Must have been the southern hospitality. Must have been the weather.

In any case, excuses should be abandoned.

Because it must have been the Huskies.

On Saturday, the NIU football team met the Ragin‘ Cajuns of the University of Southwestern Louisiana in what could have resulted in the Huskies’ first-ever victory below sea level.

After a scoreless first quarter, George Anthony blocked a Randy Baggett punt with 9:01 remaining in the half—Huskies taking over at the USL 25-yard line.

“We feel that anytime we can get the ball inside the 35-yard line,” head coach Charlie Sadler admitted, “we’ve got true opportunities to get points.”

So they did.

Brian Steger converted a 33-yard field goal with 6:56 to play before halftime. 3-0 Huskies.

On the very next series of downs, USL had to punt. Bad news for Ragin‘ Cajun fans.

“Special teams was a true difference in whether we won or lost,” Sadler said.

So it was.

True freshman Chad Smith returned a Baggett punt 52 yards down to the USL 18-yard line. After a LeShon Johnson 17-yard scamper down to the one, Brian Cotton charged in for the TD with 4:08 remaining before the half. 10-0 Huskies.

Using chess-like maneuvers, Sadler and his shrewd staff utilized NIU timeouts in the final moments of the half to set up another possible scoring opportunity, with help from Johnson.

“He’s a great player,” Sadler acknowledged. “We’re fortunate to have him, and I just hope the Cowboy keeps ridin’.”

So he does.

LeShon (132.7 yards per game this season) rounded up 25 big yards on three carries to force the Huskies down inside that 35-yard marker. Predictably, Steger booted a 34-yard field goal with four seconds prior to the buzzer. 13-0 Huskies … at the half.

In the third quarter, Buck Moncla caught a five-yard pass from USL QB Tyjuan Hayes. With 6:16 remaining in the third, 13-7 Huskies.

Steger then cleared the uprights from 42 yards out with 10:13 left in the game. 16-7 Huskies.

A fumble recovery by nose tackle Rob Wagner at the USL 40-yard line set up a Johnson four-yard scamper with 4:56 to go. 23-7 Huskies.

The Ragin‘ Cajuns didn’t quit, though, as Isaac Benefield bored in from one yard out for the TD with 2:52 to play. USL chose the two-point route as Hayes ran it in. That’s when the hosts ran out of luck.

Huskies 23, Ragin’ Cajuns 15.

Because of an ankle injury, Johnson didn’t play in the third quarter. The coaches’ headphones didn’t work in the first half. Winless below sea level.

With these obstacles, it clearly must have been the Huskies.