Sept. 15, 2007
Box Score
DeKALB, Ill. - Eastern Michigan's Eric Young blocked a last-second field goal attempt by Northern Illinois placekicker Chris Nendick (Naperville, Ill. / Central), allowing the Eagles to hold on to a 21-19 come-from-behind, Mid-American Conference victory over the Huskies at Huskie Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Trailing 13-0 in the second quarter, EMU running back Pierre Walker (2 TDs, 66 yards) and DeAnthony White (78 yards) combined for three consecutive scores to give the Eagles a 21-13 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish.
Early in the game, NIU (0-3, 0-1 MAC) built a 13-0 lead on the strenth of two Chris Nendick field goals and a one-yard touchdown run from Justin Anderson (Chicago, Ill./Steinmetz), his fourth score of the season.
The Eagles (1-2, 1-1 MAC) narrowed the Huskie advantage to 13-7 with a one-yard touchdown run by Walker with 22 seconds left in the opening half. The score was set-up by a 39-yard pass from Andy Schmitt to White, and capped an eight play, 68-yard drive.
Eastern Michigan took a 14-13 lead over the Huskies in the third quarter, as DeAnthony White took an end-around 68-yards into the endzone with Sean Dutcher providing the PAT for the Eagles.
The Eagles were able to capitalize on the only turnover in the game in the fourth quarter as EMU linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw picked off a Dan Nicholson pass with 7:16 left in the fourth at the Huskie 16-yard line. Four plays later, Walker found paydirt for his second touchdown with 5:29 remaining in the game, giving the Eagles a 21-13 advantage.
The Huskies responded on their ensuing possession, as a 46-yard dash from Justin Anderson set-up a 7-yard touchdown pass from Nicholson to Brandon Davis. Northern Illinois attempted to tie the game with a two-point conversion, but Nicholson's pass for Greg Turner went awry, leaving the Huskies down 21-19.
Northern Illinois' defense held EMU to three-and-out on its next possession, and regained the ball at its own 39-yard line with 1:54 left in the game.
The Huskies took the drive to the Eagle 25-yard line before consecutive holding penalties backed NIU up to the EMU 31. Nicholson then rushed the ball to the center of the field, setting up Nendick for the game's final play.
Nicholson completed 20-of-28 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. Anderson led the Huskie rushing attack with career-high 168 yards on 28 attempts, and caught six receptions for 45 yards. Northern Illinois totaled 344 yards of total offense in the loss. Nendick added field goals of 45 and 47 yards in the loss.
Eastern Michigan countered with 378 offensive yards, split at 189 yards both through the air and on the ground. Schmitt completed 16-of-24 passes and rushed eight times for 21 yards.
Up next, Northern Illinois travels to Moscow, Idaho to face the Vandals of the University of Idaho, Saturday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m.
