LINCOLN, Neb.  – The Northern Illinois University Huskies played Nebraska close for three quarters Saturday night at Memorial Stadium with the NIU defense holding the Cornhuskers to 14 points through the game's first 44 minutes before falling 35-11. 
 
The NIU defense forced four three-and-outs and six punts on the night while collecting four tackles for loss, but the Huskie offense was stymied by an aggressive NU defense that held NIU to just 26 rushing yards and 12 first downs on the night.
 
"We knew it was going to be a physical contest," said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. "We couldn't stay on the field on offense and obviously our defense wore down as the game went along. Those guys played outstanding on defense, they battled, they stood in there. We just couldn't hold up; they [Nebraska] had the ball for 36 minutes. That's a physical football team and we have to figure out a way to get our run game going, we have to figure out a way to not drop the ball on the perimeter and stay in normal down and distances."
 
NIU (1-2, 0-0 MAC) punted nine times in the game while Nebraska held the ball for 36:17, including 11:39 in the third quarter. The Cornhuskers (1-2, 0-1 B1G) converted 8-of-14 third downs behind quarterback Heinrich Haarberg. Haarberg, a dual threat making his first career start, led NU in rushing with 21 carries for 98 yards and completed 14-of-24 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Huskie quarterback Rocky Lombardi completed 11-of-28 passes for 73 yards before Ethan Hampton came in to lead NIU to its lone touchdown on the Huskies' final possession.  Hampton completed six-of-eight passes for 50 yards, including a four-yard touchdown to Chris Carter. He then hit Billy Dozier for the two-point PAT.
 
Thirteen different players caught passes in the game for NIU. Punter Tom Foley averaged 40.9 yards on nine punts with three forcing Nebraska to start inside its 20 yard line and a season-long 54-yard punt. Safety Nate Valcarcel led NIU in tackles with nine while linebacker DaRon Gilbert contributed seven stops.
 
Nebraska took a 14-3 halftime lead in the second quarter with some help from the 'Husker special teams. After the NIU defense stopped a Nebraska drive at the Huskie 49-yard line, NU punter Brian Buschini's punt was downed at the NIU one-yard line. Three plays netted just five yards and after Tom Foley fumbled the snap, he picked the ball up and got off a 30-yard punt, giving Nebraska field position at the Huskie 36-yard line.
 
From there, Haarberg picked up 16 yards on the scramble to the NIU 17 and hit tight end Thomas Fidone two plays later for a 16-yard touchdown with 3:15 left in the half.
 
The teams exchanged punts on the first four possessions of the third period before the Cornhuskers embarked on a 14-play, 76-yard drive beginning at the 8:10 mark. Haarberg hit Fidone for a 20-yard completion on third and 15 to spark the drive and the Cornhuskers converted three third downs. Gabe Ervin went in from three yard out for the score and the PAT gave NU a 21-3 lead with one minute to play in the quarter.
 
Nebraska scored twice in the final period, on a Haarberg 20-yard rush to complete a nine-play, 65-yard drive after a Huskie punt, and on Anthony Grant's 11-yard rush with 3:23 to play that came after an interception by NU's Javin Wright.
 
NIU became the first team in five games to score on the Cornhuskers in the first quarter as the Huskies took advantage of a Nebraska turnover at their own four-yard line. Defensive end George Gumbs forced the fumble by Haarberg and Skyler Gill-Howard recovered.  Three plays resulted in a loss of nine yards and Jake Seibert's 30-yard field goal was good with 3:08 to play in the first quarter.
 
Nebraska scored on its opening possession of the game, driving 55 yards in six plays and 3:17 after getting the ball at their own 45 following the NIU punt. The big play was a 26-yard completion from Haarberg to Marcus Washington to the NIU 24-yard line. From there, three Haarberg rushes took the ball to the 14. Haarberg hit Billy Kemp for 10 yards and the Nebraska score.
 
NIU returns home next Saturday, September 23, to face the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Kickoff is at 11 am (CT) at Huskie Stadium. The Huskies will welcome Family Weekend guests and it is Scouts Day and Pup Club Day with free admission for all Pup Club members.  With five home games remaining, season tickets are on sale and offer the best per ticket value, while the two-game mini-plan provides a reserved seat to the October 14 Homecoming game versus Ohio and any other remaining home game for $55.
 
Single game tickets for Saturday's game at Tulsa are on sale at NIUHuskies.com/myhuskies. 

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