NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A few plays were the difference between the Northern Illinois University Huskies coming away with their first victory over a Southeastern Conference team since 2003 and a 24-18 loss to Vanderbilt Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium.
 
After spotting the Commodores a 14-0 lead on just nine plays in the first 6:03 of the game, NIU outgained and outscored Vanderbilt the rest of the way before a fourth-quarter comeback was thwarted by one of those key plays.
 
At first and 10 on the Vanderbilt 46-yard line, NIU quarterback Ross Bowers couldn't handle the snap and then attempted to pitch to wide receiver Michael Love, who was dropped for seven more yards. The play put the Huskies in a second-and-26 hole. The Commodores got the ball back with 3:10 to play and were able to run out the clock to pick up their first win of the season.
 
NIU fell to 1-3 after its third straight loss to a Power 5 conference opponent, while Vanderbilt improved to 1-3. 
 
"Obviously it was a tough game," said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. "I thought our players responded and came out in the second half and fought and scratched to put us in the game.  We spotted them 14 points on things that were easily avoidable, simple plays that we have to execute. It starts with alignment and assignment. Vanderbilt made enough plays to win the football game."
 
NIU totaled 388 yards to the Commodores' 373 and collected 20 first downs to Vandy's 16. Bowers completed 17-of-32 passes for 280 yards with Spencer Tears gaining 100 on his three catches.
 
The Huskies closed the gap to 24-18 with a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive after Vanderbilt had taken a 24-10 lead on a 28-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter. Cole Tucker caught a 28-yard pass on third-and-15 to the Vandy 34-yard line and one play later, Spencer Tears went down the sideline for a 33-yard grab to the one-yard line.  Marcus Jones scored on the next play and Bowers' two-point conversion pass to Mitchell Brinkman was good as NIU crept within six with 11:44 to play.   
 
NIU scored 10 the first 10 points of the third quarter to turn a 14-0 deficit into a four-point game.  Kicker John Richardson put NIU on the board with a 39-yard field goal to cap a five-play, 52-yard drive that was set up by a 44-yard Bowers to Tears completion on the first play of the half
 
A penalty contributed to a Vanderbilt punt and the Huskies drove from their 17-yard line to the Vanderbilt 38. On second down, Bowers hit Brinkman, who broke a tackle at the 25-yard line and outran everyone to the end zone to record his first touchdown since 2017, and the Huskies' first since the first half of the Utah game.
 
The Commodores responded, driving 75 yards in just four plays to paydirt.  One play after Antwain Walker forced a fumble that NIU was unable to recover, Vandy QB Riley Neal hit Kalija Lipscomb for a 38-yard touchdown pass off the flea flicker to give the 'Dores a 21-10 edge.
 
Vanderbilt started quickly, taking just four plays to get on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Keyon Brooks scored on a 61-yard run to give the Commodores a 7-0 lead just 1:35 into the contest.
 
The Commodores doubled their advantage on their next drive, after a 22-yard punt return by Justice Shelton-Mosley put Vanderbilt on the Huskie 31-yard line. Five plays later, Ke'Shawn Vaughn scored on a one-yard run and the PAT made the score 14-0 with 8:57 to play in the first quarter.
 
The teams traded punts through the rest of the first quarter, with the Huskie highlight a season-long 34-yard rush by Jordan Nettles to put NIU in Vanderbilt territory for the first time in the game.
 
The Huskie offense moved the ball in the second quarter, recording eight first downs and holding the ball for more than 11 minutes, but could not translate that success into points.  Penalties and sacks were the primary culprits in stalling Huskie drives.  Meanwhile, the NIU defense gave up just a pair of first downs and limited Vanderbilt to nine plays in the period.
 
Although neither team turned the ball over, each team was whistled for nine penalties in the contest.  Mykelti Williams totaled eight tackles to lead the NIU defense, which also got sacks from freshman Cam Mattox and senior Marcus Kelly. 
 
With the non-conference schedule behind it, the Huskies return home to face MAC West foe Ball State next Saturday in the Battle for the Bronze Stalk.  Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. at Huskie Stadium on Family Weekend and Band Day.  Tickets are on sale at NIUHuskies.com or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) Monday through Friday.
 
-- NIU --