Oh, for what could have been.

Those are the words that will be echoing throughout the heads of NIU’s football team which came within two yards of pulling out a come-from-behind victory Saturday.

Instead, the Huskies slipped to 6-4 by losing a 24-20 decision to a stubborn East Carolina University team (5-6).

With no time left on the clock, an illegal participation penalty was called against ECU after a Huskie pass. The call produced a 1st-and-10 situation from the ECU 35-yard line. NIU quarterback Stacey Robinson tossed a pass to split end Larry Wynn, who pitched the ball to split end Kurt Cassidy. NIU’s “hook-and-ladder” play almost worked but Cassidy was pushed out of bounds at the two-yard line to end the game.

“That’s how we practiced it. It’s a crossing route and Larry (Wynn) has the option to run it or pitch it. We executed it as well as we can, but we just came up short,” NIU head coach Jerry Pettibone said.

The crucial play that would come back to haunt the Huskies came early in the game with NIU down 3-0. The Huskies punt attempt was blocked and ECU took over deep in NIU’s territory. Moments later, the Pirates’ Cedric Van Buren would score on a two-yard touchdown run.

“Any time you play in a game like this, it is usually going to be something that happens to you or for you in the kicking game that is going to determine whether you are going to win it. I don’t know whether David (Jensen) didn’t punt the ball soon enough or we let somebody get through and block it, but those are the kinds of things that you have to do well,” Pettibone said.

ECU junior quarterback Jeff Blake paved the way for his teammates’ success with an overall solid effort. Blake ran for 161 yards in 26 attempts and completed eight of 12 passes for 61 yards.

“Blake’s quickness put pressure on our perimeter. We put two players on him, but he has excellent quickness and speed,” Pettibone said.

NIU’s Robinson reached the 100-plus rushing yards plateau with a 109-yard effort which included three touchdowns. His first touchdown was a 19-yard run with 1:49 left in the first quarter that cut ECU’s lead to 10-7. Robinson scored on a two-yarder in the fourth quarter that closed ECU’s lead to 17-14. Robinson scored on a five-yarder shortly after which was set up by NIU’s linebacker Paul Rogan, who recovered an ECU fumble.