DeKALB, Ill. - Quinn Urwiler (Mooseheart, Ill./North Dakota) and Filip Maciorowski (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) combined for 29 tackles on Saturday as the Northern Illinois University defense kept the San Diego State Aztecs out of the end zone Saturday, only for the visitors to win 6-3 on a last-second 25-yard field at Huskie Stadium.

"Today was a tough, hard-fought game," said head coach Thomas Hammock. "I'm extremely proud of our players. We played four quarters against a really good football team. Obviously we have to play better on offense and score some more points. I'm proud of our defense and special teams. We've got to go back and evaluate and see what we can do to get better, see what we can do to improve. We understand conference play starts next week and see if we can put ourselves in position to compete starting next week."

Both of NIU's starting linebackers set career-highs in tackles Saturday. Urwiler led all players with 16 tackles, 10 of which were solo, and 2.5 tackles for loss. Maciorowski added a career-high 13 with a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Redshirt-Senior safety Muhammad Jammeh (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) had his second interception of the season with Jasper Beeler (Farmington, Mich./Saginaw Valley State) picking off his first pass of the season.

On the opening drive of the contest, NIU (1-3) used nearly eight minutes to go 62 yards in 16 plays, capped by a 31-yard field goal from Andrew Glass (Wheeling, W. Va./Kent State). The Huskies converted a pair of third downs and a fourth down on Chavon Wright (Opa Locka, Fla./Charleston) rush on the drive as they took a 3-0 lead midway through the opening quarter. Quarterback Josh Holst (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) gained 32 yards on five carries on the drive.
 
San Diego State (3-1) answered with a long drive of its own that ended in a field goal. The Aztecs went 63 yards in 13 plays, taking just over seven minutes, culminating in a 30-yard field goal from Gabriel Plasencia on the first play of the second quarter to tie the game 3-3. After a three-and-out by the NIU offense, the Aztecs drove into NIU territory to the Huskies' 46 yardline. On fourth down and one, Montrel Canion (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Western) and Dasean Dixon (Washington, D.C./Albany) stopped San Diego State running back Christian Washington to force a turnover on downs. The Aztecs outgained NIU 136-74 but those sides went into the halftime locker room tied at 3-3.

Jammeh provided a spark to start the second half. On the second play of the third quarter the safety intercepted Aztecs quarterback Jayden Denegal and the Huskies took over from their own 27. NIU's offense did not take advantage, going three plays and out and punting. The two defenses combined to allow 82 yards in the quarter as the game stayed deadlocked 3-3.

NIU forced its second turnover in the fourth quarter. San Diego State had driven down to the NIU 34 yardline with under 8:00 to go. On fourth down and one, Denegal floated a pass that was intercepted by Beeler to give the Huskies the ball. The Aztecs forced an NIU punt, but a San Diego State personal foul kept the Huskies drive alive. Holst had an eight-yard run on third and 10 to get NIU to the San Diego State 44. NIU went for it on fourth down and was stymied by the Aztecs defense.

The two sides traded punts until San Diego State got the ball at its own 44 with 1:44 to play in regulation. Aztecs running back Lucky Sutton ran the ball five times to get the ball down to the NIU 11 yardline. A penalty set up San Diego State for a field goal try from the six yardline with 0:02 left. Plasencia knocked it through to give the Aztecs the 6-3 win.

San Diego State outgained NIU 266-179 in the game. The Huskies held the Aztecs 115 passing yards marking the 30th straight game NIU has held its opponent under 300 yards. Telly Johnson Jr. (Augusta, Ga./Hephzibah) led the Huskies with 53 rushing yards. DeAree Rogers (Lexington, S.C./Lenoir-Rhyne) had five receptions for 51 yards. It was his third game with at least five receptions.

"These kids are tough, mentally and physically tough," Hammock said. "You couldn't ask for a better group of guys to be around, to coach, to spend as much time as we do. I enjoy working with them. They don't quit when there's adversity, they don't complain and as a coach that's what it's about." 

Sutton finished the game with 88 rushing yards as Denegal threw for 110 yards. Owen Chambliss led the Aztecs with 11 tackles and a sack.

NIU opens Mid-American Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 4 against Miami in the 118th Homecoming Game. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. at Huskie Stadium with the game telecast on ESPN+. The two sides will face off once again for the Mallory Cup.

Tickets for all remaining NIU home football games are on sale now. Purchase tickets for the 2025 NIU Football season anytime online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets. For more information, call the NIU Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225) weekdays between 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. or email huskiestickets@niu.edu.

—NIU—