DeKALB — Extending its losing streak to four games, NIU football (1-4, 0-1 MAC) fell to the Miami University RedHawks (2-3, 1-0 MAC), opening Mid-American Conference play with a 25-14 loss.
FIRST HALF
NIU won the coin toss and opted to receive in the second half, giving the RedHawks possession to start the game.
The Huskie defense limited Miami to an eight-play, 38-yard drive before getting the ball back on their own 24-yard line.
On the first play of the drive, freshman running back Lazaro Rogers ran for a 76-yard touchdown to give the Huskies an early lead.
NIU’s defense limited Miami to 1 yard on its next drive, forcing a three-and-out to get the ball back on its own 40-yard line.
The Huskies strung together an 11-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a 14-0 lead for NIU after freshman quarterback Brady Davidson threw a 17-yard pass to redshirt junior tight end Jake Appleget.
Miami cut NIU’s lead in half on the next drive, with a 75-yard drive that ended in a 1-yard rushing touchdown for RedHawks redshirt freshman running back D’Shawntae Jones to start the second quarter.
The Huskies were unable to gain significant yardage on their next drive, returning the ball to the RedHawks. A 50-yard drive left Miami in field goal territory, with redshirt senior kicker Dom Dzioban nailing the 41-yard attempt to make the score 14-10.
The teams traded punts for the remainder of the half, which ended with a missed field goal from Dzioban, leaving NIU with a 4-point lead going into halftime.
SECOND HALF
NIU received the ball to begin the second half, but quickly returned it to Miami when Davidson was picked off by redshirt freshman defensive back Koy Beasly on the first play of the drive.
The RedHawks were unable to move past the Huskies’ 28-yard line, bringing Dzioban back out for another field goal attempt. Dzioban drilled the 45-yard attempt, cutting the Huskies’ lead to one.
NIU’s three-play, 16-yard drive ended with a blocked punt from redshirt freshman punter Danny Vuckovic, which was collected by Miami for a safety, giving the RedHawks a 15-14 lead.
Retaining possession, the RedHawks 50-yard drive ended in an 8-yard touchdown pass from sixth-year quarterback Dequan Finn to redshirt wide receiver Deion Colzie for a 22-14 lead for Miami.
The two sides exchanged punts for the remainder of the third period and a majority of the fourth, before an over six-minute drive from the RedHawks ended in another field goal, putting them up 25-14 with 3:31 remaining in the game.
The Huskies final drive of the game ended with a fumble after Davidson was sacked, giving Miami the ball on their own 42-yard line with just over 2 minutes left. The RedHawks proceeded to kneel the ball, sealing the 25-14 Huskie defeat.
Davidson finished his first start going 13 for 28 with an interception and a touchdown. Rogers was the leading receiver for the Huskies with 98 yards, while redshirt senior linebacker Quinn Urwiler led the defensive efforts with 14 total tackles.
