SHREVEPORT, La. | At first glance, it looked like it would be a good evening for the Huskie football team at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.

The Huskies drove 50 yards to open the game before their drive stalled on the Louisiana Tech 19-yard line after a failed fourth down conversion.

When NIU got the ball back, it marched 69 yards, with the drive ending with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Chandler Harnish to fullback Kyle Skarb.

That’s about all NIU could do Sunday night, and the result was a 17-10 loss to Louisiana Tech, giving the Huskies their second consecutive bowl loss after getting beat by TCU 37-7 in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl.

The players were disappointed after the loss, but still said the game was a good experience.

“We were appreciative to get the opportunity to come out here,” said NIU defensive end Larry English, who played his last game as a Huskie. “A win is definitely what we wanted, unfortunately we didn’t get that.”

NIU (6-7, 5-3 MAC) was beat in every facet of the game—offense, defense and special teams. Not to mention the Huskies turned the ball over three times on the night.

Redshirt-freshman Chandler Harnish looked like a freshman quarterback. He struggled through the air, going 20-41 for 186 yards, while also throwing two key interceptions.

Harnish missed an open Willie Clark twice in the red zone.

In the third quarter when the Huskies had a first-and-goal at the Bulldog eight after a 40-yard reception by Marcus Perez, the offense couldn’t punch it in and had to settle for a Mike Salerno 20-yard field goal.

Louisiana Tech (7-5, 5-3 WAC) was able to take advantage of NIU’s poor special teams play. In the first quarter, Phillip Livas had a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and Mike Salerno’s 15-yard rugby punt gave the Bulldogs a short field which led to an 11-yard Daniel Porter touchdown run. It was all the points that Louisiana Tech would need.

“Big momentum change right there, no question about it,” said NIU head coach Jerry Kill, referring to Livas’ kickoff return. “It was a crucial part of the game.”

NIU also didn’t help itself out by committing seven penalties for 70 yards. The biggest one possibly coming in the second half when Justin Anderson’s first down run on a fake punt was nullified because of a delay of game.

“They just made a play or two and we didn’t,” Kill said. “It’s pretty much that simple.”

The Huskies’ struggles amounted to their second consecutive bowl loss and their fourth loss in their last five games. The loss is also NIU’s fifth loss by a touchdown or fewer.