NIU football (5-4, 2-3 MAC) defeated Western Michigan University (5-4, 4-1 MAC) by a score of 42-28 behind three interceptions and 255 rushing yards.
FIRST HALF
After the Huskies and Broncos traded three-straight three-and-outs, WMU redshirt junior running back Jaden Nixon broke a 66-yard run up the middle to give the Broncos an early 7-0 lead.
NIU senior running back Antario Brown nearly matched Nixon on the following drive, running 49 yards before fumbling the ball at the 6-yard line. Brown was injured on the play and is unlikely to return.
After driving to the NIU 42-yard line, the Broncos attempted a fake punt, which was intercepted by redshirt freshman safety Santana Banner. With the aid of a Western Michigan personal foul, NIU took over at the WMU 31-yard line.
On the fifth play of the ensuing possession, freshman running back Telly Johnson Jr. found his first career touchdown on a 6-yard run, tying the score at 7-7 with 13:56 left to play in the first half.
The Huskies kept the momentum rolling on their next offensive drive, going 86 yards in eight plays. Senior tight end Grayson Barnes set up the score with a 31-yard catch before redshirt senior tight end Tristen Tewes found the endzone on a 7-yard reception.
The Broncos evened the score at 14-14 on a 14-yard run by Nixon for his second score of the night with less than two minutes to play in the half.
NIU closed the half with a 60-yard drive capped by a 5-yard catch from redshirt senior running back Gavin Williams to enter halftime with a 21-14 lead.
SECOND HALF
Western Michigan started the second half with a bang as Nixon took the opening kickoff to the NIU 38-yard line. Four plays later, redshirt freshman quarterback Broc Lowry came off the bench for a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
NIU responded in a hurry, as redshirt sophomore wide receiver Cam Thompson took the following kickoff 91 yards for touchdown, putting the Huskies up 28-21 less than three minutes into the second half.
Two plays into the Broncos’ next possession, senior linebacker Jaden Dolphin intercepted redshirt senior quarterback Hayden Wolff. Williams would capitalize with his second score of the day – a 2-yard run on the sixth play of the drive.
The Broncos gained 59 yards on their next drive before Wolff was picked off again, this time by senior safety Nate Valcarcel.
Johnson blew the game open with his second touchdown of the night on a 26-yard run, putting the Huskies up 42-21 in the third quarter.
The Broncos answered back in the fourth quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass to redshirt junior tight end Mareyohn Hrabowski on a fourth-down play with 11:49 remaining.
Senior kicker Kanon Woodill missed a field goal on the ensuing drive, but not before the Huskies used more than seven minutes of clock, giving the Broncos 4:25 to score two touchdowns.
Western Michigan turned the ball over on downs on the following possession, sealing the 42-28 Huskie win.
