The football team (8-5, 6-2 Mid-American Conference) lost its final game of the season in the Quick Lane Bowl against the Duke Blue Devils (7-6, 3-5 Atlantic Coastal Conference) by a final score of 36-14.

“The kids played hard, we just didn’t execute well enough,” Head Coach Rod Carey said. “[We] certainly feel like if we would have executed, the outcome could have been different.”

{{tncms-inline account=”Raygooden_niu” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Any postseason experience is a positive one for <a href="https://twitter.com/NIUAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NIUAthletics</a>.… <a href="https://t.co/bcCToIbCDp">https://t.co/bcCToIbCDp</a></p>— Ray Gooden (@Raygooden_niu) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raygooden_niu/status/946037283181998080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2017</a></blockquote>” id=”946037283181998080″ type=”twitter”}}

Duke struck first after marching the ball down the field, culminating a one yard touchdown run by redshirt sophomore quarterback Daniel Jones.

After a second straight three-and-out by the Huskies, Carey tried a trick play on fourth and 18 when freshman punter Matt Ference faked the punt and attempted a throw, but it resulted in an incomplete pass.

“On the play before that, [Duke] really mugged up our gunner, [so] we felt like if we get an incompletion, it’ll be interference,” Carey said.

An interference call would have resulted in an NIU first down, but the play did not go according to Carey’s plan.

Taking over inside the NIU 20 yard line, the Blue Devils capitalized with a one yard touchdown run by senior running back Shaun Wilson.

A second fourth down conversion attempt by the Huskies resulted in another turnover on downs as redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Childers was declined on a quarterback keeper.

{{tncms-inline account=”TopShelf_NIU” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Carey goes with a fake field goal on 4th and 13 and, again, the trick play didn't work. The Huskies still trail 26-14 after their third turnover on downs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NIU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NIU</a></p>— Top Shelf Sports (@TopShelf_NIU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TopShelf_NIU/status/945812104019406849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2017</a></blockquote>” id=”945812104019406849″ type=”twitter”}}

The second quarter started off with a blocked punt from NIU by redshirt senior safety Jackson Abresch, which was the seventh blocked kick of the season for NIU special teams, the most since 2010.

Childers got the offense started after the blocked punt with a 44 yard pass to Spencer Tears, redshirt sophomore wide receiver, leading to a 25 yard running touchdown by Tre Harbison, redshirt freshman running back.

NIU didn’t stop there as Childers hit Jauan Wesley, redshirt senior wide receiver, on the following drive for a 67 yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 14-14.

That’s all NIU would do offensively in the game as Duke came right back with two touchdown receptions by Wilson and junior wide receiver T.J. Rahming, giving Duke a 26-14 halftime lead.

The Huskies entered the second half converting just one third down and going 0-2 on fourth down tries.

NIU created some momentum to start the third quarter after a fumble recovery by junior defensive tackle David Webster coming off of a sack by redshirt junior linebacker Jawuan Johnson.

The offense was in position to score after another long reception by Wesley, but a fake field goal attempt resulted in another turnover on downs.

Duke picked off right where they were in the first half, scoring on a seven yard touchdown run by Brittian Brown, redshirt freshman running back, putting the score at 33-14.

The Huskie offense was held to 65 yards net yards rushing, while converting just 1-of-18 third downs and 0-for-6 on fourth down.

{{tncms-inline account=”MycialAllen” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wasn’t the way I wanted to end my career as college athlete and a Huskie. I’m gone continue to support my guys ✊🏾💯. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Huskie4Life?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Huskie4Life</a>.</p>— MycialAllen20 (@MycialAllen) <a href="https://twitter.com/MycialAllen/status/945866572807237632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2017</a></blockquote>” id=”945866572807237632″ type=”twitter”}}

This loss puts NIU at an all-time record of 5-12 in bowl games and are 0-5 in bowl season under Carey.