DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University Huskies fell to Nevada, 28-7, on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 14) at Huskie Stadium as the Wolf Pack turned three Huskie turnovers into 14 points. Nevada rushed for 308 yards in the contest, led by 153 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns from Herschel Turner Jr.
"Obviously not the result that we wanted … we're trying to get out of our own way and not have these catastrophic plays," said head coach
Rob Harley. "Our producers are producing at times, but you can't have those catastrophic plays that change games when you're playing a good team, playing in conference and play mistake-free football in all three phases. That's what it comes down to, those four, five game-changing plays that you have to eliminate to be able to play good football."
Wide receiver
DeAree Rogers (Lexington, S.C./Irmo) finished the game with 10 receptions and a one touchdown for 64 yards. Rogers, who upped his season reception total to 80, moved into fourth all-time on the NIU single-season reception list and became the fourth player in program history to have 80 or more receptions in a single season.
An interception gave Nevada a short field on its first possession of the game and the Wolf Pack converted, using eight plays to go 40 yards, culminating in a six-yard touchdown run from Turner five minutes into the first quarter.
Turner scored his second touchdown of the game three minutes into the second quarter as he found the end zone from 29 yards out, giving Nevada a 14-0 lead. It was the second consecutive scoring drive for the Wolf Pack that came as the result of a Huskie turnover as Nevada started the drive at midfield following a NIU fumble.
Nevada (4-6, 3-3 Mountain West) added another score with 7:19 to play before halftime as AJ Bianco found Trace Estes from 51 yards out, giving the Wolf Pack a 21-0 lead.
Bianco and Estes connected again late in the third quarter as a 22-yard touchdown pass gave Nevada a 28-0 lead, capping an eight-play, 84-yard drive.
Bianco finished 6-of-13 passing for 96 yards.
NIU (0-10, 0-6 Mountain West) closed the scoring with 4:16 left in the fourth quarter as quarterback
Taron Dickens (Miami, Fla./Northwestern HS) connected with Rogers for a five-yard score, capping an eight-play, 71-yard touchdown drive.
Dickens went 21-of-35 through the air for 194 yards and now has at least one touchdown pass in five straight games.
Linebackers
Brady Kerperin (Jefferson City, Mo./Blair Oaks) and
Jack Murray (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) each recorded a game-high 11 tackles. Cornerback
Liam Lindo (Wallkill, N.Y./ Bryant University) recorded his first interception of the season.
NIU will head on the road for the final time next Saturday, Nov. 21, as the Huskies travel to Fargo, N.D., to take on North Dakota State. Kickoff against the Bison is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT and will be available on The CW, which can be found locally on WGN in Chicagoland.
