DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University football team built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter Saturday afternoon against the Miami RedHawks at Huskie Stadium, but the visitors rattled off 25 unanswered points to win 25-14 and retain the Mallory Cup.

"It was a disappointing performance by us," said head coach Thomas Hammock following NIU's Homecoming Game. "We couldn't quite finish the game. We started well and had a good first quarter but we couldn't put together four quarters. We've got a lot to clean up and get better in a hurry and that's on me. We've got to figure out a way to win the moments, make plays when it matters most. All we need is a spark to move forward."

NIU's (1-4) starting backfield of freshmen Brady Davidson (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) and Lazaro Rogers (Fort Myers, Fla./East Lee County) combined for 185 yards of total offense on Saturday. Rogers got the Huskies out to a very fast start, scoring on NIU's first play from scrimmage. After the NIU defense forced Miami to punt from the Huskies' 37 yardline, Rogers took a handoff 76 yards to the end zone to put NIU up 7-0 with 10:18 to play in the opening quarter.

The Huskies forced a three-and-out on Miami's next possession and took over at their own 35 yardline. Davidson completed his first five passes of the drive, getting NIU into Miami territory on an eight-yard pass to DeAree Rogers (Lexington, S.C./Lenoir-Rhyne). Chavon Wright (Opa Locka, Fla./Charleston) kept the drive alive with a fourth down conversion at the Miami 39, running for three yards on fourth-and-one. On third-and-eight from the Miami 17 Davidson found a wide open Jake Appleget (Lincoln, Neb./Nebraska) in the end zone for a touchdown pass that put NIU up 14-0 with 3:23 to play in the first.

Miami (2-3) answered with a 1-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. D'Shawntae Jones scored to cap a 7-play, 75-yard drive for the RedHawks that cut the NIU lead to 14-7. The RedHawks added a 41-yard field goal from Dom Dzioban with 4:51 to play in the second quarter as NIU took a 14-10 lead into halftime.
 
The Huskies got the ball to start the second half but an interception gave Miami a short field starting at the Huskie 28-yard line. The NIU defense held the RedHawks to a 45-yard field goal by Dzioban to hang on to a 14-13 lead with 13:30 to play in the third quarter. Two minutes later Miami's Jermaine Agee then blocked a Huskie punt out of the back of the end zone for a safety as the RedHawks took their first lead of the contest, 15-14.
 
On the ensuing Miami drive, quarterback Dequan Finn connected with Deion Colzie for an eight-yard touchdown on third and goal to give Miami a 22-14 lead midway through the third. The RedHawks went 50 yards in five plays on the drive, which included a 21-yard scramble by Finn the first play from midfield.

The NIU offense was held to 47 yards in the second half. Miami tacked on a field goal late in the fourth quarter to make the final score 25-14.

Saturday's game was the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. The RedHawks outgained NIU 367-220 and had 22 first downs to the Huskies' 11. Lazaro Rogers led all players with 98 rushing yards. Davidson threw for 106 yards, a touchdown and an interception in his first career start.

"You play a true freshman quarterback, there are going to be some growing pains," Hammock said. " Brady did some nice things out there and there's some things he has to learn from. Until you experience it for the first time, you have to learn some hard lessons. He has tremendous arm talent, poise and work ethic and will bounce back in a big way."

Linebacker Quinn Urwiler (Mooseheart, Ill./North Dakota) led all players with 14 tackles, his fifth consecutive game this season with double-digit stops. He also had a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Defensive Tackle Dasean Dixon (Washington, D.C./Albany) also had a quarterback sack in the game. Redshirt-Sophomore defensive tackle Mark Hensley (Labadie, Mo./Washington) had a career-high five tackles.

Finn threw for 170 yards and added 90 rushing yards. Linebacker Corban Hondru led Miami with seven tackles as Jackson Kuwatch added six and a sack.
 
NIU will head on the road for the first time in MAC play next Saturday, Oct. 11, when it travels to Ypsilanti, Mich., to take on Eastern Michigan. Kickoff against the Eagles is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+.

—NIU—