
NIU capitalized off the fumble with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Hampton to senior fullback Brock Lampe on its first play from scrimmage.
From there, the Huskies gave up 378 yards of offense, the most yardage NIU has allowed to an opponent all season.
The Huskies gave up their biggest play of the day on the very next drive.
Phommachanh launched a deep pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver T.Y. Harding, who was left uncovered in the defensive secondary. Harding caught the ball near the 20-yard line and took it to the end zone for a 58-yard touchdown pass.
The Minutemen tacked on a pair of 27-yard field goals by graduate student kicker Jacob Lurie in the second quarter to put NIU at a 13-7 halftime deficit.
RUNNING TO VICTORY (AND BEYOND)
NIU tied the game on its first possession of the second half with a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive. The Huskies ran on every play to set up Poe’s 22-yard scoring run.
Poe and Williams each scored touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put NIU up 27-13 with 5:29 left to play.
Phommachanh later completed a pass deep right to graduate student wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James for a 31-yard gain. The Minutemen ended the drive with their second touchdown as Phommachanh found Harding in the end zone for their second scoring connection of the day.
Poe returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards before being tackled at the UMass 4. Poe’s return was the longest by a Huskie since senior wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against Bowling Green State University in 2021.
After the game, Poe said he was upset with himself for not taking the return all the way for a touchdown.
“I definitely am mad at myself about that,” Poe said. “I shouldn’t have slowed down, but I tried to play nice, play cute.”
“That is not going to work,” Hammock interjected.
Hampton scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown three plays later with a sneak up the middle to extend NIU’s lead to two scores.
The defense then recorded the stop on UMass’ final drive by forcing a turnover on downs. The Huskies ran off the remaining 1:16 to secure their first victory since the Sept. 7 upset at the University of Notre Dame.
Now set to face Mid-American Conference teams for the rest of the regular season, Hammock said the Week 4 loss to the University at Buffalo puts NIU in a tight spot moving forward.
“We got our backs against the wall, and I think that’s important for our players to understand,” Hammock said. “Our back is against the wall every week we play, and we have to play like that – with that level of tenacity and focus – and prepare that way.”
NIU will next make an eastward road trip to face Bowling Green State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Bowling Green, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and aired on WDKB 94.9 FM. Live statistics will be accessible through SIDEARM Sports.
