DeKALB —
Reclaiming the Bronze Stalk for the first time since 2021, NIU football (2-6, 1-3 MAC) defeated the Ball State University Cardinals (3-5, 2-2 MAC) in a 21-7 victory.
FIRST HALF
The Huskies opened the game on defense and forced a three-and-out and a Ball State punt.
Sophomore running back Telly Johnson Jr. cashed in the Huskies’ first offensive possession with a 53-yard touchdown run, putting NIU up 7-0 early.
NIU’s defense was able to hold Ball State to just 13 yards through their first three drives and zero first downs, forcing three punts, cashing in points on just one drive.
The Huskies had a drive inside the 10-yard line when redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst threw an interception in the endzone to redshirt senior cornerback Joedrick Lewis.
After the interception by Ball State, the Cardinals marched 80 yards down field over 5:13 and tied the game on a 1-yard touchdown pass by redshirt senior quarterback Kiael Kelly to tie the game 7-7.
Following the touchdown by Ball State, the Huskies drive stalled out around midfield, turning the ball over on downs to Ball State inside the 50-yard line.
On the ensuing drive, the Cardinals attempted a 45-yard field goal and missed the mark to keep the score tied at seven midway through the second quarter.
The Huskies turned the ball over for a second time inside the 25-yard line, this time on a fumble by Johnson, recovered at the 18-yard line.
Both teams were fruitless in their final drives of the half, sending the rivals to halftime locked in a 7-7 tie.
SECOND HALF
The Huskies opened the second half on offense, converting a fourth down on the drive and draining more than half of the third quarter clock.
NIU went up 14-7 on a Holst rushing touchdown from the 7-yard line.
The Huskies first defensive drive of the second half ended with an interception by freshman safety James Finley.
After a third-down sack by the Cardinals forced a punt by the Huskies, the return was fumbled by Ball State and recovered by NIU at the Ball State 33-yard line.
The Huskies scored their third touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter on a passing touchdown from Holst to junior wide receiver DeAree Rogers to extend NIU’s lead to 21-7.
NIU’s defense got its second interception of the game at the NIU 3-yard line by junior safety Jasper Beeler late in the fourth quarter.
Redshirt senior running back Chavon Wright fumbled inside the NIU 40-yard line, giving the ball back to the Cardinals, down 14 with less than two minutes to play.
Ball State’s drive following the fumble ended with a stop at the one yard line to end the game.
Holst was the Huskies leading passer for the game, going 6/11 with 65 yards, one passing touchdown and one interception. Holst also had 36 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Wright was the Huskies’ leading rusher with 166 yards on the ground.
Rogers was NIU’s leading receiver with three receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Redshirt senior linebacker Quinn Urwiler led the Huskies in tackles with 14 total tackles against Ball State.
