Football | April 25

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University football team completed its spring game on Saturday afternoon with Team NIU outlasting Team Huskies, 17-10, thanks to a late fourth quarter rushing touchdown from quarterback Jalen Macon.

Huskie fans got their first look at the 2026 team during the Spring Showcase with coach Rob Harley on the mic during the game giving commentary from the field. Teams were decided through a draft held earlier in the week with quarterbacks captaining each squad.

"The number one thing you see is these guys out here competing, and it's a lot of love for each other out just competing against each other," said Harley. "I think we've liked each other in the locker room, we have to play that way out on the field, as one."

Each offense was able to share the ball with several players making plays throughout the day.

"That's a great problem to have, we do have a lot of weapons. People are going to have to be very cognizant of where certain guys are on our offense," said Harley. "How do you spread the ball around? I think you run the ball first and make people aware … and then we're able to get the ball to those guys in space."

On the defensive side of the ball, the Huskies have shown an ability to create takeaways during spring practice. The group continued that trend today, coming away with three interceptions.

"(We've had) about two a day on all sorts of different things, whether that be picks or punch outs," said Harley. "So it's good they're hunting the ball. They want those flame stickers on the back of their helmets."

Recap
In the first quarter, Team Huskies were able to get on the board with a field goal from kicker JJ Schlenhardt (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South). Quarterback Brady Davidson (Columbia, Mo. / Rock Bridge) found wide receiver La'Don Bryant (Savannah, Ga. / Benedictine Military School) on third and long to set up the scoring drive and giving Team Huskies an early 3-0 lead.

Team NIU answered on the following possession, starting with Macon finding wide receiver DeAree Rogers (Lexington, S.C. / Lenoir-Rhyne) for an early first down in its opening drive. NIU converted a pair of third downs and had the drive capped with a one-yard touchdown plunge from running back Telly Johnson Jr. (Augusta, Ga. / Hephzibah).

Davidson guided Team Huskies with halftime nearing, hitting tight ends Jason Fowler (Skokie, Ill. / Niles West) and Glen Weber (Oakdale, Cali. / Modesto Junior College) for big gains to get into the redzone. Team NIU answered on the defensive end, holding off a fourth down attempt inside the 15-yard line and giving the ball back to its offense.

Shortly after, it was the Huskies defense making a play with cornerback Amari Williams (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) hauling in an interception at midfield on a contested catch along the visiting sideline. Team NIU held a 7-3 heading into halftime.

Coming out of the half, safety Justin Harris (Richmond, Va. / Central State University) recorded a pass breakup on third down for Team NIU to get off the field. Quarterback Ean Hamric (Glenville, W.V. / University of Charleston) led the offense to a field goal to extend the lead to 10-3.  

Team Huskies tied the game at 10-10 with a scoring drive late in the third. Davidson hit Fowler to convert a third and long and later found Tavaris Coles (Bessemer, Ala. / Itawamba Community College) in the endzone.

In the fourth quarter, back-to-back impressive interceptions highlighted a competitive final 15 minutes of play. Cornerback Yassine Falke (Indianapolis, Ind. / Marian University) of Team Huskies recorded a pick to halt the NIU drive and shortly after linebacker Jack Murray (Brookfield, Wis. / Brookfield East) of Team NIU made a leaping grab to put NIU inside the 20.

Macon's rushing touchdown put Team NIU ahead 17-10 with under six minutes to play. On the following possession, NIU turned away Team Huskies with another fourth down stop inside its own 25-yard line.

Davidson had one last shot to tie the game for Team Huskies with under one minute to play after finding George Dimopoulos (Crystal Lake, Ill. / Crystal Lake Central) on a fourth down conversion. Davidson's final heave to the endzone from midfield fell incomplete, giving Team NIU the 17-10 victory.