NIU-Central Michigan Postgame Quotes

Oct. 15, 2016

DeKalb, Ill. (Huskie Stadium)

Central Michigan Head Coach John Bonamego

Opening Statement

"The game was played hard on both sides. Hats off to NIU; I know it's tough to lose a game like this, but the players fought their tails off today. We made some plays. At times it wasn't pretty, but we made plays when we needed to, to get the win. I'm really proud of our football team for going on the road and getting a win like this, it's definitely not easy to do. Really pleased to get the win, and we're on to next week."

On CMU defense bottling up the NIU run game

"It was a big emphasis all week. We felt that first and second down were going to be really important. We got them into third and long situations where they had to throw the football. They're a good offense – they're a good football team. They give you a lot to defend, and I'm glad our defense played pretty well today."

On the late missed field goal

"The first one was a bad snap at the end of regulation. Mark Chapman just had to trap the ball, he just didn't get it down all the way. The one in overtime – everything looked good from what I could see. I don't know where the laces were or if he tried to turn it, but I think he just missed that one."

On the game-winning touchdown

"I didn't see it, I had my eyes closed. Coach Watts called that play, Cooper got a good pocket, made a good pass and Tyler made an athletic play on the ball for the touchdown."

NIU Head Coach Rod Carey

Opening Statement

"At times, we certainly came up a play or two short. Obviously really disappointed, thought our guys played extremely hard. We didn't coach good enough, and we didn't execute good enough down the stretch."

On the Huskies' run defense…

"I certainly think they did a good job plugging up the middle. We made an adjustment and got out on the edge. Then they started doing some things on the edge to take that away. We knew it was a good defense coming in. We'll look at the film and see. Probably had some things there we probably didn't see or get to from an execution standpoint, but you got to give them credit. That's a good defense and a stout front."

On how the turnovers effected the outcome…

"I think the early interception that we had, they got seven points off of. That was definitely a swing in early momentum because I certainly felt that we had control up until that point even though the score was 0-0."

NIU Player Quotes

Anthony Maddie, QB

On seeing on running lanes…

"They definitely did a great job of closing up gaps. They are definitely disciplined and did what they had to do to keep us from running the ball effectively most of the game. We did make adjustments and got some yards here and there, but we have to be better at running the ball and opening up some things."

Ladell Fleming, DE

On the defense's performance…

"We had a pretty solid game. There is always room to improve and that's what we try to build on every week – see what we did wrong and get better at what we are doing right."

On what the defense did differently this game…

"I can say for D-line we watched a lot of film until we were comfortable with our opponent.  It was all about sticking to the fundamentals. If you're supposed to do something, do it. I think we did a decent job closing up gaps, but we need to improve and we need to get after the quarterback more, too."

Christian Blake, WR

On his first-quarter TD…

"Maddie, he gave me a good ball and I grabbed it like I'm supposed to.  It kind of happened so fast – I just know I ended up with the ball."