DeKALB — It happened. It finally happened.
After three long years and a string of heartbreaks, NIU finally got the better of archrival Ball State, and the Bronze Stalk trophy is back in DeKalb.
And this time, it’s here to stay.
Despite committing three turnovers, the Huskies (2-6, 1-3 MAC) trampled the Cardinals (3-5, 2-2 MAC) on Saturday behind their best rushing performance of the season while forcing a season-high three turnovers of their own. NIU outgained Ball State 370-275 and matched its season-high scoring to end a six-game drought and bring a halt to a three-game losing skid against its Indiana-based rival.
“(I’m) tremendously proud of our players and the coaching staff. They stayed in the fight when it was hard,” head coach Thomas Hammock said. “They made me look good today — the other times I made them look bad. We had moments in the game where it wasn’t kind of going our way … but certainly some positive momentum, some good feelings. We talked about choosing violence this week, and we chose it.”
Pound the rock
Powered by a pair of 100-yard rushers, the Huskies dominated on the ground with 305 rushing yards over 57 attempts — their best rushing performance since accumulating 367 yards in last year’s win against UMass. Comparatively, Ball State had four rushers combine for 43 attempts and 139 yards.
The Huskies leaned heavily on Charleston transfer Chavon Wright, who racked up a season-high 166 yards on 37 carries — the most by an NIU player since Cameron Stingily logged the same total on Oct. 5, 2005, in a 38-24 win at Kent State.
“When you get in the flow of the game, it ain’t feel like 37 carries,” Wright said. “You get in the flow; you get in the zone. Just keep going. Let me get the ball in my hands and see what I can do.”
Telly Johnson Jr. also reached the century mark for the second time this year, finishing with an even 100 yards on 15 carries — but he only needed one to mark his mark on the game. On his first attempt, the sophomore took a handoff up the middle, cut left and blazed down the left sideline for a 53-yard touchdown — his third scoring run of 50-plus yards this season.
The next three drives ended in punts before NIU marched inside Ball State’s 4-yard line. But before the Huskies could score, quarterback Josh Holst’s pass intended for George Dimopoulos was intercepted by Cardinals cornerback Joedrick Lewis in the end zone. Ball State soon turned the turnover into points, orchestrating an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive that ended with Kiael Kelly’s 1-yard touchdown pass to former NIU tight end Drew Cassens, tying the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter.
The Huskies turned the ball over again on their next drive with Holst’s fourth-down incompletion, allowing the Cardinals to take over on the NIU 42. Ball State picked up 14 yards before kicker Carson Holmer missed wide on a 45-yard field goal attempt. Johnson later coughed up a fumble recovered by Ball State, though neither team scored in the roughly four minutes left in the first half.
NIU came out of halftime with its longest drive of the game — 15 plays, 78 yards. The Huskies picked up four first downs to set up a 7-yard, go-ahead touchdown scramble by Holst — his first career touchdown at Huskie Stadium.
“It’s cool to score a touchdown. I’m just glad we got the win,” Holst said. “It could have — it should have been a lot easier. I should have made a lot more decisions the right way, but defense kept us in it.”
‘The defense never gave up’
All three of NIU’s takeaways came in the second half, including two in the span of just 3 minutes and 24 seconds. Late in the third quarter, freshman safety James Finley — making his first career start — recorded his second interception in as many games, picking off an overthrown pass by Kelly inside NIU’s 10-yard line.
“It’s great, especially throughout the sudden change throughout the whole game,” Finley said. “Our defense stood tall — stood 10 toes on the ground. (The) defense never gave up.”
The Huskies picked up just 20 yards on the ensuing drive before sending freshman Jake Ference out to punt. Ference’s kick traveled 36 yards before it was muffed by Lewis, with linebacker Marc Pretto recovering the fumble at Ball State’s 33-yard line. Holst and his wide receiver DeAree Rogers took advantage four plays later, when the pair connected for a 14-yard touchdown pass to go up 21-7.
The rivals then traded punts before the Cardinals breached NIU’s red zone with a 12-play, 64-yard series. Kelly was then picked off a second time when safety Jasper Beeler jumped the route run by Donovan Hamilton and intercepted his second pass of the season.
NIU used its next drive to drain the clock, only for Wright to lose a fumble after a 17-yard gain that would’ve been a first down to end the game. Ball State had the final 1:47 to try for a score, but Kelly’s scramble was stopped just short of the end zone on the game’s final play, allowing the Huskies to hoist the Bronze Stalk for the first time since 2021.
NIU’s win gives the Huskies a 26-25-2 lead in the all-time series and marks Hammock’s second trophy-game victory since taking over as head coach in 2019.
Bye bye, birdies
The victory also ensures longtime rights to the Bronze Stalk. With NIU set to move to the Mountain West Conference next year, the rivals aren’t scheduled to play again. Still, NIU athletic director Sean Frazier told the Northern Star on Friday there’s interest in continuing the rivalry in future non-conference schedules.
Even so, Holst doesn’t expect the Cardinals to ask for a rematch anytime soon.
“They won’t play us,” Holst said.
